Carolina Santacruz-Perez

Carolina Santacruz-Pérez has developed projects as a scientist since 2002 in the only particle accelerator ring in Latin America. She is an Industrial Microbiologist from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and the Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of São Paulo. She has a Master in Biotechnology and Nanotechnology from the University of São Paulo; PhD in Biophysics from USP and the National Synchrotron Light Laboratory of Brazil. She did a doctoral stay at the Center for Biomembrane Research of the University of Stockholm, in Sweden where she specialized in Bioinformatics. She completed 4 postdoctoral studies in multidisciplinary areas such as Microbiology, Biophysics, Biochemistry, Molecular-Cellular-Structural Biology, Bioinformatics and Photochemistry. She worked at the Technological Research Institute of São Paulo obtaining biotechnological Bio-products; at Butantan Institute with the induction of senescence in cancer cells; at the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein with stem cells extracted from human umbilical cord; and at the Chemistry Institute of USP with photosensitizers for the treatment of various diseases using photochemistry. She has published several papers in high-impact scientific journals. She managed the implementation of the quality program in food companies such as GDS (Brazil), and served as Scientific Advisor to the Research Support Foundation of the State of São Paulo (FAPESP) and to SENACYT in Panama. She is reviewer of international journals. She has solid experience in Research, Project Analysis, Academic Teaching, Project-based learning and Scientific Communication. She is the winner of the 2013 edition: “Award for Recognition of Latin American Highlights in São Paulo – Category: Science and Technology”. She is an entrepreneur, Founder of the company "BRAINS - Innovation in Education", a company that developed a scientific and technological program for international schools in Brazil and Asia, focused on STEAM principles, the use of FabLabs and children's entrepreneurship. She has worked in Colombia as a researcher. Today she is a Science Officer of the International Science Council of Paris, representing the Regional Focal Point for Latin America and the Caribbean. She is an ambassador of the WEF network (Women Economic Forum - Colombia); Mentor in the "Leading Women in STEAM" program in Mexico and Guatemala. Chair of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) Colombian chapter. She belongs to the International Network of SDG Promoters, and to the WAI Network – Women in Alternative Investments. She is part of the Regional Scientific and Advisory Group within the Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). Member of the Steering Committee of the Latin America and the Caribbean Chapter of INGSA (International Network for Government Science Advice). She belongs to the STEM Women Global Network. Member of the Latin American Research Advisory Council. Member of the eLife Global South Committee for Open Science (GSC). Part of the LAC Women's Network for DRR. She speaks 4 languages.