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Dr. Alejandro Santana
3 Town Close, CB22 3JB, Sawston, UK 07432305226 alej.santanaf@gmail.com
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/alejandro-santana-f-367048100
Profile
A PhD in Organic Chemistry experienced in Drug and Agrochemicals Development and Synthesis
and Process Scale-up of Macrocyclic Molecules with great lab-work skills. Communicative, highly motivated
and proactive scientist, used to working under pressure either independently or as part of a team in
academic or industrial environments in order to solve problems and achieve set goals.
Highlights
 Excellent laboratory, research, planning
and development skills.
 Experience in synthesis, purification and
characterization of organic molecules.
 Knowledge in asymmetric synthesis,
photochemical reactions, cyclisation and a
variety of synthetic methodologies.
 Handling of air and moisture sensitive
compounds by Schleck techniques and
glovebox.
 Excellent knowledge of GMP, HSE awareness
and understanding of ISO and REACH
standards.
 Great at communicating scientific work
using presentations, posters and written
reports.
 Skilled at UV-Vis, FTIR, Mass and NMR
spectroscopies.
 Expert in Thin-layer, Column, HPLC and GC
chromatography.
 Knowledge of DoE & software packages.
 A creative approach to problem-solving.
 Broad experience in records management
and preparation of the decommissioning
process documents.
Experience
 Mar 2016 – Jul 2016 Research and Development Chemist at Aqdot Ltd, Cambridge, UK.
 Developed new methodologies for the synthesis of macrocycles, introduced innovative
technologies and increased the yield of the relevant component by 100%.
 Optimised reaction conditions for efficient process scale-up.
 Proposed and provided experimental results to elucidate reaction mechanisms.
 Sep 2014 – Jan 2016 Quality Assurance Specialist – Decommissioning Process at MSD
Pharmaceuticals Ireland for MGM Integrated Solutions.
 Efficiently facilitated the shutdown with minimum interruptions to active programs of two
manufacturing facilities at MSD Ireland.
 Coordinated and facilitated record management methodologies.
 Liaised with other departments 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
agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals.
 Modified and analysed physicochemical properties of organic products (pKa and logP).

2. Dr. Alejandro Santana | 07432305226 | alej.santanaf@gmail.com 2
 Led and coached four Masters students towards successful completion of their research
projects.
 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., 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 within the management team and the entire organization that
contributed to long-term operational excellence.
Education
Facultad de Ciencias, University of Cadiz
 2009-2015 PhD in Chemical Sciences and Technologies: 1st-class honours, Cum-Laude
Thesis: Synthesis of bioactive sesquiterpene lactones as leads for new agrochemicals.
 2008 M.S. in Chemical Sciences and Technologies: Upper 2nd-class honours
Specialised in design, synthesis and evaluation of bioactive molecules.
Department of Chemistry, University of Bristol
 2012 Research Internship
Developed new methodologies for asymmetric boron reactions.
Departamento de Química, University Simón Bolívar
 1998-2006 Graduate in Chemistry
Final project: Preliminary Study for the Synthesis of 1-N-(aryl)-2-(trifluoromethyl)-4(1H)-
quinazolinones.
Publications and Presentations
 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, Vol. 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.

3. Dr. Alejandro Santana | 07432305226 | alej.santanaf@gmail.com 3
 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 Natural Products in Cancer Prevention and
Therapy; Naples, Italy. Oral Presentation.
 Santana F., A.; Molinillo, J. M. G.; Macías, F. A. Study of photochemical reaction to obtain
isophotosantonin. 2012. Phytochemical Society 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.
 Santana F., 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.
Awards
 Fellowship for Development of Research Personnel, Universidad de Cádiz, Spain, 2009.
 Fellowship for Research Internship at University of Bristol, UK by Universidad de Cádiz, 2012.
 Best Poster Award, BIOCOM 12, Chiclana, Spain, 2012.
Additional Information
 Interest and hobbies
Playing football and tennis, reading historical novels and traveling.
 Languages
Spanish (native), English (fluent).
 Others
Full driver’s licence (B1/B), Spanish – EU Citizen.