2026/2027 Kirchner Fellows
We believe the next generation is uniquely qualified to find, fund and assist promising conscious agriculture businesses. They have a native understanding of the coming possibilities of a networked, customized and distributed world.
Mexico Fellows
Gerardo Zarza Murillo
Gerardo Zarza Murillo is a Ph.D. candidate in Biotechnology at Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Querétaro, where he develops fungal-derived functional ingredients to improve plant-based meat alternatives while revalorizing agro-industrial residues. His research focuses on transforming scientific innovation into sustainable solutions for the food industry.
>> Read full profile
Mariana Martínez
Mariana Martínez is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Biosystems Engineering at Tecnológico de Monterrey. She is interested in biotechnology, sustainability, and entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on animal health and sustainable agriculture.
>> Read full profile
Tania Rodríguez
Tania Rodríguez is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Biotechnology at Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Querétaro, where she works with agriculture, geospatial analytics, and plant-microbe interactions. Her research explores how plant and soil biomarkers can be integrated into decision-support models that help preserve the nutritional value of cereals while maintaining soil health.
>> Read full profilePast Fellows
Fabiola Jiménez Torres
Fabiola Jiménez is a fourth-year Food Engineering student at the University of Costa Rica, where she combines her academic training with hands-on experience in nutrition, food safety, and sustainable product innovation. Her work centers on applying scientific knowledge to address social and environmental challenges through food systems.
>> Read full profile
Ivonne Rodríguez Ramírez
Ivonne Rodríguez is a scientist, educator, and entrepreneur committed to bridging the gap between biotechnology and sustainability. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology and a licentiate in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology from the University of Costa Rica, where she is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Biology.
>> Read full profile
Keity Gómez Jiménez
Keity Gómez is a fourth-year Industrial Engineering student at the University of Costa Rica, San Ramón campus, with a growing track record in academic consulting and business advisory for small and medium enterprises as well as larger corporations.
>> Read full profile
Roberto Hernández Amezola
Roberto Hernández Amezola is currently pursuing a degree in Business Strategy and Transformation at Tecnológico de Monterrey (Campus Querétaro). With a strong foundation in strategic thinking and a passion for impactful leadership, Roberto has distinguished himself as an entrepreneurial changemaker focused on how administration, finance, and innovation can be leveraged to solve pressing social and environmental challenges.
>> Read full profile
Adriana Chico Peralta
Adriana is a Ph.D. candidate in Biotechnology at Tecnológico de Monterrey (Campus Querétaro), where she investigates the effects of environmental stress on the nutritional and functional properties of quelites—a diverse group of traditional Mexican edible plants.
>> Read full profile
Karla Arrazola Ornelas
Karla is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in financial engineering, at the Polytechnic University of Pachuca, in Hidalgo, and is currently in her fifth term. She also holds a technical degree in international trade, and enjoys working with small businesses, assisting them in achieving steady growth by implementing new processes and tools to simplify and stabilize their finances. Her goal is …
>> Read full profile
Itzel Yolotzin López Pacheco
Itzel is a PhD student in Biotechnology at the Tecnologico de Monterrey. Her interests and research focuses on the circular economy, climate change, carbon capture, bioremediation of wastewater and emerging contaminants, and the use of microalgae for environmental applications. She has co-authored several scientific articles in reputable, high-impact peer-reviewed journals. With eighteen published articles, she has garnered over 800 citations, …
>> Read full profile
Alfonso Pedrero Serrano
Alfonso is pursuing a Master of Science in Sustainable Technology at the Autonomous University of Queretaro, focusing on developing a digital twin for profitable microalgae farming. As the Responsible Sourcing Head for Latin America at Kellanova, he leads programs for Scope 3 GHG emission reduction, human rights verification, and zero- deforestation in the supply chain. With experience in various roles …
>> Read full profile
Lili Marlene Pérez López
Lilí Marlene is pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Global Business at Tecnológico de Monterrey. She is a member of the prestigious “Líderes del Mañana” program, and has been awarded a full scholarship.
>> Read full profile
Jose Luis Quintana Carrillo
Jose Luis is pursuing a Master’s degree in innovation for enterprise development and holds a background as a biotechnology engineer from Tecnologico de Monterrey.
>> Read full profile
Arturo Macias Ortiz
Arturo Macias Ortiz is completing his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration Engineering from the esteemed Instituto Tecnológico de Celaya this summer before gearing up to begin a Master’s degree in Project Management at Summa University in Florida this fall.
>> Read full profile
Wilberforce Twinamatsiko
Wilberforce is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Computer Science and Technology at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
>> Read full profile
Zaire Dartez
Zaire is currently pursuing her Masters Degree in Business at Morgan State University. She is an advocate for unconventional ventures and disruptive innovations in the realm of venture capital.
>> Read full profile
Malcolm Bilal
Malcolm is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, North Carolina.
>> Read full profile
Celestina Brenes Porras
Celestina is a Political Scientist from the University of Costa Rica (UCR) and an Internationalist from the National University (UNA).
>> Read full profile
Itnan Vargas Venegas
Itnan is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology Engineering at the Technological Institute of Costa Rica.
>> Read full profile
Sianny Chavarria Zamora
Sianny is an animal science specialist from the University of Costa Rica. She is currently studying for a master’s degree in industrial engineering with a focus on administration.
>> Read full profile
Benjamín Trujillo Barrera
Benjamin is pursuing an economics degree at UNAM and has a BS in biotechnology from Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM) with a minor in molecular biology. Seeking to be a bridge between biotechnology and business, he worked as a junior in innovation at Distrito Emprendedor, conducting business analysis of SMEs among other events in conjunction with the National Institute of Entrepreneurs.
>> Read full profile
Mildred Gissel Jiménez Rodriguez
Mildred is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in Nanotechnology at Tecnologico de Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico. Throughout her studies, she has led and participated in several initiatives to promote youth involvement in the development of the Latin American bioeconomy through science communication, evidence-based policymaking, and entrepreneurship.
>> Read full profile
Marion Ximena Ochoa Hidalgo
Marion is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Digital Humanities and has a Bachelor’s in International Business from the Tecnológico de Monterrey in León, Mexico. She is passionate about achieving sustainability through socially-driven undertakings and disruptive innovation concentrated on impactful businesses.
>> Read full profile
Shivani Desai
Shivani is a graduate student at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, where she is focusing on Environmental Policy and International Business. She has over seven years of experience in the international development space – consulting with nonprofits and social businesses on their organizational strategies and programs, advising private funders on their philanthropic investments, and managing multi-year implementation projects in South Asia.
>> Read full profile
Shisbeth Tábora
Shisbeth, originally from Honduras, is a doctoral student in the Department of Environmental Toxicology, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health at Texas Tech University. She earned her M.Sc. in Wildlife, Fisheries, and Wildlands Science and Management with a Certificate in Geographic Information Science and Technology at Texas Tech University.
>> Read full profile
Brian Ezeonu
Brian is a Ph.D. Candidate at Auburn University; where his research focuses on international development, global finance, and governance. He earned an MA. in Economics from Georgia State University (GSU) and a BSc. in Economics from University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN).
>> Read full profile
Taylor Weekes
Taylor is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance at Howard University in Washington, D.C. She recently served as an Investment Banking Summer Analyst at Goldman Sachs in the Financial Institutions Group.
>> Read full profile
Ayodeji Akande
Ayodeji is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration in Computer Information Systems at Howard University. He previously worked at PJT Partners as an Investment Banking Summer Analyst in the Strategic Advisory Group.
>> Read full profile
Devotha Mwazembe
Devotha is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Integrative Biosciences at Tuskegee University. Her research focuses on crop production, soil science, crop modeling decision tools, climate change, and sustainability. She earned an MS. Environmental Sciences from Tuskegee University and a BSc. Agronomy from the Sokoine University of Agriculture.
>> Read full profile
Laura Navarro
Laura is an undergraduate economics student at Duke University in the United States and Duke Kunshan University (DKU) in China. Her studies focus on international justice and developing economics in Latin America and South East Asia.
>> Read full profile
Jorge Alejandro Nieto Alvarez
Jorge is currently, studying a master’s degree in Business Administration at the University of Guanajuato, where he wants to focus on consolidating the potential that biotechnology has as a high-impact science, through the efficient investment of capital mediated by the search of sustainable solutions.
>> Read full profile
Genaro Aldana Chavez
Genaro is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Bionanotechnology Engineering at Universidad Iberoamericana in Guanajuato, Mexico. He is passionate about bridging the gap between applied science and public policy making.
>> Read full profile
Adolfo Reinoso
Adolfo is from Guatemala, and currently pursuing a Master of International Business at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
>> Read full profile
Karen Moran Rivera
Karen is pursuing a Ph.D. at Wageningen University and Research; where her research focuses on soil science, sustainability, and climate change.
>> Read full profile
Myriam Faucher
Myriam is pursuing her Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University with a Certificate in Social Impact as a Forté Fellow.
>> Read full profile
Bryana Pittman
Bryana is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Systems Engineering at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida. She is passionate about bridging the gap between food deserts in the local community, researching innovations in intellectual property, and exploring the financial markets.
>> Read full profile
Martin Adu-Boahene
Martin is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. He is passionate about investing, entrepreneurship, and technology.
>> Read full profile
Kwame Terra
Kwame is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health degree in Health Equity at Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana. His studies focus on the association between local food environment and chronic disease prevalence.
>> Read full profile
Eric Flood
Eric is pursuing a Masters of International Business at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. His studies focus on international finance, capital markets and development economics. He has worked in innovation and its funding throughout his professional career.
>> Read full profile
Yinuo (Jenny) Zhang
Jenny is pursuing a Master of Science in Foreign Service degree at Georgetown University with a focus on global business and finance. She is interested in the nexus of business, sustainability and technology.
>> Read full profile
Rachel Resek
Rachel is pursuing her MBA at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She is passionate about bringing together her experience in venture capital, operations and finance to build a healthier, more sustainable food system.
>> Read full profile
Karla Mariana Reséndiz-Contreras
Kirchner Food Fellowship – Mexico Karla is a graduate student at UAQ (Autonomous University of Queretaro) in Queretaro, Mexico, where she earned a BSc in Agroindustrial Engineering. Currently she is working on a Masters in Plant Sciences at Wageningen University and Research.
>> Read full profile
Aydée Araceli Tirado Meza
Kirchner Food Fellowship – Mexico Aydée is an agronomist from Queretaro, Mexico. She gained her B.Sc. in Engineering in Agronomy from Tecnologico de Monterrey. Having an entrepreneurial spirit, she was part of the HUB Explora program at her alma mater, and she is now undertaking a new project focused on urban agriculture and community engagement.
>> Read full profile
Rafael Quijada Landaverde
Kirchner Food Fellowship – Mexico Rafael is a Graduate Associate and doctoral student in the Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership program at The Ohio State University (OSU). He earned an MSc in Agricultural Education from Texas Tech University (TTU) and a BSc in Environment and Development from Zamorano University (Honduras).
>> Read full profile
Abigail Napsuciale Heredia
Kirchner Food Fellowship – Mexico Abigail is currently pursuing her BSc in Biotechnology Engineering at Instituto Politécnico Nacional in Guanajuato, México. She is also Co-founder and Executive Director of BioLaunch, an organization that seeks to promote and develop the bio-entrepreneurship ecosystem.
>> Read full profile
Laura Zaim
Laura is currently pursuing her MBA at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, with a focus in finance. Laura is an environmentalist and entrepreneur working to transition the global food system to one that is more sustainable from an environmental, human health and animal welfare perspective.
>> Read full profile
Brennan Costello
Brennan is a graduate student at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln pursuing a Masters in Business Administration. Brennan earned a Bachelors in Agribusiness with minors in entrepreneurship and leadership from Nebraska in 2016.
>> Read full profile
Ephrem Tesfaye Woldegiorgis
Ephrem is studying at American University’s School of International Service (SIS) under the MA in International Development Program with emphasis in agriculture, rural development and rural economic institutions in Sub Saharan Africa.
>> Read full profile
Edgar Fernando Suarez Zamora
Kirchner Food Fellowship – Mexico Fernando is currently a Master in Technology innovation candidate at Universidad Iberoamericana in Leon where he is developing a technology innovation management system to help tech-based companies successfully commercialize their technologies.
>> Read full profile
Eduardo Samuel Garay
Kirchner Food Fellowship – Mexico Eduardo is currently pursuing his MSc in Plant and Soil Sciences at Mississippi State University. He earned a BSc from Zamorano University – Honduras in Agricultural Production.
>> Read full profile
Mario Alfonso Bonal Rodríguez
Kirchner Food Fellowship – Mexico Mario is a Business Innovation Master candidate at Universidad de Celaya in Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico and since January 2018 is the Tech Transfer Office Coordinator at Agrobioteg Innovation Park in Irapuato, Guanajuato.
>> Read full profile
Iris Jahel Elizarraraz Martinez
Kirchner Food Fellowship – Mexico Iris is a Plant Biotechnology PhD candidate at CINVESTAV Irapuato (Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute) in Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico where she also studied the master’s program.
>> Read full profile
Emery (Hattie) Brown
Hattie is a Masters of Science candidate at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, where her studies focus on trade and agricultural policy in the interest of international food security.
>> Read full profile
Charles Higgenbotham
Charles is currently pursuing his MPS in Agriculture and Life Sciences with a specialization in International Agriculture and Rural Development at Cornell University.
>> Read full profile
Ambulah Mamey
Ambulah is currently a graduate student at the American University’s School of International Services (SIS) where he is pursuing MS Degree in Development Management. His concentration is in Agricultural Development and the Environment.
>> Read full profile
Karla Rascon-Garcia
Karla is a PhD candidate in Epidemiology at the University of California, Davis after earning a B.S. in Animal Science and a Masters in Development Practice from the University of Arizona.
>> Read full profile
Adrian Garcia-Casarrubias
Adrian is a Plant Biotechnology PhD candidate at CINVESTAV-IPN (Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute) in San Pedro Zacatenco, Mexico.
>> Read full profile
Alfredo Costilla-Reyes
Alfredo is a PhD candidate in Electrical Engineering at the Dwight Look College of Engineering at Texas A&M University. Alfredo also holds a Certificate in Business from the Mays Business School and is currently working on one focused on Entrepreneurship and Technology Commercialization.
>> Read full profile
Kate Collins
Kate Collins is a dual MBA-MPA student at MIT Sloan and Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
>> Read full profile
Sydney Herndon
Sydney currently holds bachelor’s degrees in Anthropology and Art History with minors in Spanish and Sustainability from Auburn University, where she graduated with honors in 2013.
>> Read full profile
Faridah O. Ibrahim
Faridah is an MPA in Development Practice candidate at Columbia University’s School of International & Public Affairs [SIPA].
>> Read full profile
David Byrnes
David Byrnes is a PhD Candidate in Plant Biology and Pathology at Rutgers University in the Plant Breeding and Genomics track.
>> Read full profile
Eamonn McGuinty
Eamonn is currently pursuing a Masters degree at the University of Guelph. Eamonn is passionate about utilizing business as a force for good and developing comprehensive and responsible investment strategies in food and agriculture. He is extremely passionate about international work and wants to work towards safer and better ecosystems bridging all sectors together to solve the challenges we face.
>> Read full profile
Sarah Piccini
Sarah is currently pursuing a Masters at Johns Hopkins SAIS. Sarah is passionate about building food systems that are inclusive, healthy and sustainable from farm to fork.
>> Read full profile
Brianne Abramowicz
Brianne Abramowicz completed her MBA at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School concentrating in Entrepreneurship & Sustainable Enterprise in 2015.
>> Read full profile
Erin Lenhardt
Erin Lenhardt completed her MBA program at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in 2015. She served as co-chair for the Food, Environment, Agribusiness, and Development (FEAD) student group.
>> Read full profile
Ryan O’Donnell
Ryan O’Donnell, is an entrepreneur and graduate of North Carolina State University. He has devoted his life to building teams and organizations that can significantly and sustainable impact our world.
>> Read full profile
