Christopher Holmes, PhD.

Biochemist with a PhD in Engineering Sciences, specializing in cellular biology, tumor biology, and biomaterials.

Extensive expertise in life sciences complemented by R&D project management and product development experience in the food industry. Proven track record in biotech and food laboratory supervision.

Experienced in leading multidisciplinary teams and promoting effective teamwork across disciplines. Combines technical knowledge with excellent interpersonal and communication skills to drive innovation and achieve results.

Demonstrated ability in mentorship and pedagogy. Highly adaptable with strong self-learning capabilities and independent work ethic. Bilingual in English and Spanish.
Experience

Research and Development Manager

at

Fiordo Austral

October 2022 – Present

Product development, research project management and coordination, creation and coordination of experiments and analysis protocols, upscaling of laboratory-pilot-industry experiments and projects, chemical product testing and validation, long-term data management, report creation and interpretation, pilot plant and laboratory management, supervision of analysts.

Laboratory Manager

at

SymbiOx

June 2016 – June 2018

Buying, installation and maintenance of laboratory equipment. General maintenance of biotech laboratory and supervision of a sterile room.

Laboratory Technician

for

Andrea Soza Gajardo, PhD.

April 2015 – May 2016

Research support for FONDECYT project 1131122. Experiments pertaining to measuring proteasome activity iand observing protein expression through immunoblotting in cell line and animal extracts.

Publications

“Towards an In Vitro 3D Model for Photosynthetic Cancer Treatment: A Study of Microalgae and Tumor Cell Interactions”

IJMS, November 2022,
DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113550

“Development of a Photosynthetic Hydrogel as Potential Wound Dressing for the Local Delivery of Oxygen and Bioactive Molecules”

Acta Biomaterialia, November 2022,
DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.11.036

“Galectin-8 induces partial epithelial–mesenchymal transition with invasive tumorigenic capabilities involving a FAK/EGFR/proteasome pathway in Madin–Darby canine kidney cells”

Molecular Biology of the Cell, January 2018,
DOI: 10.1091/mbc.E16-05-0301

“Development of photosynthetic sutures for the local delivery of oxygen and recombinant growth factors in wounds”

Acta Biomaterialia, October 2017,
DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2018.09.060

“Galectin-8 as an immunosuppressor in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and a target of human early prognostic antibodies in multiple sclerosis”

PLOS ONE, June 2017,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177472

"Galectin-8 promotes migration and proliferation and prevents apoptosis in U87 glioblastoma cells”

Biological Research, December 2016,
DOI: 10.1186/s40659-016-0091-6

Education

Doctorate in Engineering Sciences

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

August 2017 – May 2024

Advisor: José Tomás Egaña, PhD.
Institute of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, PUC, Santiago de Chile

Biochemistry Professional Degree

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

March 2013 – January 2015

Advisor: Dr. Andrea Soza Gajardo, PhD. 
Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, PUC, Santiago de Chile

Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

March 2009 – August 2013

Relevant Courses:
“Biochemistry”, “Molecular Genetics”, “Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry”, “Genetics and Evolution”, “Physical Chemistry”

Teaching Experience

Laboratory Instructor - Biomaterials

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile,
School of Engineering

March 2022 – July 2022

TA - Biopolymers

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile,
School of Engineering

March 2020 – July 2020

TA - Post-Graduate Seminar

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile,
School of Engineering

March 2019 – July 2019

TA - Cellular and Molecular Biology

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile,
School of Medicine

March 2014 – August 2014

Other Skills & Proficiencies

Computer Skills

Advanced user level Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, ImageJ, Mendeley, GraphPad Prism

Programming

Python (basic), R (basic)

Languages

Native Spanish
English C2

Awards & Scholarships

Doctorate Thesis in the private sector

Program for the attraction and insertion of advanced human capital
N°T7819120008
CONICYT, Santiago de Chile

2019-2021

National Doctorate Scholarship

N° 21180863
CONICYT, Santiago de Chile

2017-2021

Practical Skills
  • Knowledge of food industry production lines
  • Biomaterials
  • Fluorescence and Confocal microscopy
  • Microalgae culture and experimentation
  • Animal experimentation (mice)
  • Flow Cytometry
  • 2D and 3D cell culture
  • HPLC
  • General cellular and molecular techniques
    • Western Blot
    • Immunofluorescence
    • Immunoprecipitation
    • Two-dimensional electrophoresis
    • Cell transfection
    • Protein purification
    • PCR
    • Live/Death assays
    • Histology
  • Food industry chemical analysis
    • Proximal analysis
    • Total volatile nitrogen
    • Free fatty acids
    • Shelf life studies
Professional Interests
  • Biomaterials
  • Project Management
  • Bioprinting
  • Immunology
  • Biomedicine
  • Bioengineering
  • Multidisciplinary Sciences
✉️ Contact Information
Professional Interests
Biomaterials
Project management
Bioprinting
Immunology
Applied Biology
Precision Medicine
Multidisciplinary science