MARIA J. SOTO-GIRON

Entrepreneurial scientist passionate about fostering innovation to address global health inequalities. Adept at leveraging effective communication and leadership skills to build strong collaborations with internal and external teams. An empathetic, strategic mindset with strong problem-solving skills to address complex projects and contribute to company’s initiatives. Diverse R&D knowledge with expertise in applying analytical skills to support informed business decisions. Dedicated to mentoring and championing women pursuing careers in STEM disciplines.

• Pending. 2023. US20230256035A1. Immunomodulatory compositions comprising microbial entities.
• Pending. 2022. WO2020257722A2. Microbial compositions and methods for producing combined probiotic assemblages.
• Pending. 2021. WO2020051379A1. Methods and compositions for treating musculoskeletal diseases.
• Issued. 2018. US10596209B2. Microbial compositions and methods for treating type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome.

• Contributing author. Hispanic Stars Rising Volume III: The New Face of Power. Fig Factor Media Publishing. 2022, USA
• 2022 Latina Leaders. Boston
• 2021 Latinx Amplifier. Massachusetts
• 40 Under 40 program class 2020. Georgia Tech
• Making a Difference for Women Award 2020. Women in the Enterprise of Science and Technology (WEST) organization, USA
• Outstanding Student Abstract Award. ASM Microbe 2016. American Society for Microbiology, USA
• Doctoral Fellowship 2012. Colombian Government Institute
• ICGEB Young Investigator 2009. The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotech, Italy.
• Academic Undergraduate Fellowship. Received for six consecutive semesters from August 2003 to May 2006. Colombia.

• DEI Committee member at WEST (Women in Science, Technology, and Engineering), Boston. Active member
• Tech Committee member at ALPFA Boston. Active member
• Co-organizer Boston Microbiome meetup. Active member

• Leading projects – LinkedIn Learning
• Strategic thinking - LinkedIn Learning
• Enhance your Leadership skills - LinkedIn Learning

• Wicaksono W, Cernava T, Wassermann B, Abdelfattah A, Soto-Giron M, et al. 2023. The edible plant microbiome: evidence for the occurrence of fruit and vegetable bacteria in the human gut. Gut Microbes, 15:2
• Sahni Shivani, Schott Eric, Carroll Danette, Soto-Giron Maria J, et al. Randomized clinical trial to test the safety and tolerability of SBD111, an optimized synbiotic medical food combination designed for the dietary management of the metabolic processes underlying osteopenia and osteoporosis. J Microbiol Exp.2023;11(1):1-11.
• Easson DD Jr, Murphy VA, Ballok AE, Soto-Giron MJ, et al. Food safety assessment and toxicity study of the synbiotic consortium SBD111. Food Chem Toxicol. 2022 Oct; 168:113329
• Lawenius L, Gustafsson KL, Wu J, Nilsson KH, Movérare-Skrtic S, Schott EM, Soto-Girón MJ, et al. Development of a synbiotic that protects against ovariectomy-induced trabecular bone loss. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2022 Apr 1;322(4):E344-E354
• Solarea peer-review publication reveals green olives and other fruits, and vegetables have vast microbial diversity with the potential to deliver probiotic functionality. PRNewswire Dec 2021. Link
• Soto-Giron MJ, et al. The Edible Plant Microbiome represents a diverse genetic reservoir with functional potential in the human host. Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):24017
• Soto-Girón MJ, et al. Gut microbiome changes during acute diarrheal disease in urban versus rural settings in northern Ecuador. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2021. tpmd200831.
• Palacios, T, Vitetta L, Coulson S, Madigan CD, Lam YY, Manuel R, Briskey D, Hendy C, Kim J-N, Ishoey T, Soto-Giron MJ, et al. Targeting the Intestinal Microbiota to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes and Enhance the Effect of Metformin on Glycaemia: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. Nutrients. 2020, 12(2041).
• Peña-Gonzalez A, Soto-Girón MJ, et al. Metagenomic signatures of gut infections caused by different Escherichia coli pathotypes. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 2019, 85(24).
• Soto-Giron MJ, et al. Exploring human gut microbiota diversity across a rural to urban gradient in Ecuador and their response to diarrheal infections. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2017, 95, 5(8000).
• Soto-Girón MJ, et al. Characterization of biofilms developing on hospital shower hoses and implications for nosocomial infections. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 2015, 18:2872-2883.
• Soto-Girón MJ, et al. Elevated levels of adaption in Helicobacter pylori genomes from Japan; a link to higher incidences of gastric cancer? Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health. 2015, eov005v1-eov005.
• Soto-Girón MJ and García-Vallejo F. Changes in the Topology of Gene Expression Networks by HIV-1 integration in Macrophages. Virus Research. 2011, 163: 91–97.
• Montoya–Villegas JC, Soto MJ, et al. Genomics Analysis of Chromosome 21 Down Syndrome Critical Region. Colombia Médica. 2011, 24 (1).
• Soto MJ, et al. Genomic and Bioinformatics Analysis of the Integration of HIV in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells. AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses. 2010; 26: 10.1089.