Alfonso Benítez Páez

Dr Alfonso Benítez Páez, has a BSc degree in Biology, with MSc degree in Biochemistry, and a Diploma in Biotechnology. He received his PhD degree in Molecular Biology in June 2010 (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid). During his PhD training under the supervision of Dr Mª Eugenia Armengod (CIPF, Valencia) and collaborative work with Dr Toni Gabaldón (CRG, Barcelona), Dr Benítez acquired notable expertise in bacterial genomics, molecular biology, and recombinant protein analyses fundamental to describe for the first time functions of the TrmL and RlmN RNA E. coli orphan methylases. His postdoctoral training started in the Dr Alex Mira laboratory (FISABIO-CSISP, Valencia), where he studied human microbiota and its influence on human health. Later on, he enrolled in Prof Yolanda Sanz's laboratory (IATA-CSIC, Paterna) to study the intestinal microbiota and to unveil the host-diet-microbe interactions. Dr Benítez has completed short- and mid-term fellowships in excellence centers such as the University of Bolonia (Prof Patrizia Brigidi's group, Bolonia, Italia, 2017) and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory - EMBL (Dr Georg Zeller's group, Heidelberg, Germany, 2018), and to develop three microbiota-based licensed patents. Dr Benítez has envisioned and led outstanding research projects such as developing new molecular protocols for the characterization of complex microbial communities based on cutting-edge sequencing platforms and implementing multi-omics analysis in random clinical trials to decipher diet-host-microbiota interactions in obesity and metabolic impairment. After almost ten years of postdoctoral experience and an excellent publication track record, Dr Benítez was granted with a "Miguel Servet" competitive contract (ISCIII) on the 2019 call to work as Junior Group Leader R3 at the CIPF for five years. From 2020 to 2023 he led the CIPF Host-Microbe Interactions in Metabolic Health laboratory performing advanced investigation in the human gut microbiome. His scientific career is already recognized overseas because of the regular invitation to review manuscripts in top-ranked journals specialized in nutrition, gastroenterology and microbiome research (e.g. Microbiome, Gut, Clinical Nutrition, Gut Microbes, Science Advances) and because of his membership as Associate Editor of Frontiers in Microbiology and Frontiers in Nutrition journals. Dr Benítez has also been committed to training and formation of young investigators to complete their Master (10 trainees supervised) or PhD thesis (3 trainees supervised). Dr Benítez possesses the I3 certificate (I3/2021/0034) by the Spanish Ministry of Universities and the AEI (Agencia Estatal de Investigación). Furthermore, Dr Benítez Páez holds the following credentials: Assistant Professor Doctor (PAD), Contracted Professor Doctor (PCD), and Private University Professor (PUP) by ANECA agency (November 2020), and three Research Six-year period certifications (2007-2012, 2013-2018, 2019-2024) by ANECA Spanish agency. Dr Benítez has a permanent position (Tenured Scientist) at the IATA-CSIC Severo-Ochoa Excellence Center (from 2024 onward).