Lorena Escudero

Oct. 24th - Happy Birthday Lorena!

Expertise: Chemistry
Affiliation: Universidad Católica del Norte

Who you are and what you do?

My name is Lorena Victoria Escudero. In 1998 I obtained my bachelor's degree in Chemistry and Metallurgy at the University Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile.

Career Journey

I am currently working in the Microbiology Lab at the Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile. I am a teacher in chemistry, and also an assistant for pharmacy students in the biochemistry laboratory.

How did you get to where you are?

I wrote my thesis for my bachelor degree on the work I did for the microbiology lab at the Universidad Católica del Norte.

Growing up (including where)

I grew up in the mining town Chuquicamata. It is the biggest copper mine in the world and is located near the city of Calama in the second region of northern Chile.

What made you study science?

My interest in science started when I was still very young. I always dreamed about wearing a white coat and watching through a microscope. When I started my degree in chemistry I unfortunately got to wear only the white coat, the dream of watching through a microscope was lost. It was only until I did my thesis; this dream became a reality again.

It was not so easy because I needed to learn microbiology and biochemistry, those subjects that I have never studied before. Now after I received my chemistry degree we worked in several interesting research projects and I immersed myself in the science world in each of them. We have studied the microbial mats in salt lakes in the Atacama Desert, the salt lake of Ascotan and Llamara. Lately I have been learning molecular biology techniques; it is very interesting and different to all the things I worked before. The world of science is magic and interesting.

Family, hobbies, interests, etc.

I like music, dancing and cooking. A short time ago I started to practice escalating. This is an interesting adventure; I like the risk, though I respect it. I like to be alone and take walks on the beach, and enjoy the sun and sea, it relaxes me.