Institute of Bee Health

Institute of Bee Health

Orlando is the Laboratory Manager at the Institute of Bee Health. He is interested in the adaptation and genetic variability of deformed wing virus (DWV), a worldwide distributed honey bee virus which is frequently associated with colony losses, as well as in the role that endosymbionts may play in honey bee health.

Professional Career

  • Since 2013: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; topics: Endosymbionts in honey bees and transmission of honey bee pathogens through honey bee products
  • 2010-2012: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Research Station Agroscope-Haras Liebefeld-Posieux ALP, Bern, Switzerland; topic: Inter and intra-specific transmission and diversity of honey bee viruses
  • 2006: Research Scientist, Centro de Investigacion Nacional de Apicultura Tropical (CINAT), Heredia, Costa Rica; topic: Reproduction of Varroa mites in Africanized honey bees
  • 2003: Research Scientist, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Instituto Tecnologico Pesquero (ITP) Lima, Peru
  • 2000-2002: Research Scientist, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, International Potato Center (CIP) Lima, Peru

Education

  • 2007-2010: PhD in host-parasite interactions, Queen's University Belfast, UK, PhD thesis entitled:  “Genetic diversity, transmission and virulence of a honeybee virus: deformed wing virus (DWV)”
  • 2003-2005: Master Programme “Tropical bees and Beekeeping in tropical climates”, Faculty of Biology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
  • 2000-2002 Diploma in Genetics, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru, Diploma thesis entitled: “Isolation and characterization of microsatellites from enriched genomic libraries from sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)”
  • 1995-1999: Bachelors in Biological Sciences, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru

Awards

  • 2007: Beeshop PhD Scholarship, Queen's University Belfast, UK
  • 2003: Nuffic fellowship, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
  • 2000: Research fellowship, International Potato Center (CIP), Lima, Peru 

Publications