Dr. León received his degree in Chemistry from National University of Colombia, Bogota, Colombia. He obtained his doctoral degree in organic chemistry at La Laguna University, Tenerife, Spain. Afterwards, he held several positions at European University of Madrid, Spanish National Research Council and University of Mississippi. Most recently, he was a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Florida.
Biographical Profile
College
College of Pharmacy
Department
Drug Discovery & Biomed Sci.
Tenure Status
Tenure Track
Interest Background
Interest Keywords
exploration of the chemistry expressed through natural products from different natural sources, such as, plants and fungi, as well as the synthesis and semi-synthesis of bioactive natural compounds.
Personal Focus Areas
evaluation of extracts/fractions/pure compounds for their ability to interact with different targets, opioid and cannabinoid receptors with the goal of identifying new agents for pain treatment, opioid and cannabinoid receptors with the goal of identifying new agents for neurological disorders
Professional Preparation(Education & Training)
Dates
Institution
Location
Degree
Field of Study
2001 - 2005
La Laguna University
San Cristobal de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
Ph.D.
Organic Chemistry
1999 - 2001
La Laguna University
San Cristobal de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
DEA (equivalent Master Sc.)
Organic Chemistry
1991 - 1998
National University of Colombia
Bogotá, Colombia
Chemist
Chemistry
Memberships & Professional Activities
Dates
Type
Description
Institution/Entity
2003 - 2005
Membership
Member
Phytochemical Society of Europe
2014
Membership
Member
American Association for the Advancement of Science
2015 - 2016
Membership
Member
Faculty Row
2016
Membership
Member
American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists
2016
Membership
Member
American Chemical Society
Positions & Appointments
Dates
Description
Institution/Entity
03/1998 - 10/1988
Research Assistant
Institute of Immunology (San Juan de Dios, Hospital), Bogotá, Colombia
01/1999 - 12/1999
Research Assistant
Independent Board of Museums and Centres (Organismo Autónomo de Museos y Centros), Council of Tenerife (Cabildo de Tenerife), Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
02/2000 - 12/2001
Research Fellow
Natural Products and Agrobiology Institute (Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiologia) Spanish National Research Council, La Laguna, Spain
01/2002 - 12/2002
Research Fellow
University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Spain
01/2003 - 07/2005
Research Fellow
Canary Islands Cancer Research Institute (Instituto Canario de Investigacion del Cancer), Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
06/2003 - 09/2003
Research Fellow
Inversiones Tecnologicas y de Ocio S.L., Cuenca, Spain
08/2005 - 12/2006
Postdoctoral Research Assistant
Canary Islands Cancer Research Institute (Instituto Canario de Investigacion del Cancer), Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
01/2007 - 05/2007
Postdoctoral Research Assistant
Polytechnic School, European University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
05/2007 - 07/2009
Associate Research Scientist/postdoctoral scientist
Medicinal Chemistry Department, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
08/2009 - 01/2013
Researcher
Natural Products and Agrobiology Institute (Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiologia) Spanish National Research Council, La Laguna, Spain
02/2013 - 06/2017
Research Scientist
Department of BioMolecular Sciences, Divisions of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
07/2017 - 04/2019
Assistant Scientist
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida
05/2019 - 08/2020
Research Assistant Professor
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida
2020
Assistant Professor
Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina
Recognition Awards, Honors, & Fellowships
Dates
Type
Description
Foundation/Entity
2010
Award
Scholarship- Agency for Research and Innovation (Agencia Canaria de Investigación)
Canary Island Government
1993
Fellowship
Fellowship
National University of Colombia
1994
Fellowship
Fellowship
National University of Colombia
1995
Fellowship
Fellowship
National University of Colombia
1996
Fellowship
Fellowship
National University of Colombia
1997
Fellowship
Fellowship
National University of Colombia
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