LARSeC Members & Collaborators
LARSeC is powered by a growing network of professionals and institutions committed to strengthening research security across Latin America. Our members represent diverse sectors — academia, government, civil society, and industry — and share a common goal: protecting the future of science through collaboration and trust.
LARSeC Members & Collaborators
LARSeC is powered by a growing network of professionals and institutions committed to strengthening research security across Latin America. Our members represent diverse sectors — academia, government, civil society, and industry — and share a common goal: protecting the future of science through collaboration and trust.
LARSeC Members & Collaborators
LARSeC is powered by a growing network of professionals and institutions committed to strengthening research security across Latin America. Our members represent diverse sectors — academia, government, civil society, and industry — and share a common goal: protecting the future of science through collaboration and trust.
Meet Our Team
Our strength lies in the diversity of our members — scholars, professionals, and policymakers dedicated to building a more secure and ethical research landscape.
Dr. Raúl González Lima
Executive Director
Universidade de São Paulo
Raul Gonzales Lima é Professor Titular da Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo (USP), com atuação nas áreas de Engenharia Mecânica e Biomédica. Sua trajetória se destaca por contribuições em biomecânica, tomografia por impedância elétrica e inovação tecnológica aplicada à saúde. Ao longo da carreira, também exerceu funções de liderança acadêmica e de gestão universitária na USP. Foi reconhecido com a Medalha Armando de Salles Oliveira, a mais alta honraria da USP, por sua contribuição no enfrentamento da pandemia, e recebeu ainda o título de Professor do Ano de 2020 pela Associação dos Engenheiros Politécnicos
Dr. Romina D. Torres
Co-Director of Communication and Outreach
Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias
Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez
Romina Torres is Associate Professor at the Faculty of Engineering and Sciences at Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez in Chile, where she conducts research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. She leads the Fondef project IT24I0144I: INTRUSION.AWARE, focused on developing a comprehensive platform to detect and respond to cyberattacks using responsible AI. She is a principal researcher at the Data Observatory and a junior researcher at the National Center for Artificial Intelligence (CENIA), where she heads the AI Safety component of the LatamGPT language model under the Human-Centered AI research line. Romina also serves as Codirector of the South American Consortium for Research Security and chairs the Information Technology Committee at the Central Bank of Chile. She recently completed the Distinguished Humphrey Fellowship Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, with academic activities at Duke University and a visiting professorship at the Army Cyber Institute at West Point. Her work promotes interinstitutional collaboration and capacity building in cybersecurity, with a strong focus on protecting critical infrastructure and the ethical use of emerging technologies.
Dr. Rafael Saravalli
Co-Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs
Universidade de São Paulo
Rafael Seco Saravalli é Procurador da Universidade de São Paulo (USP), bacharel em Direito pela própria USP e atual coordenador do Escritório de Integridade e Proteção à Pesquisa da Universidade. Atua em temas ligados à cooperação acadêmica internacional, à integridade em pesquisa e à proteção institucional da atividade científica. Em seu doutorado, investiga a influência de *research security* nas instituições públicas de ciência do Brasil.
Dr. Andrés Espinosa Cara
Co-Director of Human and Social Affairs
Universidad Nacional de Rosario
Dr. Luiz Leduíno de Salles-Neto
Institutional Representative
Science & Technology
Universidade Federal de São Paulo
Luiz Leduino Salles Neto is a Full Professor at the Institute of Science and Technology of the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP). He has served as a visiting research scholar at the University of Colorado Denver and the University of Seville. With two published books and 38 scientific articles, his research interests span mathematical modeling, nonlinear and integer optimization, optimization under uncertainty, and distance geometry. He has published in leading operations research journals, such as the Journal of Global Optimization, Journal of Combinatorial Optimization, Optimization Letters, Information Sciences, and Expert Systems with Applications.
Dr Jim Irvin Cormán Hijar
Institutional Representative
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Dr. Luiz Eduardo Galvão Martins
Co-Director of Information Technology
Departamento de Ciência e Tecnologia
Universidade Federal de São Paulo
Dr. Martins received his PhD from the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP). He is an associate professor of software engineering and embedded systems at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP). His research interests include requirements engineering, embedded systems development, safety-critical systems, model-driven software development, and technological innovation in medical systems. He has published more than 50 papers in these areas. Contact him at legmartins@ unifesp.br.
Dr. Carlos F Mendez
Co-Director of Institutional Relations and Scientific Diplomacy
Secretaría de Ciencia y Técnica
Universidad de Buenos Aires
Carlos Fernando Mendez graduated in Dentistry from the University of Buenos Aires, holds a Master’s degree in Medical Sciences from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, and a Ph.D. from the University of Buenos Aires in the field of Cell Biology. He is currently a Full Professor of Pharmacology at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires, and Independent Researcher at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET). As Undersecretary of Clinical Research at the University of Buenos Aires, he is responsible for assisting in the design and implementation of the university’s science and technology policies.
Dr. Daniel E. Bacelo
Co-Director of Operations
Facultad de Cs. Exactas
Universidad de Belgrano
Daniel E. Bacelo received his degree in Chemistry from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) and his PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico. He is currently a Professor of Chemistry at the Universidad de Belgrano and a Researcher at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina. His research interests include research security, computational studies of bioactive molecules using quantum chemistry, atomistic modeling of metallic nanostructures, and QSAR-based molecular activity.
Dr. Fanny Lys Casado Peña
Co-Director of Training and Educational Content
Sección Bioingeniería
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Dr. Casado holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Toxicology from University of Rochester, a M.Sc. in Biotechnology from Michigan Tech and is a licensed Chemist. She has expertise in the pre-market and post-market evaluation of health products and products of biotechnology. Academically, she leads interdisciplinary projects to implement safe technologies for people and the environment by integrating methodologies for the design, development, and validation of drugs, cell therapies, and medical devices. Currently, she leads the Bio-engineering Section at Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru. She is an Associate Member of the Peruvian Academy of Sciences, Full Member of the American Society of Toxicology, and Senior Member of the IEEE Engineering Society in Medicine and Biology.
Dr Pablo Lobos
Institutional Representative
Universidad de Chile
Dr. Hernán Nina Hanco
Institutional Representative
Carrera de Ingeniería de Sistemas
Universidad de Lima
Holds a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering, an M.Sc. in Software Engineering, and a Master’s in Administration; currently serves as Professor at Universidad de Lima, Peru, and is a qualified researcher recognized by CONCYTEC. Research interests include software engineering, innovation in higher education, and human–computer interaction.
Dr. Raúl González Lima
Executive Director
Universidade de São Paulo
Raul Gonzales Lima é Professor Titular da Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo (USP), com atuação nas áreas de Engenharia Mecânica e Biomédica. Sua trajetória se destaca por contribuições em biomecânica, tomografia por impedância elétrica e inovação tecnológica aplicada à saúde. Ao longo da carreira, também exerceu funções de liderança acadêmica e de gestão universitária na USP. Foi reconhecido com a Medalha Armando de Salles Oliveira, a mais alta honraria da USP, por sua contribuição no enfrentamento da pandemia, e recebeu ainda o título de Professor do Ano de 2020 pela Associação dos Engenheiros Politécnicos
Dr. Luiz Eduardo Galvão Martins
Co-Director of Information Technology
Departamento de Ciência e Tecnologia
Universidade Federal de São Paulo
Dr. Martins received his PhD from the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP). He is an associate professor of software engineering and embedded systems at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP). His research interests include requirements engineering, embedded systems development, safety-critical systems, model-driven software development, and technological innovation in medical systems. He has published more than 50 papers in these areas. Contact him at legmartins@ unifesp.br.
Dr. Romina D. Torres
Co-Director of Communication and Outreach
Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias
Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez
Romina Torres is Associate Professor at the Faculty of Engineering and Sciences at Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez in Chile, where she conducts research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. She leads the Fondef project IT24I0144I: INTRUSION.AWARE, focused on developing a comprehensive platform to detect and respond to cyberattacks using responsible AI. She is a principal researcher at the Data Observatory and a junior researcher at the National Center for Artificial Intelligence (CENIA), where she heads the AI Safety component of the LatamGPT language model under the Human-Centered AI research line. Romina also serves as Codirector of the South American Consortium for Research Security and chairs the Information Technology Committee at the Central Bank of Chile. She recently completed the Distinguished Humphrey Fellowship Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, with academic activities at Duke University and a visiting professorship at the Army Cyber Institute at West Point. Her work promotes interinstitutional collaboration and capacity building in cybersecurity, with a strong focus on protecting critical infrastructure and the ethical use of emerging technologies.
Dr. Carlos F Mendez
Co-Director of Institutional Relations and Scientific Diplomacy
Secretaría de Ciencia y Técnica
Universidad de Buenos Aires
Carlos Fernando Mendez graduated in Dentistry from the University of Buenos Aires, holds a Master’s degree in Medical Sciences from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, and a Ph.D. from the University of Buenos Aires in the field of Cell Biology. He is currently a Full Professor of Pharmacology at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires, and Independent Researcher at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET). As Undersecretary of Clinical Research at the University of Buenos Aires, he is responsible for assisting in the design and implementation of the university’s science and technology policies.
Dr. Rafael Saravalli
Co-Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs
Universidade de São Paulo
Rafael Seco Saravalli é Procurador da Universidade de São Paulo (USP), bacharel em Direito pela própria USP e atual coordenador do Escritório de Integridade e Proteção à Pesquisa da Universidade. Atua em temas ligados à cooperação acadêmica internacional, à integridade em pesquisa e à proteção institucional da atividade científica. Em seu doutorado, investiga a influência de *research security* nas instituições públicas de ciência do Brasil.
Dr. Daniel E. Bacelo
Co-Director of Operations
Facultad de Cs. Exactas
Universidad de Belgrano
Daniel E. Bacelo received his degree in Chemistry from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) and his PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico. He is currently a Professor of Chemistry at the Universidad de Belgrano and a Researcher at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina. His research interests include research security, computational studies of bioactive molecules using quantum chemistry, atomistic modeling of metallic nanostructures, and QSAR-based molecular activity.
Dr. Andrés Espinosa Cara
Co-Director of Human and Social Affairs
Universidad Nacional de Rosario
Dr. Fanny Lys Casado Peña
Co-Director of Training and Educational Content
Sección Bioingeniería
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Dr. Casado holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Toxicology from University of Rochester, a M.Sc. in Biotechnology from Michigan Tech and is a licensed Chemist. She has expertise in the pre-market and post-market evaluation of health products and products of biotechnology. Academically, she leads interdisciplinary projects to implement safe technologies for people and the environment by integrating methodologies for the design, development, and validation of drugs, cell therapies, and medical devices. Currently, she leads the Bio-engineering Section at Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru. She is an Associate Member of the Peruvian Academy of Sciences, Full Member of the American Society of Toxicology, and Senior Member of the IEEE Engineering Society in Medicine and Biology.
Dr. Luiz Leduíno de Salles-Neto
Institutional Representative
Science & Technology
Universidade Federal de São Paulo
Luiz Leduino Salles Neto is a Full Professor at the Institute of Science and Technology of the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP). He has served as a visiting research scholar at the University of Colorado Denver and the University of Seville. With two published books and 38 scientific articles, his research interests span mathematical modeling, nonlinear and integer optimization, optimization under uncertainty, and distance geometry. He has published in leading operations research journals, such as the Journal of Global Optimization, Journal of Combinatorial Optimization, Optimization Letters, Information Sciences, and Expert Systems with Applications.
Dr Pablo Lobos
Institutional Representative
Universidad de Chile
Dr Jim Irvin Cormán Hijar
Institutional Representative
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Dr. Hernán Nina Hanco
Institutional Representative
Carrera de Ingeniería de Sistemas
Universidad de Lima
Holds a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering, an M.Sc. in Software Engineering, and a Master’s in Administration; currently serves as Professor at Universidad de Lima, Peru, and is a qualified researcher recognized by CONCYTEC. Research interests include software engineering, innovation in higher education, and human–computer interaction.
Dr. Raúl González Lima
Executive Director
Universidade de São Paulo
Raul Gonzales Lima é Professor Titular da Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo (USP), com atuação nas áreas de Engenharia Mecânica e Biomédica. Sua trajetória se destaca por contribuições em biomecânica, tomografia por impedância elétrica e inovação tecnológica aplicada à saúde. Ao longo da carreira, também exerceu funções de liderança acadêmica e de gestão universitária na USP. Foi reconhecido com a Medalha Armando de Salles Oliveira, a mais alta honraria da USP, por sua contribuição no enfrentamento da pandemia, e recebeu ainda o título de Professor do Ano de 2020 pela Associação dos Engenheiros Politécnicos
Dr. Luiz Eduardo Galvão Martins
Co-Director of Information Technology
Departamento de Ciência e Tecnologia
Universidade Federal de São Paulo
Dr. Martins received his PhD from the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP). He is an associate professor of software engineering and embedded systems at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP). His research interests include requirements engineering, embedded systems development, safety-critical systems, model-driven software development, and technological innovation in medical systems. He has published more than 50 papers in these areas. Contact him at legmartins@ unifesp.br.
Dr. Romina D. Torres
Co-Director of Communication and Outreach
Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias
Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez
Romina Torres is Associate Professor at the Faculty of Engineering and Sciences at Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez in Chile, where she conducts research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. She leads the Fondef project IT24I0144I: INTRUSION.AWARE, focused on developing a comprehensive platform to detect and respond to cyberattacks using responsible AI. She is a principal researcher at the Data Observatory and a junior researcher at the National Center for Artificial Intelligence (CENIA), where she heads the AI Safety component of the LatamGPT language model under the Human-Centered AI research line. Romina also serves as Codirector of the South American Consortium for Research Security and chairs the Information Technology Committee at the Central Bank of Chile. She recently completed the Distinguished Humphrey Fellowship Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, with academic activities at Duke University and a visiting professorship at the Army Cyber Institute at West Point. Her work promotes interinstitutional collaboration and capacity building in cybersecurity, with a strong focus on protecting critical infrastructure and the ethical use of emerging technologies.
Dr. Carlos F Mendez
Co-Director of Institutional Relations and Scientific Diplomacy
Secretaría de Ciencia y Técnica
Universidad de Buenos Aires
Carlos Fernando Mendez graduated in Dentistry from the University of Buenos Aires, holds a Master’s degree in Medical Sciences from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, and a Ph.D. from the University of Buenos Aires in the field of Cell Biology. He is currently a Full Professor of Pharmacology at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires, and Independent Researcher at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET). As Undersecretary of Clinical Research at the University of Buenos Aires, he is responsible for assisting in the design and implementation of the university’s science and technology policies.
Dr. Rafael Saravalli
Co-Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs
Universidade de São Paulo
Rafael Seco Saravalli é Procurador da Universidade de São Paulo (USP), bacharel em Direito pela própria USP e atual coordenador do Escritório de Integridade e Proteção à Pesquisa da Universidade. Atua em temas ligados à cooperação acadêmica internacional, à integridade em pesquisa e à proteção institucional da atividade científica. Em seu doutorado, investiga a influência de *research security* nas instituições públicas de ciência do Brasil.
Dr. Daniel E. Bacelo
Co-Director of Operations
Facultad de Cs. Exactas
Universidad de Belgrano
Daniel E. Bacelo received his degree in Chemistry from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) and his PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico. He is currently a Professor of Chemistry at the Universidad de Belgrano and a Researcher at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina. His research interests include research security, computational studies of bioactive molecules using quantum chemistry, atomistic modeling of metallic nanostructures, and QSAR-based molecular activity.
Dr. Andrés Espinosa Cara
Co-Director of Human and Social Affairs
Universidad Nacional de Rosario
Dr. Fanny Lys Casado Peña
Co-Director of Training and Educational Content
Sección Bioingeniería
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Dr. Casado holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Toxicology from University of Rochester, a M.Sc. in Biotechnology from Michigan Tech and is a licensed Chemist. She has expertise in the pre-market and post-market evaluation of health products and products of biotechnology. Academically, she leads interdisciplinary projects to implement safe technologies for people and the environment by integrating methodologies for the design, development, and validation of drugs, cell therapies, and medical devices. Currently, she leads the Bio-engineering Section at Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru. She is an Associate Member of the Peruvian Academy of Sciences, Full Member of the American Society of Toxicology, and Senior Member of the IEEE Engineering Society in Medicine and Biology.
Dr. Luiz Leduíno de Salles-Neto
Institutional Representative
Science & Technology
Universidade Federal de São Paulo
Luiz Leduino Salles Neto is a Full Professor at the Institute of Science and Technology of the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP). He has served as a visiting research scholar at the University of Colorado Denver and the University of Seville. With two published books and 38 scientific articles, his research interests span mathematical modeling, nonlinear and integer optimization, optimization under uncertainty, and distance geometry. He has published in leading operations research journals, such as the Journal of Global Optimization, Journal of Combinatorial Optimization, Optimization Letters, Information Sciences, and Expert Systems with Applications.
Dr Pablo Lobos
Institutional Representative
Universidad de Chile
Dr Jim Irvin Cormán Hijar
Institutional Representative
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Dr. Hernán Nina Hanco
Institutional Representative
Carrera de Ingeniería de Sistemas
Universidad de Lima
Holds a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering, an M.Sc. in Software Engineering, and a Master’s in Administration; currently serves as Professor at Universidad de Lima, Peru, and is a qualified researcher recognized by CONCYTEC. Research interests include software engineering, innovation in higher education, and human–computer interaction.
Latin American Context
Want to Be Part of LARSeC?
LARSeC addresses these realities through context-specific strategies, promoting regional sovereignty in science and innovation.We welcome researchers, practitioners, and institutions interested in promoting research security in Latin America. Membership is free and subject to review by our advisory board.
Latin American Context
Want to Be Part of LARSeC?
LARSeC addresses these realities through context-specific strategies, promoting regional sovereignty in science and innovation.We welcome researchers, practitioners, and institutions interested in promoting research security in Latin America. Membership is free and subject to review by our advisory board.
Contact us
© 2026 LARSeC. All rights reserved.
Contact us
© 2026 LARSeC. All rights reserved.
Contact us
© 2026 LARSeC. All rights reserved.