Armando AZUA-BUSTOS

Environmental Microbiologist (PhD Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, 2013; M.Sc. Biological Sciences, 2010; M.Sc. Biochemistry, 2005; and B.Sc Agronomy, 1997), have >20 years of professional experience (Chile, US and Spain). Started my own fully independent research line with his PhD (2010-2013), uncovering the molecular mechanisms of extreme desiccation tolerance of microbial life of the Atacama Desert (video explaining PhD Thesis here). For this, he got a full PhD scholarship, and a separate full Research Fund from the Government of Chile. Later served 3 management (non-research) posts; Director of the Department of Astrobiology of the Chilean Aerospace Research and Development center, Coordinator of the Higher Education Quality Improvement Program of the Government of Chile at the Universidad Autónoma de Chile, and Scientific Advisor of the Senate of the Republic of Chile.
In 2017 came back to research again as a Scientific Researcher at the Centro de Astrobiología of CSIC. In 2018 won one of the prestigious Human Frontiers Science Program Grants, and also a grant from the Dubai Future Foundation. In 2017 won one of the prestigious TED Fellowships (having given 4 TED talks up to date) (Vancouver talk here).