Dr. Cristina Dorador is a microbial ecologist, who specializes in the microbial ecology of extremophiles and extreme environments. Currently she is an Associate Professor at the Universidad de Antofagasta, Chile. Cristina did her doctoral research in the Max Planck Institute for Limnology in Plön, Germany and was awarded her PhD in Microbiology from the University of Kiel, Germany (2007). She returned to Chile in 2008 and established the Laboratory of Microbial Complexity and Functional Ecology at the Universidad de Antofagasta. Cristina’s research is based on the study of the diversity and function of microorganisms in natural environments, with a special focus in the adaptation of microorganisms to extreme conditions of Bacteria and Archaea in aquatic and terrestrial environments of north and southern Chile. Applied research in Cristina’s group is based in the searching of bioactive compounds with antimicrobial and anticancer properties and skin protection (Atacama Cream) from bacteria from the Atacama Desert. Cristina is a Frontier Researcher of the Chilean Academy of Sciences, Young ISME Ambassador for Chile and represented Chile as young scientist in the book: “Young Scientists: a bright future for the Americas” published by IANAS (Interamerican Network of Academies of Sciences). She is the principal investigator on a series of national (Fondecyt; Fondef; PIA-CONICYT) and international (European Union) grants, and participates in national grant assessment panels (Fondecyt, INACH). Cristina is also a scientific assessor for scientific academies and for PAR Explora Antofagasta- CONICYT.
