CV

1. Alejandro Santana Fariña
59 Sleaford St, Cambridge, CB1 2PU, UK
07432305226 ∙ alej.santanaf@gmail.com
Spanish – EU Citizen
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Personal Statement
A motivated scientific researcher with a PhD in Chemical Sciences and Technologies, with a strong track
record of publications and experience in the area of new candidate drugs development. I am looking for a
position in a challenging research organisation where I can strategically contribute to the company goals
while expanding further my skill set. I have wide experience in organic synthesis, physical properties
modification, characterisation and biological evaluation of natural products derivatives.
Education
Oct 2009 – Jun 2015 PhD in Chemical Sciences and Technologies at Universidad de Cádiz, Spain.
Thesis: Synthesis of bioactive sesquiterpene lactones as leads for new agrochemicals.
Feb 2012 – May 2012 Research Internship at Department of Chemistry, University of Bristol, UK.
Focusing in the development of new methodologies for asymmetric boron reactions.
Jan 2008 – Dec 2008 Masters in Chemical Sciences and Technologies at Universidad de Cádiz, Spain.
Specialising in design, synthesis and evaluation of bioactive molecules.
Sep 1998 – Mar 2006 Graduate in Chemistry at Universidad Simón Bolívar Caracas, Venezuela.
Final project: Preliminary Study for the Synthesis of 1-N-(aryl)-2-(trifluoromethyl)-4(1H)-quinazolinones.
Professional Experience
Sep 2014 – Jan 2016 Quality Assurance Specialist – Decommissioning Process at MSD Pharmaceuticals
Ireland for MGM Integrated Solutions.
 Manage the decommissioning process of two manufacturing facilities at MSD Ireland.
 Coordinate and facilitate record management methodologies.
 Liaise with other department and partners to ensure the development of relevant and legally compliant
documents for the site.
Jan 2009 – Sep 2009 Researcher at Universidad de Cádiz, Spain.
 Designed, synthesised and characterised natural product derivatives as potential pharmaceuticals.
 Modified and analysed physicochemical properties of organic products (pKa and logP).
 Managed the daily work of a research laboratory. In addition, analysed research results, wrote
manuscripts for international journals and contributed to new project proposals.
Sep 2008 – Dec 2008 Research Scientist at Konectia, Spain.
 Created and conducted experiments for the production of novel agrochemicals.
 Processed and analysed experimental data.
 Communicated ongoing work and findings to colleagues.
Jan 2006 – Dec 2007 Operations Manager at Creaciones Sisca S.R.L. and Alej12, Venezuela.
 Oversaw the overall financial management, planning, systems and control.
 Managed the payroll of 20 employees, including tabulation of accrued employee benefits.
 Maintained excellent communication with suppliers and customers.
 Drove initiatives in the management teamand organizationally that contributed to long-term operational
excellence.
Mar 2011 – Jul 2011 Assistant Professor of Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Sep 2005 – Dec 2005 Assistant Professor of Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory
Sep 2004 – Dec 2004 Assistant Professor of Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Mar 2003 – Jul 2003 Assistant Professor of Analytical Chemistry
 Guided groups of 25 undergraduates in 12 hours weekly sessions towards good laboratory practices and
full understanding of the concepts implied in the experiments.
Courses
2006 - 2007 English Course, Loscher-Ebbinghaus Institute, Caracas, Venezuela.
2005 Introduction to Safety and Toxicology, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Venezuela.

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Skills
Languages: Mother tongue Spanish; fluent in English.
Computing: High proficiency with Microsoft®: Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. High proficiency with
Bruker Topspin®, Agilent VNMR® and Xcalibur®.
Analytical techniques: Sample preparation, instrument utilisation, data collection and analysis in Nuclear
Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy, High Performance Liquid Chromatography
(HPLC), Ion Chromatography (IC), Column Chromatography (CC), Gas Chromatography –
Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Infrared Spectrometry (FT-IR), Ultraviolet-Visible
Spectrometry (UV-Vis).
Interests and hobbies
Playing football and tennis, reading historical novels and traveling.
Publications
 Santana F., A.; Molinillo, J. M. G.; Macías, F. A. Trends in the Synthesis and Functionalization of
Guaianolides. Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2015, 2093-2110.
 Macías, F. A.; Santana F., A.; Duran, A. G.; Cala, A., Galindo, J. C.; Molinillo, J. M. G. Guaianolides for
Multipurpose Molecular Design. Pest Management with Natural Products, Chapter 12, 2013, 167-188, ACS
Symposium Series, Volume 1141; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC.
 Macías, F. A.; Santana F., A.; Yamahata, A.; Varela, R. M.; Fronczek, F. R.; Molinillo, J. M. G. Facile
Preparation of Three Sesquiterpene Lactones Isolated from Artemisia gorgonum and their Phytotoxicity
Evaluation. J. Nat. Prod. 2012, 75 (11), 1967-1973.
Posters and Oral Presentations
 Santana F., A.; Molinillo, J. M. G.; Fronczek, F. R.; Varela, R. M.; Macías, F. A. Studies towards synthesis of
active guaianolide-type allelochemicals. 2014. 7th World Congress of Allelopathy, Vigo, Spain. Poster.
 Santana F., A.; Cala, A.; Molinillo, J. M. G.; Macías, F. A. New approaches in sesquiterpene lactone
research. 2014. Trends in Natural Products Research, Olomouc, Czech Republic. Oral Presentation.
 Santana F., A.; Arroyo, E.; Valdivia, M. J. M.; Molinillo, J. M. G.; Macías, F. A. seco-Guaianolides as
promising anticancer leads. 2013. PSE Meeting NaturalProducts in Cancer Prevention and Therapy; Napoles,
Italy. Oral Presentation.
 Santana F., A.; Molinillo, J. M. G.; Macías, F. A. Study of photochemical reaction to obtain
isophotosantonin. 2012. Phytochemical Society of Europe Congress on Bio-Communication; Chiclana, Spain.
Poster.
 Santana F., A.; Molinillo, J. M. G.; Macías, F. A. Synthesis of bioactive natural seco-guaianolides and
derivatives. 2012. Phytochemical Society of Europe Congress on Bio-Communication; Chiclana, Spain. Poster.
 Macías, F. A.; Santana F., A.; Duran, A.; Cala, A.; Galindo, J. C.; Molinillo, J. G. Guaianolides for
multipurpose molecular design. 2012. 244th ACS National Meeting, Philadelphia, USA. Oral Presentation.
 Santana F., A.; Macías, F. A.; Molinillo, J. M. G.; Arroyo, E.; Yamahata, A. Facile preparation of three
sesquiterpene lactones isolated from Artemisia gorgonum and their phytotoxicity evaluation. 2011. 6th
World Congress on Allelopathy, Guangzhou, China. Oral Presentation.
 SantanaF., A.; Guerra, M. E.; Restrepo, H.; Salazar, J.; López, S. Study of microwave-mediated synthesis
of N,N-bi-p-(aryl)-oxanilides. 2005. VII Venezuelan Chemistry Congress, Mérida, Venezuela. Poster.
Fellowships and Awards
 Fellowship for Development of Research Personnel, Universidad de Cádiz, Spain, 2009.
 Fellowship for Research Internship at Bristol University, Spain, Feb – May 2012.
 Best Poster Award, BIOCOM 12, Chiclana, Spain, 2012.
Cambridge, February 12th 2016