Zach Benavidez Email & Phone Number

Greater San Diego Area

San Diego

Applied microbiology, photobioreactor design and large scale algae production.

Greater San Diego Area

PureBiomass LCC provides reliable, sustainable, and robust algae cultivation systems, along with the operational training and technical guidance to run them. The technology portfolio includes photo-bioreactors ranging from 20 to 160,000 Liter volumes, accompanied by auxiliary products and consulting. We are motivated by our belief that sustainable aquaculture offers valuable potential to meet global needs in human health, environmental stewardship, and economic development.-Detailed analysis of algal cultures-Product development of photobioreactors - Contributed in writing all lab and field standard operating procedures (SOP)

Greater San Diego Area

YMI Creative is an imaginative producer of live events and video production for corporations or organizations seeking to motivate and educate their audience. At YMI Creative, we distinguish ourselves through our unique fusion of information, inspiration and emotion to deliver powerful programs that surpass our client’s expectations.-Assist with studio lighting and video-Coordinating schedules and sites-Site preparation and installation

Greater San Diego Area

This event was founded on the basis of giving back to local non-profits in San Diego. We bring artists, vendors, musicians and audiences together to show our support. There will be dancing, drinking, surfing, and live music ringing out at the SaltDog Classic Beach Fest. Watch Seaside State Beach come to life.• Event management, vendor management, sponsorship management• Community outreach with guerrilla marketing, hosted events, and public forums• Music and Sound Production for 40 foot stage with 6 bands• Non-Profit coordination with Rollin' from the Heart of San Diego

Greater San Diego Area

Translating scientific breakthroughs into breakthrough products, Synthetic Genomics Inc. (SGI) is a global leader in the fields of synthetic biology and synthetic genomics utilizing their intellectual property focused in this rapidly evolving discipline, and leading the way towards to designing and building biological systems that solve global sustainability challenges.• Part of a research and development team set to optimize production of biomass• Experimental analysis conducted to increase nutrition yields per production cycle• Combination of field work and lab work in a start-up environment• Critical input on mechanical functions of photo-bioreactor

At the Tiputini Research Station in Yasuni, Ecuador I participated in a plant evolutionary ecology research project. Their research focuses on the geographical mosaics in the production of anti-herbivory defenses among the Inga genus. The Inga genus encompasses a large portion of the diversity in tropical forests. Theory predicts that an evolutionary arms race between plant and their herbivores caused divergent evolution in chemical defenses leading to large speciation events. Plant-animal interaction may be central in understanding spatial distributions such as patterns of density and species coexistence. My duties towards this project included data collection in the field, documentation, Excel data organization, GPS, GIS mapping and analysis.

My work as a lab assistant included research on interactions of fungal endophytes and plant disease susceptibility. We were testing to see if closely related plant species were more susceptible to the same fungal pathogens. My work consists of processing/sterilizing each sample, DNA extractions, agarose gel electrophoresis, and PCR. I also contributed to the process of harvesting plants in the field.