Elena César Rodo

Date of birth: 26-04-1987

Nacionality: Española
Dirección: 166, Cours de l’Argonne, 33000, Bordeaux
 Phone: +34 626 52 07 71
e-mail: elenacesar@gmail.com
I am an enthusiastic, positive and dynamic person, passionate about science with exceptional
organizational skills.

Under a collaboration agreement between the University Autónoma of Madrid and the University
of Strasbourg (France) I obtained my BS degree on Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. Then I stayed in
France to pursuit my Master degree on Molecular and Supramolecular Chemistry with honors. During my
PhD in Organic Chemistry under the supervision of Dr. Elisabeth Davioud-Charvet at the University of
Strasbourg (Laboratoire de Chimie Bioorganique et Médicinale), I worked on the total synthesis of
polysubstituted (pro)RedOx-cyclers where I established a platform of new synthetic exploratory and
innovative routes of polysubstituted antiparasitic 1,4-(aza)naphtoquinones. These new methodologies are
aimed at introducing any functionality at a specific position on the phenyl ring of menadione to prevent
human cytP450 attack, or other groups on demand and to improve their properties by (i) increasing their
half-life, solubility, bioavailability, (ii) modifying their redox potentials, and (iii) studying their active
metabolites.
In April 2017 I joined the Chemical and environmental engineering group (University Rey Juan
Carlos), on the synthesis and characterization of new mesoporous materials loaded with several pro-drugs
with pharmacological applications. As head of the organic chemistry department, my role was critical to
develop the main project of the group: “Synthesis of mesoporous silica materials for drug prolonged delivery”.
In this project, I carried out a meticulous methodology to modify several drugs in order to improve their
intrinsic solubility and lipophilic properties. I was able to build on new strategies for scale-up those
synthetic methods.
After that, I joint Ms. Thinon group at the IECB, Bordeaux, whose project aims to understand how a
host protein involved in Influenza A virus entry is regulated by its post-translational modifications. The
project is interdisciplinary since it crosses boundaries between Chemistry, Biology and Proteomics in the
context of pathogen infections involving organic synthesis, biochemical techniques (electrophoresis,
western blot and sds page) and chemical biology techniques (click chemistry, protein enrichment, chemical
proteomics).
Due to my career path I am seriously committed to completing and getting further knowledge on
biological sciences, organic and medicinal Chemistry, continuing to work in a multidisciplinary group. I
have developed a deep understanding of numerous characterization techniques, namely, NMR, MS, FT-IR,
UV-Vis, TEM, SEM... I speak English, French and Spanish (mother tongue) fluently. Apart of all of this, I have
an important background in many other topics, comprising skills in the direction and guidance of people,
redaction of publications and other scientific documents, result presentations and research design. I am
also easy to get on with the others and a formative person, too.
I am looking forward to complying the requested profile. Likewise, I would be grateful to be granted
an interview either to extend any further detail about me and my professional experience or explain my CV
more in detail.

Yours sincerely,

Elena César
PROFESIONAL EXPERIENCE

2020-Act. Post-doctoral researcher. European Institute for Chemistry and Biology

((IECB, Bordeaux)
“Chemical approaches to study the S-palmitoylation of a host factor in Influenza A
virus infection – PalHo”
Developing new methods and chemical tools to study proteins post-translationally
modified by lipids. (i) produce small molecules and/or peptides, (ii) use them as
probes to label proteins in cells or in cell lysates and (iii) process the samples for
proteomics analysis (enrichment, tryspin digest).

2017-2020 Post-doctoral researcher. University Rey Juan Carlos (Chemical and

environmental engineering group)
“Synthesis of mesoporous silica materials for drug prolonged delivery”
Synthesis of drug derivatives in order to change their intrinsic solubility and
lipophilic properties. (Medicinal and organic chemistry).
Modelling and characterization of new mesoporous silica nano-composites
carrying these drugs with several pharmacological applications (Materials
sciences). Delivery drugs studies.

2016-2017 Forecasting and production analyst. General Motors (Madrid). Distribution

assistant

2011–2015 PhD in Organic and medicinal chemistry, University of Strasbourg.

“Total synthesis of polysubstituted antiparasitic (aza)naphtoquinones”,
Stablish a platform of synthetic methodologies to access of a diverse library of new
antimalarial drugs in order to improve their pharmacokinetic properties.
Structure-activity relationship and electrochemistry studies.
Teaching activities: lab works and tutorial clases. Supervision of a Master 2 trainee
for six months

2010 Master level internship, SynCat group, University of Strasbourg.

“Towards the total synthesis of the amphidinol-3”. Assymetric multistep synthesis
using chiral auxiliaries, enantioselective coupling methods and several protective
groups. Scale-up. Advisors: Dr G. Haquet y Pr. Fraçoise Colobert

2009 Graduate student Intership, IFP Lyon. Catalyst and separation group.
Synthesis and employing of a serial metals supported catalyst for the valorization
of ethanol via a one-pot oxidative condensation–hydrogenation process. GC-MS
analysis screening.
Advisor: Dr. Nicolas CADRAN
EDUCATION

2016 –2017. Supply chain management + SAP ERP. ESIC (Business & Marketing School). SAP
MM (Procurement). Titulación C_TSCM52_67 Enterprise Application.

2011 –2015 PhD in Organic Chemistry. Laboratory of “chimie Bioorganique et Médicinale”,

UMR 7509, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France – Obtained with highest
honors. Thesis advisor: Dr. Elisabeth DAVIOUD-CHARVET – Governmental
doctoral fellowship.

2009-2010 Master's degree, Molecular and Supramolecular Chemistry. University of

Strasbourg. (Mark: 14.5/20)

2008-2010 Chemical Engineer. École de Chimie, Polymères et Matériaux. University of

Strasbourg. Final project: Simulation by Aspen of Coal tars distillation (18/20)

2005-2010 BS, Chemistry, University Autónoma of Madrid, Spain. (Mark: 8.2/10)

,
OTHER MERITS

2011-2014 Doctoral fellowship – French Ministry of Education, Research and Technology

2008-2010 Fellowship exchange: -Spanish Ministry of Education- Double degree: Chemistry

(University Autónoma of Madrid, Spain) and Diplôme d'Ingénieur (ECPM,
Strasbourg).

LANGUAGES

Spanish: Native
French: Reading/Writing/Speaking: Bilingual proficiency
English: Reading/Writing/Speaking: Full professional competence.
SKILLS

Design and set-up of synthetic procedures in organic chemistry, asymmetric synthesis,

organocatalysis and heterocyclic chemistry, also desing methodology for the optimization of processes
and in structure-activity relationship in the fields of drugs targeting the CNS and parasites.
Structure elucidation and quantitative analysis of organic compounds: NMR spectroscopy
(mono- and bidimensional) for 1H, 13C, 31P and 19F nuclei., IR, LC-MS, HPLC, GC, UV/Vis. Characterization
techniques of silica nanomaterials: Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Scanning Electron
Microscope (SEM), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and BET surface area determination.
Advanced practice of Windows, Office, ChemDraw, ChemSketch, SciFinder, ChemBioDraw,
TopSpin, MestReNova, Adobe, Photoshop.
Logistical management of an organic chemistry laboratory (reagent stocks, orders and safety)
and of the set-up, the carrying-out, and the follow-up of a long term research project.
Management tools: SAP-MM

PUBLICATIONS

1. "Total synthesis and therapeutic use of redox-active 1,4-Naphthoquinones and their putative
biometabolites as antimalarial and schistomicidal agents" E. Cesar-Rodo, D. A. Lanfranchi, E. Davioud-
Charvet, L. Johann, D. L. Williams, European patent, (March 29, 2011) EP 11305346 (CNRS, Universidad de
Strasbourg, Universidad de Heidelberg, Universidad de Rush, Chicago)

2. "Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 1,4-Naphthoquinones and Quinoline-5,8-diones as

Antimalarial and Schistosomicidal agents" D. A. Lanfranchi, E. Cesar-Rodo, B. Bertrand, H.-H. Huang, L. Day,
L. Johann, M. Elhabiri, K. Becker, D. L.Williams, E. Davioud-Charvet, Org. Bio. Chem., 2012, 10, 6375-638.

3. “Electrochemical Properties of Substituted 2-Methyl-1,4-Naphthoquinones (Vitamin K3): How to

Predict their Redox Behavior” M. Elhabiri, P. Sidorov, E. Cesar-Rodo, G. Marcou, D. A. Lanfranchi, E. Davioud-
Charvet, D. Horvath, A. Varnek, Chem. Eur. J., 2015, 21, 3415-24.

4. “Synthetic Engineering to Access to Polysubstituted 2-Methyl-1,4-Naphthoquinones Derivatives” .

E. Cesar-Rodo, K. Ehrhardt, M. Lanzer, D. Williams, E. Davioud-Charvet, D. A. Lanfranchi.. Eur. J .Org. Chem,
2016, 11, 1982-1993.

5. “Synthesis of plasmodione metabolites and 13C-enriched plasmodione as chemical tools for drug
metabolism investigation” L. Feng, L. Cotos, E. Cesar-Rodo, D. A. Lanfranchi, K. Ehrhardt, A. Goetz, H.
Zimmermannc, F. Fenaille, S. A. Blandin, E. Davioud-Charvet. Org. Biomol. Chem., 2018, 16, 2647-2665

6. “Core-shell mesoporous silica nanoparticles synthetized from a L-Dopa derivative as template for
the treatment of Parkinson” E. Cesar-Rodo, M. Pérez-Garnés, V. Morales-Péres, R. Sanz-Martín, R. A. -Muñoz.
In preparation
REFERENCES

Dr. Emmanuelle Thinon Dr. E. DAVIOUD-CHARVET

Institut de chimie et de biologie des membranes Phd. Advisor
et des nanoobjets Laboratoire de chimie Bioorganique et
IECB Médicinale, UMR 7509 – UdS
2, Rue Escarpit 25, rue Becquerel ,67087 STRASBOURG
33607 PESSAC (Bordeaux) (+33) 3 68 85 26 20
 e.thinon@iecb.u-bordeaux.fr elisabeth.davioud@unistra.fr

Dr. Rafael A. García

Dr. Gilles HANQUET
Chemical and environmental engineering group
M’s Advisor
University Rey Juan Carlos
Laboratoire de Stéréochimie
C/ Tulipán s/n.
25, Rue Becquerel
28933 Móstoles (Madrid)
67087 Strasbourg
(+ 34) 91 488 70 86
(+33) 3 90 24 27 46
 rafael.garcia@urjc.es
ghanquet@unistra.fr

Dr. Mourad Elhabiri Prof. Carmen Carreño

Laboratoire de chimie Bioorganique et Médicinale, Dep. de Química Orgánica UAM,
25, rue Becquerel , C/ Francisco Tomás y Valiente,
67087 STRASBOURG Madrid
(+33) 3 68 85 26 85 (+34) 91 497 3924
elhabiri@unistra.fr carmen.carrenno@uam.es