Rosana Chirinos Gallardo
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Rosana Sonia Chirinos Gallardo
| birth_place = Lima
| nationality = Peruvian
| fields = Food technology
| workplaces = National Agrarian University La Molina
| alma_mater = National Agrarian University La Molina
Université catholique de Louvain
| awards = Recognition for scientific work and contributions to university research by the National Assembly of Rectors of Peru.
L'Oréal-UNESCO "For Women in Science" Award 2014
}}
Rosana Sonia Chirinos Gallardo (born 1970, Lima) is a engineer, professor, and researcher specializing in food biotechnology. Her work focuses on bioactive compounds derived from native biodiversity, functional foods, and sustainable bioprocesses. She is a professor at the Faculty of Food Industries at the National Agrarian University La Molina (UNALM) and main researcher at the Biotechnology Institute – Industrial Biotechnology & Bioprocesses Area of UNALM.{{cite web |title=Ficha RENACYT |url=https://servicio-renacyt.concytec.gob.pe/ficha-renacyt/?idInvestigador=1859 |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Plataforma de servicio Renacyt |language=es}}
Biography
Rosana Sonia Chirinos Gallardo was born1970, in Lima.{{cite web|access-date=2025-03-02 |language=en-US |title=Conoce a Rosana Chirinos, la mujer que busca revalorar los cultivos del Perú |url=https://especial.elcomercio.pe/chevrolet/rosana-chirinos/ |website=Chevrolet}} Her interest in science began from curiosity about the characteristics of plants and their benefits according to their composition.{{Cite book |last=Vásquez |first=Yvonne |url=https://repositorio.concytec.gob.pe/entities/publication/6a7edfb0-eb7b-4bb9-9015-4e7ecf909a3a |title=Científicas del Perú: 24 historias por descubrir |date=June 2021 |publisher=Consejo Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Tecnológica - Concytec |isbn=978-9972-50-198-2 |language=Spanish}}
In 1994, she realized her studies in Food Industries Engineering and obtain a Master's in Food Technology at the National Agrarian University La Molina (UNALM). Subsequently, she specialized in biotechnology and biological engineering, obtaining a Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences and Biological Engineering at the Université catholique de Louvain in Belgium. During her doctoral studies, she focused her research on enzymatic technologies applied to food processing and bioproduct development.
Career
Her early research focused on enzymatic transformations in plant-derived compounds, contributing to the development of innovative bioproducts with high nutritional and functional value.
Her doctoral research at the Université catholique de Louvain explored enzymatic hydrolysis for the extraction and stabilization of bioactive compounds from native Andean crops.{{cite web|access-date=2025-03-03 |title=PhD Thesis {{!}} Université catholique de Louvain |url=https://www.uclouvain.be/en/research-institutes/libst/phd-thesis |website=www.uclouvain.be}} This work laid the foundation for her later studies on functional foods and nutraceuticals.
Together with other researchers work at the Industrial Biotechnology & Bioprocesses area of the Biotechnology Institute at National Agrarian University La Molina. This research group focuses on various aspects of food biotechnology and bioprocessing.{{cite web|access-date=2025-03-03 |language=es |title=ROSANA SONIA CHIRINOS GALLARDO : Vicerrectorado de investigación de la UNALM |url=https://vri.lamolina.edu.pe/investigadores/rosana-sonia-chirinos-gallardo/}}{{cite web|access-date=2025-03-03 |language=es-PE |title=Biotecnología Industrial y Bioprocesos : Instituto de la Investigación de Biotecnología |url=https://vri.lamolina.edu.pe/institutos/ibt/grupos-de-investigacion/biotecnologia-industrial-y-bioprocesos/}}
Her expertise includes the processing, extraction, purification, and characterization of bioactive compounds such as prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants, polyphenols, glucosinolates, phytosterols, tocopherols, and high-intensity sweeteners.
Throughout her career, she has investigated the antioxidant properties and potencial applications in pharmaceuticals and food industries of native Peruvian plants, including sacha inchi, mashua, cañihua, kiwicha, and muña.
Since 2007, she has been a professor at UNALM's Faculty of Food Industries, advising over 50 undergraduate, master's, and doctoral theses.
Publications
In 2003, she conducted her first research studies together other collaborators, publishing a study about the nutritional benefits of yacón and it was important to foundation for her subsequent studies on native Peruvian plants.{{Cite journal |last1=Pedreschi |first1=Romina |last2=Campos |first2=David |last3=Noratto |first3=Giuliana |last4=Chirinos |first4=Rosana |last5=Cisneros-Zevallos |first5=Luis |date=2003-08-01 |title=Andean Yacon Root ( Smallanthus sonchifolius Poepp. Endl) Fructooligosaccharides as a Potential Novel Source of Prebiotics |url=https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jf0344744 |journal=Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry |language=en |volume=51 |issue=18 |pages=5278–5284 |doi=10.1021/jf0344744 |pmid=12926870 |bibcode=2003JAFC...51.5278P |issn=0021-8561|url-access=subscription }}
In 2017, she contributed on the book Advances in Food and Nutrition Research co-authoring the chapter "Bioactive Potential of Andean Fruits, Seeds, and Tubers". The chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of major Andean crops, including fruits such as lúcuma, cherimoya, pepino melon, and elderberry; roots and tubers such as potato, sweet potato, yacón, chicuru, mashua, and olluco; and seeds such as quinoa, amaranth, and tarwi. It explores their nutritional and functional properties.{{Citation |last1=Campos |first1=David |title=Bioactive Potential of Andean Fruits, Seeds, and Tubers |date=2018 |journal=Advances in Food and Nutrition Research |volume=84 |pages=287–343 |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1043452617300499 |access-date=2025-03-10 |publisher=Elsevier |language=en |doi=10.1016/bs.afnr.2017.12.005 |isbn=978-0-12-814990-4 |last2=Chirinos |first2=Rosana |last3=Gálvez Ranilla |first3=Lena |last4=Pedreschi |first4=Romina|pmid=29555072 |url-access=subscription }}
Her most recent publication, released in 2024, is titled "Conventional and ultrasound-assisted extractions of protein from sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) and their impact on the physicochemical and structural characteristics". This study was conducted in collaboration with her research team at the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (UNALM).{{Cite journal |last1=Chirinos |first1=Rosana |last2=Scharff-Salinas |first2=Romina |last3=Rodriguez-Diaz |first3=Jamerccy |last4=Figueroa-Merma |first4=Andrés |last5=Aguilar-Galvez |first5=Ana |last6=Guzmán |first6=Fanny |last7=Contardo |first7=Ingrid |last8=Pedreschi |first8=Romina |last9=Campos |first9=David |date=2024-12-01 |title=Conventional and ultrasound-assisted extractions of protein from sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) and their impact on the physicochemical and structural characteristics |journal=Applied Food Research |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=100545 |doi=10.1016/j.afres.2024.100545 |issn=2772-5022|doi-access=free }}
Awards and recognition
- National Assembly of Rectors (Peru): Recognition for outstanding scientific work and contributions to university research, awarded by the National Assembly of Rectors of Peru.{{cite news|access-date=2025-03-03 |date=2020-03-03 |issn=1605-3052 |language=es-PE |periodical=El Comercio |title=Científicas peruanas: Rosana Chirinos y la revaloración de las plantas nativas |url=https://elcomercio.pe/eldominical/ciencia/cientificas-peruanas-rosana-chirinos-y-la-revaloracion-de-las-plantas-nativas-universidad-agraria-de-la-molina-ingenieria-en-industrias-alimentarias-sacha-inchi-kiwicha-noticia/#google_vignette}}
- L'Oréal-UNESCO "For Women in Science" Award (2014, Peru): Award granted by L'Oréal Peru, CONCYTEC, and the Peruvian National Commission for UNESCO, in recognition of excellence in scientific research and contributions to the country's academic field.{{cite web|access-date=2025-03-03 |date=2015-10-02 |language=es |title=CONCYTEC-UNESCO OTORGARÁN PREMIO NACIONAL L'ORÉAL PERÚ «POR LA MUJER EN LA CIENCIA» 2015 |url=https://www.wari.com.pe/2015/10/01/concytec-unesco-otorgaran-premio-nacional-loreal-peru-por-la-mujer-en-la-ciencia-2015/ |website=Estación Wari - Radio en vivo desde Ayacucho - Perú}}