LUNA MALDONADO, ALEJANDRO ISABEL

Dr. Alejandro Isabel Luna Maldonado completed his undergraduate degree in 1990, the year he was awarded the title of Agricultural Engineer by the Faculty of Agronomy at the Autonomous University of Nuevo León (UANL). In 1996, he successfully completed the Agricultural Machinery Design course, held from February 12 to October 11, organized by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Later, in 2002, he successfully completed the group training course on the Application of Automation Technology in Agricultural Machinery at the Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine in Japan, from June 27 to October 11, 2002, also organized by JICA under the Japanese Government's International Cooperation Program. He pursued graduate studies at the Antonio Narro Autonomous Agricultural University, where he earned a Master of Science degree in the field of Agroindustrial Mechanical Design in 2004. He completed his doctoral studies in Japan, earning a Ph.D. in Agricultural Science in 2009, with a specialization in technology development for ecosystems, from Kyushu University. During his doctoral training, he was the recipient of a PROMEP scholarship from the Ministry of Public Education (SEP) to study at Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan, from April 1, 2006, to March 31, 2009. Additionally, he received a scholarship from the City of Fukuoka Program to conduct a research project at the same university from August 1 to December 31, 2006. Since 1992, he has been part of the academic staff at the Faculty of Agronomy at the Autonomous University of Nuevo León, where he currently holds the position of Full Professor C. His area of specialization is the development of technology and automation applied to agriculture and the food industry. He has completed four international research stays and has a strong track record in human resource development. He has supervised four doctoral dissertations, two master’s theses, and co-supervised two additional master’s theses, as well as six undergraduate theses. He has also served as an advisor for six other undergraduate theses. Currently, he is supervising or co-supervising two doctoral dissertations and one master’s thesis. In the field of scientific production, he is the author of 58 peer-reviewed articles, five books, and 14 book chapters specialized in his field. He has been a member of the National System of Researchers (SNII) since 2010, having been recognized as a Candidate (2010–2012), Level I (2013–2015, 2016–2019, 2020–2024), and more recently as Level II for the 2025–2029 period. Throughout his career, he has received several awards for his outstanding academic and scientific work. In 2014, he was honored with the FAUANL Professional Recognition for his contributions to the scientific field in the agro-industrial sector. In 2023, he received the Best Researcher Award during the 6th Edition of the International Research Awards on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems, and in 2024 he was awarded the UANL Research Prize. He has delivered more than 37 presentations at congresses, colloquia, workshops, seminars, and conferences, including 10 invited lectures. He has led five research projects funded by external sources and 11 projects supported by internal funding. He also actively participates in academic evaluation as a reviewer for CONACYT research projects and monitors projects under the SEDAR–CONACYT Sectoral Funds. He serves as an evaluator for the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and the Central American Accreditation Agency for Graduate Studies (ACAP). He is also a member of the editorial board of two internationally circulated scientific journals. He was recognized for his leadership of the Academic Board on Environment and Sustainability, which has been acknowledged as consolidated by the Program for the Professional Development of Professors (PRODEP) of the Ministry of Public Education for the period 2010–2025.