Alba Marina Cotes

Alba Marina Cotes Prado (Bogota, February 15 1959), is a Colombian chemist and biologist, known for her research on biological pest control. In 2009, Cotes became the first Latin American woman in receive a Honoris Causa degree from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

Biography Cotes finished a bachelor's degree in chemistry and biology at Free University of Colombia in 1980. Then, she started her graduate studies at Universidad of los Andes in 1982. She did graduate programs in food microbiology and industrial microbiology, followed by a master's degree in microbiology (1986). Cotes did also a master's degree in agricultural biotechnology in 1988 and a Ph.D in agricultural sciences focused on phytopathology in 1994, both at Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech in Belgium. In 2009, she received a Honoris Causa degree by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

In 1994, Cotes started working at the Colombian Corporation for Agricultural Research (CORPOICA) as the Biotechnology Center director, where she started a research group focused on the development of pesticides for phytopathogen control in agriculture. In addition, she has been professor in multiple academic institutions in Colombia, such as Universidad of los Andes, Nueva Granada Military University, and Pedagogical and Technological University of Colombia. She has published more than one hundred papers in peer review journals, twenty books, and twelve book chapters.

Selected publications The following is Cotes most notable publications. National Award in Phytopathology - Colombian Association of Phytopathology and Related Sciences, 2011 Recognition for outstanding scientific work - Corporación para el Desarrollo Industrial De La Biotecnología, 2008 Scientific Merit Medal - Colombian Agricultural Research Corporation, 2009 Luis Hernando Pino Santiago National Entomology Prize - Colombian Society of Entomology, 2009 Honorary Doctorate in Agricultural Sciences - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2009 Honorable Mention - Colombian Society of Entomology, 2000 National Prize for Soil Science - Colombian Society of Soil Science, 2000 National Phytopathology Award - Colombian Association of Phytopathology and Related Sciences, 1998 Professor Ad-honorem - Institute of Biotechnology, National University of Colombia, 1994