UNAB Researcher Selected as One of EMBO’s 12 Global Scientists

Dr. José Miguel Álvarez, researcher at the Plant Biotechnology Center (CBV) of Universidad Andrés Bello and Director of the PhytoLearning Millennium Nucleus, has been selected as one of the 12 scientists worldwide to join the EMBO Global Investigator Network. This is one of the most prestigious scientific networks in the life sciences and is part of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO).

Membership in this network recognizes emerging research leaders who conduct frontier science outside Europe, with strong potential for global impact and high-level scientific collaboration.

For Dr. Álvarez, the selection represents both recognition and a new challenge. He commented:

“I feel deeply proud of my laboratory team, of the science we are doing at Universidad Andrés Bello, and of how it connects with the global challenges of agriculture and climate change. This project is a recognition of that collective effort and a tremendous opportunity to continue growing.”

EMBO Global Investigator Network

Dr. Álvarez is the only Chilean researcher in this cohort of the EMBO Global Investigator Network. The remaining members come from India, Nigeria, Singapore, and Taiwan.

Over the next four years, the 12 researchers and their teams will have access to exchange opportunities with scientists who are part of this dynamic network of more than 800 scientists.

The program also provides funding for visits to other institutions, whether to plan or continue collaborations, conduct experiments, or learn new techniques. In addition, it includes support to participate in or organize conferences, as well as training in research leadership and management skills. “EMBO’s support not only validates the quality of our research, but also connects us with a network of scientific excellence in Europe,” Álvarez noted.

“This is essential for strengthening collaborations with leading laboratories in plant biotechnology, genomics, and bioinformatics. It will also allow students and postdoctoral researchers from our team to access advanced training opportunities and fellowships at top international research centers,” he added.

Plant Biotechnology Research with Global Impact

Dr. Álvarez’s inclusion in EMBO will help strengthen key research lines developed at CBV UNAB and the PhytoLearning Millennium Nucleus, particularly those focused on crop resilience to drought and environmental stress.

One of the main areas of his research is the study of wild tomato species that grow in desert regions of northern Chile and Peru.

“Comparing wild tomatoes that grow under arid conditions with cultivated tomatoes allows us to identify key genetic and regulatory mechanisms that explain drought resilience,” Dr. Álvarez explained.

This work not only advances scientific knowledge, but also holds significant potential for developing crops better adapted to climate change scenarios.

The approach is especially relevant for Chile, given the impact of climate change on agriculture. “We are studying genes, regulatory elements, and transcriptional networks that allow wild tomatoes to survive with very little water, with the goal of identifying natural circuits that could be adapted to commercial varieties,” he added.

International Outlook

EMBO’s support comes at a pivotal moment for Dr. Álvarez’s research. “It challenges us to think more in terms of international networks, to scale up our collaborations, and to expand our impact,” he said.

Over the four-year duration of the program, the researcher aims to consolidate an active collaboration network between Europe and Latin America, while also strengthening the training of students and postdoctoral researchers.

“We want to open interdisciplinary training spaces for students in biology, bioinformatics, and computer science, building local capacities with a global perspective. At the same time, we seek to consolidate our research on environmental stress adaptations and elevate it to a level of international scientific impact,” he concluded.