David Peris Navarro

Scientific contributions
Dr. Peris has a Ph.D. in Biotechnology (University of Valencia, 2012). Since 2021, he is Principal Investigator with a Research Council of Norway (RCN) grant at University of Oslo (Norway) and in 2024 Tenured Researcher (Científico Titular) at Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA)-CSIC. He has developed his research in four different countries: Spain, UK, US and Norway. David Peris has expertise in comparative genomics, fungal evolution, highthroughput microbial phenotyping, bioinformatics and biotechnological applications. Dr. Peris is studying mechanisms of speciation and adaptation in fungi (mushroom-like and yeasts). His international UiO/IATA FunGIA lab (Fungal Genomics & Industrial Applications Lab) implements bioinformatic tools to study evolution and adaptation of fungi; and develops new molecular methods for generating new strains with applications in the production of healthy, safe and sustainable food products.
Contribution to society
Peris’ research has been transferred to the society by 3 intellectual disclosure reports and 2 patents. He developed molecular methods to generate yeast diversity that can offer new traits of industrial interest. Heineken® has used their strains to generate a new line of beers, the “Wild Lager”.
Other contributions
Dr. Peris has been involved in 24 research projects, 10 as a Principal Investigator. He was also president of Spanish Scientist in US-Midwest (2015-2017), developing mentoring and outreach programs, and he participated actively in outreach events organized by SFNO(Spanske Forskere i Norge).IENO (2021). He is member of 2 journal editorial boards, he has been project reviewer (1 country) and reviewer for 18 international journals.
Important prizes and fellowships
In 2017, he received the postdoctoral Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellowship; in 2018, he was recipient of the DeLill Nasser Award of Genetics Society of Americ; and in 2024, he received the 1st Maria Blasco Award by the Spanish Embassy in Norway and SFNO.IENO. Other prizes: 1 oral talk prize (ISSY33) and 1 poster prize (ECFG15).