Molecular biology and nanomaterials for food analysisDNA based analysis have become a very useful instrument to assess the safety and quality of the food chain. DNA testing has a broad range of applications such as detection of adulteration of food products (e.g. replacement of highly priced meat or fish species by similar but cheaper species, presence of horsemeat in food products…), identification of microorganisms that cause food-borne diseases, detection of genetically modified… Show more Molecular biology and nanomaterials for food analysisDNA based analysis have become a very useful instrument to assess the safety and quality of the food chain. DNA testing has a broad range of applications such as detection of adulteration of food products (e.g. replacement of highly priced meat or fish species by similar but cheaper species, presence of horsemeat in food products…), identification of microorganisms that cause food-borne diseases, detection of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or identification of allergenic ingredients among others. DNA testing involves several steps from the food product until the final result including: (i) DNA extraction/purification from the food product, (ii) frequently the amplification of a DNA sequence through an enzymatic process that will allow us to unequivocally identify the organism(s) of interest, and (iii) the detection and/or quantification of this DNA sequence. Each of this steps can be improved with the help of nanomaterials in order to develop faster, cheaper, multiplexed and/or more sensitive methodology of analysis.The goal of the research in this area is to combine molecular biology and nanomaterials to improve each of the steps of DNA analysis with the focus on very specific applications in food analysis. We evaluate its fitness-for-purpose and its advantages when compared with conventional methodology, in order to develop fully validated and integrated DNA based analytical methods to provide control laboratories and food industry with efficient tools for food monitoring. Show less

In the frame of the support that JRC provides to EU legislation, the Food Safety and Quality Unit (FSQ) from the IRMM, is working on the development of methods for the identification of animal meals in feeds. The development and validation of analytical methods has been indicated in TSE (Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopaties) roadmap as the main condition for lifting the extended feed ban introduced through Commission Regulation 1234/2003. Therefore is of high importance to develop… Show more In the frame of the support that JRC provides to EU legislation, the Food Safety and Quality Unit (FSQ) from the IRMM, is working on the development of methods for the identification of animal meals in feeds. The development and validation of analytical methods has been indicated in TSE (Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopaties) roadmap as the main condition for lifting the extended feed ban introduced through Commission Regulation 1234/2003. Therefore is of high importance to develop methods of analysis to identify them, due to their implications for animal and human health, but also their implication from the economical point of view.My duties and responsibilities include mainly:- Development of a real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (real-time PCR) method for the quantification of fish meals in feed.- Drafting, development and analysis of results of an study to determine the factors influencing the accuracy of measurements with real-time PCR,- Contribute to maintain the quality system in an accredited laboratory,- Publication of scientific peer-review articles related to the analysis of food and feed by real-time PCR, with interesting implications in other fields such as allergens or GMOs analysis,- Reviewer for SCI journals in the field of food science and technology, Show less

In the frame of the support that JRC provides to EU legislation, the Food Safety and Quality Unit (FSQ) from the IRMM, is working on the development of methods for food and feed analysis. My duties and responsibilities included mainly:- Preparation and evaluation of a transferability study for a real-time PCR method for the detection of cattle DNA in feed in collaboration with the Community Reference Laboratory (CRL) for animal proteins in feedingstuffs,- Participation on European… Show more In the frame of the support that JRC provides to EU legislation, the Food Safety and Quality Unit (FSQ) from the IRMM, is working on the development of methods for food and feed analysis. My duties and responsibilities included mainly:- Preparation and evaluation of a transferability study for a real-time PCR method for the detection of cattle DNA in feed in collaboration with the Community Reference Laboratory (CRL) for animal proteins in feedingstuffs,- Participation on European Project SAFEED-PAP (FOOD-CT-2006-036221), on the “Detection of presence of species-specific processed animal proteins in animal feed” collaborating on the development on methods by capillary HPLC and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) for the identification of specific animal proteins,- Drafting, organisation and preparation of an exploratory research project for the development of methods for quantification of fish meal by real-time PCR,- Collection of scientific data on fish genetic information and available methods for fish DNA analysis in food, from peer-review scientific articles and public databases,- Contribute to maintain the quality system in an accredited laboratory,- Publication of scientific peer-review articles related to the analysis of food and feed by real-time PCR, with interesting implications in other fields such as allergens or GMOs analysis,- Reviewer for SCI journals in the field of food science and technology,- Participation (poster and oral presentations) at international conferences in the field of food and feed safety, Show less

Working as technical responsible for the molecular biology group on the LHICA (Laboratorio de Higiene, Inspección y Control de Alimentos). My duties and responsibilities included mainly:- Development of methods based on PCR and other molecular biology techniques for the identification of animal species in food and feed as part of my PhD thesis,- Collaborate on the development of a patent for a method for the identification of shrimps from different origin by PCR combined with… Show more Working as technical responsible for the molecular biology group on the LHICA (Laboratorio de Higiene, Inspección y Control de Alimentos). My duties and responsibilities included mainly:- Development of methods based on PCR and other molecular biology techniques for the identification of animal species in food and feed as part of my PhD thesis,- Collaborate on the development of a patent for a method for the identification of shrimps from different origin by PCR combined with Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP), - Organise the work and train people working in the different projects such identification of bacteriocins and bacteriocin producing bacteria and evaluation of new conservation methods for food, - Publication of scientific peer-review articles related to the analysis of food and feed,- Participation (poster and oral presentations) at international conferences in the field of food and feed safety,October 2005-June 2006Stay at the EC-JRC-IRMM. Main duties:- Preparation and evaluation of a prevalidation study for the detection of processed animal proteins (PAPs) in feed, to study the fitness for purpose of real-time PCR for this aim. The study was performed on behalf of DG Health and Consumers and in close collaboration with three European laboratories,- Presentation of the results on different meeting attended by representatives of DG Health and Consumers and the industry (EFPRA) to illustrate the current status of the PCR technique for this aim,- Preparation of an scientific report with the results of this study, Show less

During one academic year I was working as a teacher in a technical school. I was teaching different subjects related with food industry and wine production. My duties and responsibilities included mainly:- Coordinate and develop the activities established on the department plan concerning evaluation of alumni, distribution of activities, and teaching of several subjects,- Organize visits to food industries with alumni,- Organize job training for alumni and follow up of the job… Show more During one academic year I was working as a teacher in a technical school. I was teaching different subjects related with food industry and wine production. My duties and responsibilities included mainly:- Coordinate and develop the activities established on the department plan concerning evaluation of alumni, distribution of activities, and teaching of several subjects,- Organize visits to food industries with alumni,- Organize job training for alumni and follow up of the job training program,- Give advise to alumni concerning their academic and professional future,- To act as a mediator in any possible conflict in the educative institution and/or job training places, Show less

Working as technical responsible for the molecular biology group on the LHICA (Laboratorio de Higiene, Inspección y Control de Alimentos). My duties and responsibilities included mainly:- Development of methods based on PCR and other molecular biology techniques for the identification of animal species in food and feed as part of my PhD thesis,- Organise work and training for a group of 3 persons composed of PhD students and other students at university,- Publication of scientific… Show more Working as technical responsible for the molecular biology group on the LHICA (Laboratorio de Higiene, Inspección y Control de Alimentos). My duties and responsibilities included mainly:- Development of methods based on PCR and other molecular biology techniques for the identification of animal species in food and feed as part of my PhD thesis,- Organise work and training for a group of 3 persons composed of PhD students and other students at university,- Publication of scientific peer-review articles related to the analysis of food and feed,- Participation (poster and oral presentations) at international conferences in the field of food and feed safety, Show less

Working as responsible for quality control in a food industry. The main activity of this industry was production of frozen fish products. My main duties were:- Preparation and implementation of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) manual, - Give training to workers on Good Hygienic Practices,- Perform different quality control tasks, such as microbiological analysis of samples, temperature and hygienic control among others,- Relation with health authorities… Show more Working as responsible for quality control in a food industry. The main activity of this industry was production of frozen fish products. My main duties were:- Preparation and implementation of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) manual, - Give training to workers on Good Hygienic Practices,- Perform different quality control tasks, such as microbiological analysis of samples, temperature and hygienic control among others,- Relation with health authorities assisting on health inspections and providing required documents, Show less

Working as postgraduate researcher on the LHICA (Laboratorio de Higiene, Inspección y Control de Alimentos). My duties and responsibilities included mainly:- Development of methods based on PCR and other molecular biology techniques for the identification of animal species in food and feed as part of my PhD thesis,- Participate on a research project for the evaluation of bacteria present in meat after vacuum packing,- Publication of scientific peer-review articles related to the… Show more Working as postgraduate researcher on the LHICA (Laboratorio de Higiene, Inspección y Control de Alimentos). My duties and responsibilities included mainly:- Development of methods based on PCR and other molecular biology techniques for the identification of animal species in food and feed as part of my PhD thesis,- Participate on a research project for the evaluation of bacteria present in meat after vacuum packing,- Publication of scientific peer-review articles related to the analysis of food and feed,- Participation (poster and oral presentations) at international conferences in the field of food and feed safety, Show less