Dr. Andrés Ochoa Cruz
Andrés Ochoa Cruz, Ph.D. is a Biotech Scientist, Biohacker, TechGeneralist, Serial Entrepreneur, Advisor, and Public Speaker. He has more than 10 years of experience in Biotechnology, Genomics, and Bioinformatics for the public and private sectors in the United States, Brazil, and Germany.
Andrés is a reviewer of scientific journals and holds 10 honors/awards. He develops and supports technologies and business that use biotechnology to create global impact.
Andrés is the Cofounder, Board Member, and Chief Technology Officer at OneSkin Technologies since January 2017, based in San Francisco. They are developing solutions to enable people to age better, healthier, and with a better quality of life. Their mission is to promote people’s access to effective anti-aging products, so they can feel and age at their best.
In 2012, Andrés founded and is the Director of SyntechBio Network, a Biohacker Spaces Network. They support Biohacking and DIY-Bio initiatives in regions that need access to these technologies, enhancing the communication and action of the worldwide community as a group.
The SyntechBio Network already includes groups from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Ghana, Mexico, Peru, and Spain. Their online community of 4,000+ science lovers and tinkerers is a space for technological and social advances in DIY-Bio, Synthetic Biology, and Biohacking. Their vision is to improve access to biohacking and synthetic biology.
Since July 2018, Andrés has been Mentor at TERRA Food & Ag Accelerator. It is a first-of-its-kind program bringing together the industry’s most disruptive startups and progressive corporations to fuel cross-industry innovation and set a new standard for food and agriculture.
In May 2018, he joined Foresight Institute as a Fellow in Artificial Intelligence for Life Extension in Palo Alto. The Foresight Fellowship is an exclusive one year supportive program committed to giving change-makers the support and mentorship to accelerate their bold ideas into the future.
From the beginning of 2017, Andrés has been Advisor for Biotechnology Entrepreneurship, Synthetic Biology, and Biohacking tracks at Exosphere HQ.
He is currently also a Reviewer at the Molecular Genetics and Genomics Journal for Springer Nature and Member of the Bioindustry Committee at FIESP. The Industrial Federation of Sao Paulo aka The BioBrasil Committee supports entities related to the supply chains and biotechnology. As an official member of this Committee, Andrés strategically contributes to the development of this industry in Brazil.
In the past, Andrés has been, among others, Member of the Organization Committee at TECNOx Competitions (2015–2017); Codirector of Mentorship Program for iGEM competition at MIT (2015–2016); Mentor of Biotechnology Business at Startup Mexico (2015–2016); Cofounder, Chief Scientist Officer, and Board Member at Arcturus BioCloud (2015–2016); Mentor for iGEM competition at MIT (2015); and Reviewer for Brazilian Journal of Microbiology (2014–2015).
He was also Consultant for the projects Genomic platforms for marine bio-prospection and Strategic Development for Accessing Brazilian Genetic Resources, for CGEE, the Center for Strategic Studies and Management Science, Technology, and Innovation in Brazil.
In 2007, for three months, Andrés went to the Antarctic where he worked on collecting samples for isolation of microorganisms and metagenomics research at the Brazilian research station as part of PROANTAR (Brazilian Antarctic Program).
Andrés earned his Ph.D. in Biotechnology, Genome Sciences, and Genomics from the Universidade de São Paulo in 2012. In 2011, he did his Ph.D. internship in Freie Universität Berlin where he worked on the project “Characterization of SChAT lineage Transposases in sugarcane: molecular and functional studies” with the orientation of Professor Dr. Reinhard Kunze and Scholarship from DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst). Andrés earned his Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Microbiology and Virology from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.
In 2012, he finished a program for Technology Entrepreneurship provided by Stanford University through Venture Lab.
His quotes:
“When you feel that you should have been born in the future, the only option is to build that future, so you can finally get home” — 2014.
“Technology is like life, it cannot be contained, it finds its way.” — 2017.
Latest Lectures & Presentations:
- DNA-based economy, when evolution is digitalized — Singularity University — NASA, Moffett Field, 2017.
- Advance Tools for Synthetic Biology — Khan Lab School — IndieBio, San Francisco, 2017.
- The future of Synthetic Biology, Cloud Laboratories — Singularity University — NASA, Moffett Field, 2015.
- Hands-on, design principles of genetic engineering — IDEO, Mountain View, 2015.
- Hands-on, design principles of genetic engineering — BioCurious, Sunnyvale, 2015.
- The future of genetic engineering, Cloud Laboratories — Bioeconomy Strategic WorkShop, USP — São Paulo, 2015.
- Innovation in genetic engineering — Natura Company, São Paulo, 2015.
- Biohackers from a Latin American Perspective — BioHack Academy from Waag Society at Garagem FabLab, São Paulo, 2015.
His publications:
- The essential Biohacker’s guide: Begin your journey in the DIY-Bio world
- The Biohacking Landscape in Latin America
- TECNOx: A Latin American Syn Bio (and more) student competition
- Bioinformatics for Aspiring Synthetic Biologists
- Participation in iGEM Competition; Education toward Synthetic Biology Innovation
Watch the interview with Andrés at Singularity University.
Listen to the interview at LatinxAmerca’s Podcast — Building the future through science, tech and entrepreneurship.
Read the interview with Andrés at Lavca Venture Investors.
Watch his presentation Breaking the Wall of Molecular Biology Privatiosation at Falling Walls Foundation.
Visit his LinkedIn profile and his company website.View his publications at Google Scholar and view his ResearchID profile. Follow him on Facebook.