PhD in

Conservation Medicine

Conservation Medicine is an interdisciplinary scientific field dedicated to understanding, from a holistic view, health and conservation problems caused by the effects of global change variables and their interaction with the health of humans, animals, plants and the ecosystems that sustain them. Phenomena such as climate change, ecosystem degradation, biological invasions and pollution have vast economic, sociological, ecological and health effects. Conservation Medicine is the theoretical body that generates knowledge to propose solutions through the necessary approaches to face the problems described, promoting the biodiversity conservation and the protection of ecosystems that are essential for the health of all living beings on the planet.

Welcome to

Conservation Medicine

Training of excellence to face the challenges of a globalized world.

BROCHURE 2024


Specific Objectives

  • Provide tools for the understanding and generation of new knowledge in the study of the interactions between the variables of global change related to health and conservation problems.
  • Promote the development of skills that allow generating research to determine the effect of environmental change on the health of humans, animals, plants and the ecosystems they share.
  • Generate instances of academic dialogue to advance in the development of interdisciplinary proposals aimed at solving problems associated with Conservation Medicine.
  • Promote spaces that allow to develop tools to communicate orally and in writing the results derived from their research to the specialized and non-specialized public.


Lines of Research

This line proposes a holistic view of health problems at the interface between humans, animals, plants and the environment that sustains them, recognizing that health and all organisms on the planet are closely linked and inter-dependent. Special emphasis is placed on determining how human activities give rise to changes that may affect disease epidemiology or impact public, domestic and wild animal health, and ecosystems. Through an integrative approach, One Health promotes a healthy future and sustainable development.

This line focuses on the study of the impacts of the Anthropocene on biological systems at any of its scales (from molecular to ecosystemic). Among the main drivers of environmental change on a global scale are biological invasions, land use change, pollution, overexploitation of resources and climate change. The understanding of the mechanisms and individual, additive or synergistic effects that the drivers of global change have on natural and urban systems, allow addressing these problems and proposing solutions to prevent, reduce or stop the degradation of ecosystems. Likewise, it addressed the sustainable development of wild, rural and urban lands in balance with the environment.

This line addresses the science and practice of conserving the diversity of life, from genes, populations, species, communities to ecosystems. It involves the study of threats, as well as actions that seek the protection, restoration and management of biodiversity, including in situ and ex situ conservation approaches. Its purpose is to propose solutions to growing environmental problems considering the importance of biodiversity in the provision of ecosystem services necessary for human well-being.


Graduate Profile

The graduate of the PhD in Conservation Medicine program of Universidad Andrés Bello has a solid scientific background to generate new knowledge and communicate original and autonomous research on health and conservation problems that occur in the interaction between humans, animals, plants and the ecosystems that support them, in a context of global change.

It is capable of, from a holistic view, analyze, diagnose, predict and propose solutions to problems in the lines of One Health, Global Change or Biodiversity Conservation.

The learning results of the graduation profile are:

  1. Demonstrate specialized and cutting-edge theoretical and practical knowledge in Conservation Medicine, which allows the development of original and autonomous research considering bioethical aspects.
  2. Generate new knowledge in some of the research lines of the program: One Health, Global Change or Biodiversity Conservation, based on the analysis and diagnosis of the needs and problems identified in Conservation Medicine.
  3. Communicate orally and in writing the results of scientific research to the specialized and non-specialized public, contributing to the solution of health and environmental problems.


Program Director

Claudio Azat

MV, MSc, PhD (Universidad Andrés Bello/ Zoological Society of London). [email protected]

Academic Profile


Academic Faculty

Ruben Avendaño-Herrera

PhD in Biology specialized in Microbiology and Parasitology of Fish (Universidad Santiago de Compostela Spain). Line: One Health. [email protected]

ACADEMIC PROFILE

Claudio Azat

PhD in Conservation Medicine (Universidad Andrés Bello/ Zoological Society of London). Lines: One Health and Biodiversity Conservation. [email protected]

Academic Profile

Francisca Blanco

PhD in Biological Sciences specialized in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile). Line: One Health. [email protected]

Perfil del Académico

Cristian Bulboa

PhD in Science specialized in Botanics (Universidad de Sao Paulo, Brasil). Line: Biodiversity Conservation. [email protected]

Perfil del Académico

Mauricio Carter

PhD in Science specialized in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (Universidad de Chile). Line: Global Change. [email protected]

Perfil del Académico

Gustavo Chiang

PhD in Environmental Sciences (Universidad de Concepción). Lines: Global Change. [email protected]

ACADEMIC PROFILE

Loretto Contreras

PhD in Biological Sciences specialized in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile). Line: Global Change. [email protected]

Academic Profile

Mauricio Coppo

PhD in Veterinary Virology and Avian Immunology (University of Melbourne). Line: One Health. [email protected]

ACADEMIC PROFILE

Pablo Cruces

Pediatric Intensivist Physician (Universidad del Desarrollo). Line: One Health. [email protected]

Academic Profile

Cristian Duarte

PhD in Science specialized in Systems and Ecology (Universidad Austral de Chile). Line: Golbal Change. [email protected]

Academic Profile

Nicolas Galarce

PhD in Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences (University of Chile). Line: One Health. [email protected]

ACADEMIC PROFILE

Gustavo Gatica

PhD in Engineering Sciences, mention in automation (University of Santiago de Chile). Line: Global Change [email protected]

Academic Profile

Carlos González

PhD in Pathology (University of Edinburgh, UK). Line: One Health. [email protected]

Academic Profile

Christian Ibáñez

PhD in Sciences specialized in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (Universidad de Chile). Line: Biodiversity Conservation. [email protected]

Academic Profile

Gonzalo Medina

PhD in Wildlife Ecology (Lincoln University, New Zealand). Lines: Biodiversity Conservation. [email protected]

Academic Profile

Edmundo Muñoz

PhD in Engineering (Universidad de La Frontera). Line: Global Change. [email protected]

Academic Profile

Pablo Oyarzún

Doctor in Marine Biology (Austral University of Chile). Line: Conservation of Biodiversity. [email protected]

Academic Profile

M. Cecilia Pardo

PhD in Sciences, specialized in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (Universidad de Chile). Line: Biodiversity Conservation. [email protected]

Perfil del Académico

Rodolfo Paredes

PhD in Biomedical Sciences (Universidad de Chile). Line: One Heatlh. [email protected]

Academic Profile

José Miguel Pulgar

PhD in Biological Sciences specialized in Ecology (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile). Line: Global Change. [email protected]

Academic Profile

Verónica Quirici

PhD in Biological Sciences specialized in Ecology (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile). Line: Biodiversity Conservation. [email protected]

Academic Profile

Claudia Saavedra

Doctor in Biochemistry (University of Chile) Line: One Health. [email protected]

Academic Profile

Gisela Stotz

PhD in Ecology (University of Alberta, Canada). Line: Golabal Change. [email protected]

Academic Profile

Pamela Thomson

PhD in Biomedicine (Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Catalunya, Spain). Line: One Heatlh. [email protected]

Academic Profile


Collaborating Professors

Aiko Adell

PhD in Comparative Pathology (University of California Davis, USA). Line: One Health. [email protected]

Academic Profile

Francisca Astorga

PhD in Conservation Medicine (Universidad Andrés Bello). Lines: One Health. [email protected]

Daniela Doussang

PhD in Veterinary Sciences (Universidad de Concepción). Line: Biodiversity Conservation. [email protected]

Cayetano Espinosa

PhD in Conservation Medicine (Universidad Andrés Bello). Line: Biodiversity Conservation. [email protected]

Juan Manuel Estrada

PhD in Biotechnology (Universidad Andrés Bello). Line: Biodiversity Conservation. [email protected]

Academic Profile

Iván Franchi

PhD in Geography, Territorial Planning and Environmental Management (Universidad de Barcelona). Line: Global Change. [email protected]

Elizabeth Garrido

PhD in Environmental Resource Science (Universidad de La Frontera). Line: Global Change. [email protected]

Academic Profile

Sebastián Klarián

PhD in Conservation Medicine (Universidad Andrés Bello). Line: Biodiversity Conservation. [email protected]

Academic Profile

Gabriel León

PhD in Biological Sciences, mention in Cellular and Molecular Biology (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile). Line: One Health. [email protected]

Beatriz Mella-Lira

PhD in Urban Planning (University College London). Line: Global Change. [email protected]

Daniel Pons

PhD in Mathematics (Imperial College London, University of London, UK). Lines: Biodiversity Conservation. [email protected]

Academic Profile

Alejandro Simeone

PhD in Natural Sciences (University of Kiel, Germany). Line: Biodiversity Conservation. [email protected]

Academic Profile

Juan Ugalde

PhD in Marine Biology (University of California San Diego, USA). Line: One Health. [email protected]

Academic Profile

Leonardo Vera

PhD in Environmental Resource Science (Universidad de La Frontera). Line: Global Change. [email protected]


Visiting Professors

Karina Acevedo-Whitehouse

PhD in Molecular Ecology (University of Cambridge, UK). Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Mexico. [email protected]

Pelayo Acevedo

PhD in Biology and Technology of Hunting Resources (Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Spain). Institute for Game and Wildlife Research (IREC), Spain. [email protected]

Julio Benavides

PhD in Evolutive Biology and Ecology (Université de Montpellier, Francia). Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), France. [email protected]

Andrew Cunningham

PhD in Wildlife Epidemiology (Royal Veterinary College, University of London, UK). Professor of Wildlife Epidemiology, Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, UK. [email protected]

Luis Emilio Escobar

PhD in Conservation Medicine (Universidad Andres Bello, Chile). Assistant Professor of Disease Ecology and Biogeography, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, USA. [email protected]

Arno Gutleb

PhD in Environmental Science, Toxicology (Wageningen University, The Netherlands). Public Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Luxembourg. [email protected]

Javier Millán

PhD in Veterinary (Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain). [email protected]

John Organ

PhD in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology (University of Massachusetts at Amherst, EEUU). US Geological Survey, EE.UU. [email protected]

María Soledad Sepúlveda

PhD in Veterinary Sciences (University of Florida). Professor & Associate Head for Research, Department of Forestry & Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. [email protected]

Paul Wagner

PhD in Biology (Virginia Tech University). Professor of Practice and Program Director, MPS in Climate Leadership, College of Natural Resources and Environment, Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability. [email protected]


Curriculum


Scholarships and Financing

Andrés Bello University has different scholarships for its doctoral students, to learn more we invite you to visit the Doctorates home where you will find Scholarships and Financing Opportunities.

VIEW SCHOLARSHIOS AND FINANCING


Requirements

The following documents must be attached with the «Application Form”:

  • Photocopy of Passport.
  • Notarized legal photocopy of Professional Title or Academic Grade (Apostille for foreign students).
  • Record of undergraduate marks.
  • Undergraduate graduation ranking.
  • Birth certificate.
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Two letters of recommendation.
  • Intention letter.


Application Process

The process consists of three consecutive stages. In each stage there is a preselection determined by the minimum established cutoff note. The weighting of each stage is:

 

Stage Weight
Academic background 40%
Exam 20%
Interview 40%

 

The academic background note is obtained from the following weighting:

Criteria Weight
Mark and undergraduate ranking 30%
graduate degrees and professional experience 10%
Presentations in conferences 10%
Scientific Publications 30%
Intention letter 10%
Recommendation letters 10%

 

The evaluation scale is as follows:

Score Evaluation Scale 
1  Deficient
2  Regular
3  Good
4  Very good
5  Excellent


Applications open 11th August and close 12th October 2023.

Application process will be online. Documents must be sent to the following email address:

 

[email protected]
Miss Ana Torres
Administrative Secretary of Postgraduate Programs