Francisco Cubillos, PhD is a molecular geneticist whose research explores biodiversity as a source of innovation in biotechnology. He earned his PhD in Genetics from the University of Nottingham (UK) in 2010, where he trained under Prof. Edward J. Louis and Dr. Gianni Liti. He later conducted postdoctoral research at INRA-Versailles (France) with Dr. Olivier Loudet, focusing on natural genetic variation and adaptation in plants.

Since returning to Chile, Dr. Cubillos has led the Molecular Genetics Laboratory at the University of Santiago de Chile and serves as an Associate Researcher at the Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio). His research combines ecology, genomics, and biotechnology to study native yeast diversity, with a particular focus on Saccharomyces eubayanus, the wild ancestor of lager yeast. His work bridges fundamental biology and industrial applications, contributing to the development of novel yeasts and fermentation technologies for the brewing, wine, and whisky industries.

Dr. Cubillos has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications and leads international collaborations across Europe, Oceania, and Latin America. His contributions have been recognized through several distinctions, including his appointment as an EMBO Global Investigator, membership as a TWAS Young Affiliate, and the 2022 Best Chilean Young Scientist Award from the Chilean Academy of Sciences.

His expertise spans yeast genetics, genomics, biodiversity, and fermentation biotechnology, with a strong commitment to translating scientific discoveries into real-world innovation.