Amparo López Rubio, research scientist at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), has been appointed new director of the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA), located at the University of Valencia Science Park (PCUV). López works in the packaging research group of IATA, integrated in the Department of Food Conservation and Safety. The new director will be supported as vice-directors by Gloria Sánchez, CSIC research scientist and member of the Environmental Virology and Food Safety research group, which is part of the Department of Food Conservation and Safety; and Mónica Flores, CSIC research scientist and member of the Protein Foods research group, part of the Department of Food Science. They will occupy the positions of scientific vice-director and technical vice-director, respectively.
The new director of IATA succeeds José F. Marcos, research scientist at CSIC. Amparo López has been deputy director of the institute between 2019 and 2023. She received her PhD in Food Science and Technology from the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) in the area of food packaging, receiving the Extraordinary Doctoral Thesis Award from the UPV and the second prize for Best Doctoral Thesis awarded by the Specialized Group in Polymers of the Royal Spanish Society of Physics (RSEF).
After several pre and postdoctoral stays in prestigious international scientific institutions (KTH, Sweden; ANSTO, Australia; Hasylab, Germany; Argonne National Laboratory, USA), where he expanded his knowledge on materials and advanced characterization techniques, he returned to the packaging group at IATA, where he has established his research team (BIOFUN) focused on the development of bio-based materials, sustainable and with diverse functionalities for food applications. Throughout his scientific career he has established numerous national and international collaborations, both with other research groups and private companies to promote research in the field of sustainability in the food chain.
"I assume this position with great enthusiasm, being aware of the responsibility it implies and having set a series of objectives, both scientific and managerial, which, although ambitious, I think we can achieve", Amparo López Rubio, new director of IATA-CSIC
"I assume this position with great enthusiasm, being aware of the responsibility it implies and having set a series of objectives, both scientific and managerial, which, although ambitious, I think we can achieve," says the new director. "I am deeply grateful to Gloria Sánchez and Mónica Flores for agreeing to join me in this new phase," she adds. A stage with three pillars: consolidating the scientific excellence of IATA, increasing the good atmosphere in the institute and simplifying, as far as possible, the management procedures.
Gloria Sánchez
Gloria Sanchez is a microbiologist, and obtained her PhD at the University of Barcelona in 2003, working on the genetic and antigenic characterization of hepatitis A virus. In 2008 she joined IATA after a postdoctoral stay at the Nestlé research center (Switzerland). She is a research scientist at CSIC in the Environmental Virology and Food Safety research group, which is part of the Department of Food Conservation and Safety. The research of her group focuses on the study of foodborne viruses, both in the development of molecular methods and in the evaluation of the efficacy of conservation and water treatment processes.
His group has developed molecular analysis procedures to alert for SARS-CoV-2 circulation, actively contributing to the national and global implementation of wastewater-based epidemiology to monitor the spread of COVID-19. "Teamwork is key to addressing the challenges we want to achieve in the coming years. We want to listen to and value the initiatives of all technical, scientific, research support and administrative staff," explains the deputy scientific director.
"Teamwork is key to address the challenges we want to achieve in the coming years. We want to listen to and value the initiatives of all technical, scientific, research support and administrative staff", Gloria Sanchez, new deputy director of IATA-CSIC
Mónica Flores
Mónica Flores received her PhD in Pharmacy at the Universitat de València and, after her postdoctoral stage in the United States, she joined IATA-CSIC. She is a research scientist at CSIC and is part of the Protein Foods research group of the Food Science Department. Her research activity focuses on the study of the chemical, enzymatic and microbiological mechanisms of generation and perception of color, aroma and flavor in meat products.
After his postdoctoral research stay at SRRC-USDA (USA), he developed the research line focused on the generation of aromatic compounds and stability in protein foods, including the development of new ingredients to enhance aroma. They are currently developing strategies to offer new foods of animal origin by increasing the sustainability of production processes and improving sensory characteristics.
Flores will assume the functions of supervising the operation of the technical services units and scientific equipment in common use, in order to ensure the fulfillment of IATA's strategic objectives. "My main objective is to ensure coordination between all the people involved in the scientific-technical services to improve investments in this area," assures the deputy technical director.
"My main objective is to ensure coordination between all the people involved in the scientific-technical services to improve investments in this area," Monica Flores, new deputy technical director of IATA-CSIC
The IATA management is committed to strengthen the position of the Institute as a center of excellence in research, a reference entity in the study of food science and a major player in the business and the national agri-food sector. The new director and vice-directors will continue to work hand in hand with the scientific management of the Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence project to increase the visibility and impact of the research carried out at the center and to reach all sectors of society.