María José Arenas Muñetón
(Armenia, Quindío, Colombia 29-02-1996)

During her early years of studying Chemistry at the University of Quindío (UQ) between 2013 and 2016, she participated in research related to the synthesis of organic heterocyclic compounds. In 2018, she obtained her Chemistry degree and received the laureate distinction from the Faculty of Basic Sciences and Technologies at UQ for her thesis titled "Synthesis of silver nanoparticles in nanoemulsions using citronella essential oil (Cymbopogon nardus) as a reducing agent." Subsequently, in 2019, she was awarded a doctoral scholarship by CONICET and began her doctoral studies in Sciences and Technology with a specialization in Chemistry at the National University of San Martín (UNSAM). Under the guidance of Dr. Alejandro Wolosiuk and Dr. Andrea V. Bordoni, her research focused on the synthesis of organoalkoxysilane precursors modified with carboxylic acids using thiol-ene click reactions and the modification of mesoporous SiO2 surfaces. Additionally, she conducted studies on copper ion adsorption on these modified matrices. From 2020 to 2021, she served as a first assistant in Organic Chemistry at the Institute of Sciences of the National University of General Sarmiento (UNGS). Currently, she holds the position of Chief of Practical Works in Organic and Biological Chemistry at the Institute of Biotechnology of the National University of Hurlingham (UNAHUR).