Claudia Hoepfner

I am a Bolivian pharmaceutical chemist and researcher with a strong interdisciplinary background in molecular biology, genomics, and microbial ecology. I am currently a PhD candidate in Integrative Genomics at Universidad Mayor (Chile), where my doctoral research focuses on understanding the structure, function, and adaptive strategies of microbial communities at the salt–soil interface of the Salar de Uyuni. Using a systems biology approach, my work explores how microorganisms respond to polyextreme conditions and environmental change in one of the most emblematic hypersaline ecosystems of the Andean region.

I hold a master’s degree in Molecular Biology and Cytogenetics, where I graduated with distinction, and a degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. My undergraduate and early research training was closely linked to biomedical sciences, particularly cancer biology, where I studied molecular signaling pathways associated with colorectal cancer progression. This experience provided me with a solid foundation in molecular biology and translational research, which I later integrated into environmental and microbiome-focused studies.
Since 2018, I have worked as a researcher at the Universidad Mayor de San Simón (UMSS) in Cochabamba, Bolivia. In this role, I lead the bioinformatics and microbiome research area within microbial ecology and metagenomics projects. I have been responsible for implementing bioinformatics workflows in the laboratory, coordinating fieldwork and molecular analyses in extreme Andean environments, and supervising undergraduate and graduate students in bioinformatics, molecular biology, and microbiome research. My work also involves data integration, statistical analysis, and manuscript preparation within multi-institutional and international collaborations.
My main research interests include microbial ecology and metagenomics of extreme environments, functional and taxonomic profiling of microbiomes, enzymatic plasticity, and the biotechnological potential of extremophiles. I apply high-throughput sequencing, comparative genomics, and functional inference tools to address questions related to antimicrobial resistance, environmental resilience, and sustainable use of microbial biodiversity. I have authored and co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications in international journals, including studies on hypersaline microbial communities, extremophilic cyanobacteria, host–microbiome interactions, and environmental pollution.
In parallel to my academic work, I have served as principal investigator and associate researcher in several nationally and internationally funded projects related to microbial diversity, antimicrobial discovery, climate change, and conservation of microbial and fungal resources in Bolivia. I am also the institutional delegate of UMSS to the Environmental Committee of the Montevideo Group of Associated Universities (AUGM), contributing to regional collaboration in environmental research and technology transfer.
Beyond research, I am deeply committed to scientific capacity building and inclusion. I actively mentor students, participate in science outreach initiatives, and support programs that encourage young people, especially women to pursue careers in STEM. I have contributed to national science competitions, public engagement events, and citizen science platforms, including initiatives developed during the COVID-19 pandemic to support public health responses in vulnerable communities.
My scientific career is guided by the conviction that high-quality research from the Global South is essential to addressing local and global challenges. Through my work, I seek not only to advance scientific knowledge, but also to strengthen research capacities, promote gender equity in science, and contribute to the sustainable development of Latin America through collaborative, inclusive, and socially relevant science.