Personal profile
Teaching
Ph.D in Chemistry
Professional Experience
I have had the opportunity to work on the characterization of snake venom proteins. I have also worked on the design of inhibitors of toxins such as metalloproteinases and serine proteases. In recent years, I have worked on microalgal biotechnology.
Research interests
Research areas of interest include the use of microalgae for the development of agricultural inputs, aquaculture feed, and the remediation of agro-industrial waste.
Also, the characterization of enzymes for microplastic degradation.
And the use of nuclear magnetic resonance for bioprocess monitoring.
Languages
Spanish
English
Portuguese
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, Ph.D, UNICAMP
Award Date: 28 Jun 2016
Fields of knowledge of Science and Technology according to the OECD Frascati Manual
- Natural Sciences
Campus del Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica
- CAMPUS TECNOLOGICO CENTRAL CARTAGO
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 2 Zero Hunger -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 14 Life Below Water
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Phyco-cosmecéutica: Desarrollo de prototipos de productos cosméticos y bebidas funcionales a base de microalgas y extractos de hojas de fresa.
Salas Arias, K. (Coordinating Researcher (may be from TEC or another entity)), Villalta Romero, F. (Institutional academic collaborator), Quesada González, A. (Institutional academic collaborator) & Hidalgo Paniagua, D. (External collaborating researcher )
1/01/26 → 31/12/28
Project: Research Projects Internally funded › Technological Development
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ACUIBIO: “Acuicultura circular: revalorización de microalgas y residuos de tilapia para una producción sostenible en el sur de Costa Rica
Murillo Vega, F. (Coordinating Researcher (may be from TEC or another entity)), Carvajal-Oses, M. (External collaborating researcher ), Villalta Romero, F. (Institutional academic collaborator), Vaquerano Pineda, F. (Institutional academic collaborator), Vargas Jiménez, O. (External collaborating researcher ), Balderramo , F. (External collaborating researcher ), Bustos, G. (External collaborating researcher ) & Ávila Cerdas, N. (External collaborating researcher )
1/01/26 → 31/12/28
Project: Internally funded extension projects › Participatory and collaborative action
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Implementación de la Resonancia Magnética Nuclear para el monitoreo de los procesos de transformación de los residuos agroindustriales
Villalta Romero, F. (Coordinating Researcher (may be from TEC or another entity)), Céspedes Camacho, I. (Institutional academic collaborator), Murillo Vega, F. (Institutional academic collaborator), Orozco Gutiérrez, F. (External collaborating researcher ) & Butenschön, E. (External collaborating researcher )
National Center of High Technology (CeNAT-CONARE), Universität Leipzig
1/01/26 → 31/12/27
Project: Research Projects Internally funded › Basic and applied research
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Determinación del perfil fitoquímico de hoja y fruto de Jatropha curcas (tempate) en Costa Rica (Fase I)
Villalta Romero, F. (Institutional academic coordinator), Calvo-Castro, L. A. (Institutional academic collaborator), Alvarado Ulloa, C. (Institutional academic collaborator), Salas Arias, K. (Institutional academic collaborator), Sánchez Kopper, A. (Institutional academic collaborator), Irías-Mata, A. (External collaborating researcher ), Arnaez-Serrano, E. (External collaborating researcher ) & Moreira-Gonzalez, I. (External collaborating researcher )
1/01/24 → 30/06/26
Project: Research Projects Internally funded › Basic and applied research
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Implementación de bioestimulantes a base de microalgas en la producción comercial de fresa.
Villalta Romero, F. (Institutional academic coordinator), Murillo Vega, F. (Institutional academic coordinator) & Salas Arias, K. (Institutional academic coordinator)
1/01/24 → 31/12/25
Project: Internally funded extension projects › Technology Transfer
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Antagonistic Potential of Agro-Industrial Byproduct–Derived Lactic Acid Bacteria Against Mycotoxigenic Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides
Wu-Wu, J. W. F., Barboza, N., Villalta-Romero, F. & Viñas, M., 2025, In: International Journal of Microbiology. 2025, 1, 9002943.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Comparative NMR-based profiling of polyphenols in Fragaria× ananassa cv. Marisol and Festival strawberry leaves
Villalta Romero, F., Céspedes Camacho, I. & Salas Arias, K., 23 May 2025, In: Pure and Applied Chemistry.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2 Scopus citations -
Comparative NMR-based profiling of polyphenols in Fragaria x ananassa cv. Marisol and Festival strawberry leaves
Pena-Romero, I., Cespedes-Camacho, I. F., Ramirez-Gualito, K., Salas-Arias, K. & Villalta-Romero, F., 23 May 2025, In: Pure and Applied Chemistry. 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Infrared gas analyzer as a cutting-edge tool for studying photosynthesis in marine microalgae: a case study on Isochrysis galbana
Gómez-Espinoza, O., Murillo-Vega, F., Guillén-Watson, R., Villalta-Romero, F., Villanueva-Ilama, M., Hernández-Castro, J. D., Maroto, J. V., Araya, F. Z. & Núñez-Montero, K., 14 Oct 2025, In: Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Uso de bioestimulantes a base de microalgas en planes de manejo orgánico de papa (Solanum tuberosum L.)
Villalta Romero, F., 30 May 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Investiga TEC. 18, 53, p. 37-45 8 p., 53.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review