Rodríguez-Sánchez, Dariana Graciela

Dr. Dariana Rodríguez earned her Bachelor's degree in Food Industries Engineering from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM) in 2005. She later completed her Master's in Science and Doctorate in Engineering Sciences with a specialization in Biotechnology at the same institution in 2007 and 2013, respectively. Dr. Rodríguez conducted research stays at Texas A&M University (College Station, TX), Methodist Hospital (Houston, TX), and the National Institute of Cardiology Ignacio Chávez (CDMX, Mexico). From 2013 to 2015, she served as the Coordinator of Bio and Nanotechnology-based business incubators at the Institute of Innovation and Technology Transfer of the State of Nuevo León. Between 2016 and 2021, she worked as a Post-Doctoral Researcher at the Regional Department of Bioengineering, North Region, at the Tecnológico de Monterrey. During this time, she taught undergraduate classes for the Food Engineering program in previous plans and the Tec21 model. Dr. Rodríguez coordinated the Tec-Sigma Industry Chair and supported the development of Technology Transfer strategies to the industry. Since 2022, she has held the position of Director of the Food Engineering Program at the Monterrey Campus. She actively participated in the design of Tec21 Training Units and is an active member of the EAAC of IAL. Additionally, she is a member of the National Researchers System (Level I) and co-author of more than 10 national and international patents. Her research focuses on the development of functional ingredients for the food and pharmaceutical industries, using bioactive natural compounds, as well as the development of nanostructured delivery systems. In recognition of her scientific and technological contributions, MIT Technology Review honored her in 2016 as one of Mexico's Outstanding Innovators Under 35. In 2017, she received the National Award in Food Science and Technology from Coca Cola ¿ CONACYT, in the category of Chair for Young Researchers. In 2019, the research projects in which she actively collaborated (Avosafe® and Avocardio®) were recognized among the projects at the Tecnológico de Monterrey with the potential to transform Mexico.