Role
PhD researcher in Marine Toxicology
Qualifications & background
Qualifications
Professional Title: Environmental Engineer (Valparaiso University, Chile)
Degree: Bachelor in Environmental Engineering (Hons) (Valparaiso University, Chile)
Diploma: Marine Environmental Sciences (Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand)
Background
-Associate investigator, Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and Environment, Valparaiso University, Chile (2008-2010).
-Research assistant, Laboratory of Biodiversity and Coastal Ecology, Universidad Catolica del Norte, Chile (2009-2010).
-Research assistant, Coastal Ecology Laboratory, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand (2007-2008)
Roles on external bodies
- Research Colaborator for Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and Environment, Valparaiso University,Chile.
- Research Colaborator for AlgaLab, Universidad de Concepcion, Chile.
Teaching interests
- Assistant Lecturer, Analytical Chemistry subject, Valparaiso University (2010.
- Assistant Lecturer, Cell Biology subject, Valparaiso University (2004-2006; 2008-2009)
Staff serving as external examiners
Peer-reviewer for Journal of Applied Phycology
Research interests
- Marine Pollution.
- Oxidative stress.
- Metal pollution.
- Toxicology.
- Phycology.
- Marine ecology and biology.
- Genetics.
- Biostatistics and chemiometrics.
Other research
Project participation
-
FONDECYT 11080235 (2008-2010).
Aplication of seaweed biostimulants in the production of organic wine:
arsenic biotransformation and the transference of heavy metals"
(co-investigator).
- FIP 2008-38 (2009-2010). "
Evaluation of natural kelp forests and prospecting re-populating sites for brown algae in Regions I and II, Chile" (research assistant).
Grants & contracts
- Santander Postgraduate Internationalisation Scholarship (2012), support for PhD project involving field experiments in northern Chile, and research collaboration with Universidad de Valparaiso and Universidad Catolica del Norte.
- CONICYT scholarship (Chilean Government) for PhD studies at University of Plymouth and The Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom (2010).
- Awarded by Valparaiso University with a Research Grant for young investigators (2009).
- Awarded with an undergraduate scholarship to conduct exchange studies of environmental and marine sciences at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand (2006).
Publications
Scientific Journals
- Sáez C, Pérez-Matus A, Lobos MG, Oliva D, Vásquez JA and M Bravo (2012). "Environmental
assessment in a shallow subtidal rocky habitat: Approach coupling chemical and
ecological tools". Chemistry and Ecology, 28, 1-15.
- Sáez C, Lobos MG and EC Macaya. "Lessonia trabeculata
(Phaeophyceae; Laminariales) as nitrogen and phosphorus biomonitor in shallow
subtidal ecosystems"(submitted)
-
Sáez C,
Lobos MG, Macaya EC, Brown MT and W Quiroz. "Lessonia trabeculata
(Laminariales; Phaeophyceae) as a metal biomonitor. Are there target thallus
parts to sample for a specific metal assessment?". (submitted).
Conferences:
-
Lobos MG and C
Sáez (2011). "Distribution of anionic arsenic species (As(III), As (V), MMAs, DMAs) by
HPLC-HG-AFS in different tissues of brown algae Lessonia trabeculata
(Laminariales; Phaeophyceae) exposed to different levels of
contamination. Evaluation as a biomonitor of arsenic".
13th Workshop on Progress in Speciation for Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Pau, France.
-
Sáez C and MG
Lobos (2010). "Metal concentrations in different algal parts of Lessonia trabeculata as biomonitors of environmental stress". Marine Science Conference, Chile.
Other academic activities
PhD project: “Metal Exposure and Reactive Oxygen Metabolism in the
Model Brown Alga Ectocarpus siliculosus”
The recently achieved genomic sequencing of the model
brown alga E. siliculosus, has
provided opportunities to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms for
physiological and biochemical responses to environmental change, a topic of high contemporary interest. The
specific aim of my project is to determine the effects of metal exposure (
e.g. Cu, Cd), at different levels of biological organisation, in E. siliculosus from measurements of
metal bioaccumulation, physiological changes, reactive oxygen
metabolism (ROM), and production of metal ligands. Chemical, physiological , biochemical, and molecular procedures are been employed. Part of the investigation will be
carried under controlled environmental conditions in the laboratory focussing
on different strains of the species ("metal tolerant" and "non-metal tolerant"); of which some are axenic. In situ transplantation
experiments will also be carried out to assess the congruency of both
approaches in determining metal stress responses in seaweeds. This knowledge is important to improve our
understanding of the responses of algae to metal exposure and the consistency
between laboratory and field toxicological approaches, subject of contemporary concern.
Additional information
- Padi Diver.
- Marine Photography.
