Juan Carlos Martinez
About Juan Carlos Martinez
Juan Carlos Martinez is a Senior Research Associate at Benson Hill, where he has worked since 2020. He has extensive experience in plant transformation and breeding, with previous roles at institutions such as Iowa State University and Syngenta.
Current Role at Benson Hill
Juan Carlos Martinez serves as a Senior Research Associate at Benson Hill, a position he has held since 2020 in St. Louis, Missouri. In this role, he has optimized a new soybean transformation pipeline, which has contributed to enhancing the established transformation system. He has also assisted in the development of a yellow pea transformation pipeline, showcasing his expertise in plant transformation techniques.
Previous Experience in Plant Transformation
Prior to his current role, Juan Carlos Martinez worked at Iowa State University as the Center for Plant Transformation Laboratory Manager from 2014 to 2018. He also served as a Plant Transformation Specialist focusing on maize transformation from 2018 to 2019. His earlier experience includes a position as Plant Transformation Production Team Lead at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for six months in 2019.
Educational Background
Juan Carlos Martinez earned a Master of Sciences degree from Iowa State University, where he studied plant breeding, plant tissue culture, plant genetic transformation, and molecular analysis from 2004 to 2007. He also holds a degree as an Agricultural Engineer in Crop Production and Crop Protection from Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, which he completed from 1996 to 2002.
Experience in the Agricultural Sector
Juan Carlos Martinez has extensive experience in the agricultural sector, having worked at various organizations. He was a Corn Seed Program Coordinator at Syngenta for three months in 2012 and served as a CPR&D Biotech Specialist at Dow AgroSciences from 2012 to 2014. Additionally, he worked as a Senior Regulatory Associate at Corteva Agriscience - Pioneer Hi Bred International from 2008 to 2011.
Contributions to Scientific Research
At Benson Hill, Juan Carlos Martinez has provided scientific knowledge and experience to enhance the quality of experimental results in soybean transformation experiments. He has contributed to scientific discussions and presented research outcomes to peers and supervisors, demonstrating his commitment to advancing plant transformation research.