Who is Arturo Luna, the new Minister of Science of Colombia?

(CNN Spanish) — Arturo Luna, a biologist with a doctorate in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Tennessee, is the new addition to Gustavo Petro’s cabinet: he was elected as Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation.

Luna studied at the University of Sucre, where she graduated as a biologist with an emphasis on Biotechnology, based on your LinkedIn profile information.

He also has a doctorate from the University of Tennessee in Biomedical Sciences with an emphasis in Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry.

At the University’s Center for Medical Sciences, he served as a research assistant and postdoctoral fellow. In the United States he also studied at Louisiana State University, according to his public information.

In his profile he defines himself as a “biologist with experience in tropical disease research: leishmaniasis and Chagas disease” and highlights medical entomology, molecular biology and molecular parasitology as areas of knowledge.

Luna is a well-known figure in the Ministry: from 2019 to 2022, during the Government of Iván Duque, he held the position of Science and Technology manager. Petro explained that Luna “led” the “agenda in sustainable use for the transition to a low-carbon economy based on natural capital.”

(Image of Arturo Luna from his Twitter profile)

“Total commitment to open dialogue to make Science, Technology and Innovation the pillar of sustainable and equitable development to consolidate a knowledge society in the country,” Luna wrote after Petro’s announcement on his Twitter account.

In your ResearchGate academic network profile Some of his scientific publications can be consulted.

In her most recent social media posts, Luna has shared the ministry initiative for those Colombians with a doctorate degree who live in the country or abroad to register in an online database to contribute “their experience and knowledge to the government.”

The process against Arturo Luna in the Ministry

Following President Petro’s announcement, reports emerged in local media about a lawsuit filed against Luna’s appointment to the Science portfolio during the previous administration. The claim document as explained by the medium La Silla Vacíaaffirms that according to an investigation by the Human Talent Directorate of the Luna Ministry, he did not have the 36 months of professional experience for the position.

Luna, as part of her career, presented 25 months of work at the University of Tennessee. However, the MinCiecias lawsuit says that the document with which it validated that experience had not been subjected to the necessary process, for example legalization and translation of the title, in addition to not having an issue date, and the description of the tasks did not It coincided with what was expected for the position in the portfolio.

CNN en Español consulted the Petro team regarding this demand, although it officially comes from the previous administration, but has not yet received a response.