Dr. Arturo Luna, former postdoctoral fellow of Dr. Glen Palmer, associate professor in the department of clinical pharmacy and translational science, was recently appointed as Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation for the Republic of Colombia. Dr. Luna received his PhD in Biomedical Sciences from UTHSC in the Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry track and was Dr. Palmer’s first PhD student. He previously served as Dr. Palmer’s graduate assistant at the Louisiana State University Health Science Center (LSUHSC) in New Orleans and, after graduating from UTHSC in 2016, Dr. Luna remained in Dr. Palmer’s lab at the UTHSC College of Pharmacy as a postdoctoral fellow until 2018.
Dr. Luna has done extensive research on pathogens, specifically viruses, parasites, and fungi. Dr. Palmer noted that during his time in the lab, Dr. Luna helped build and generate tools such as DNA profiles and fungal strains that are still being used. “Arturo and I grew together as I was starting my lab, and he was hard-working but also fun to be around, and was a genuinely good person,” Palmer said.
Dr. Luna’s scientific knowledge and charisma has enabled him to develop public policies to strengthen innovation and manage international cooperation for science, and one of his first tasks as Minister will be to help transition Colombia to low-carbon energy, which is a crucial piece in his mission of ensuring that the country develops both scientifically and technologically. “Arturo is a meticulous and dedicated scientist whose independence and ability to come up with and implement his own ideas will serve him well as Colombia’s new Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation,” Palmer said. “The day he defended his PhD was one of the greatest moments in my entire career. I am extremely proud of him, and I know he will be a tremendous asset to the Colombian government.”
