(4go) Upscaling Transport Phenomena in Biological Systems

My research focuses on the theoretical (through analysis of transport phenomena) and experimental (including microbial cultures, protein purification and analysis, microscopy techniques, image analysis) study of cellular systems involved in bioprocesses at different scale levels. I use an a priori (i.e., before experiments) multiscale approach to derive upscaled mathematical models, which are joined with experimental determinations to analyze and answer key questions about the system. I have applied this approach to gain comprehension about the solid and/or fluid mechanics and species mass transport in a variety of systems including: pancreatic islets, biodegradation of oil and greases in membrane bioreactors, contaminants transport within tree crowns as well as inside of cells and fungal pellets. In the latter, the role of the intricate structure during the cultivation of fungal pellets in shake flasks and bioreactors was thoroughly analyzed during my PhD studies.

Specific areas of expertise: Transport phenomena in biological systems. Fluid dynamics. Chemical species mass transport. Multiscale mathematical modeling. Volume averaging. Biochemical engineering. Microbial cultures and systems. Bioreactor operation and upscaling. Protein purification and analysis. Microscopy techniques. Image analysis.

Research products

Six research articles published in the following indexed international journals: Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Journal of Theoretical Biology, Physics of Fluids, Biochemical Engineering Journal, Journal of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics, and Revista Mexicana de Ingeniería Química. I have also published three scientific dissemination articles in a peer-reviewed journal. Finally, I have served as technical advisor in one bachelor thesis at National Autonomous University of Mexico.

Writing of funding proposals

Design and implementation of airlift bioreactors for the production of Salmonella enterica porins that allow the formulation of a multivalent experimental vaccine against Salmonella. Project No. IMSS FIS/IMSS/PROT/4921, approved under the direction of Dr. Constantino López-Macías. Medical Research Unit in Immunochemistry, Mexican Institute of Social Security from 2018-2020.

Experience in scientific journals

Four years of experience as part of the editorial board of the scientific dissemination peer-reviewed journal Revista de divulgación científica iBIO (www.revistaibio.com), serving as editor-in-chief since 2022. In addition, I have served as a reviewer for: Advances in Water Resources, Journal of Porous Media, and Revista Mexicana de Ingeniería Química.

Teaching interests

My objective is to teach engineering subjects to undergraduate and graduate courses in biological and biological engineering areas. I have participated in teaching a graduate class about upscaling in porous media systems during fall 2023.