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Company Snapshot

Aguamarina offers laboratory services to local copper mines and it develops prototypes for environmentally-responsible products that increase the efficiency of copper extraction. Its goal is to be the leader in the development of biotechnological processes and services for large mines in Chile and abroad. With the copper industry representing 45% of Chile’s exports, Aguamarina is situated in an exciting market and is led by Pamela Chavez-Crooker, an unconventional role model who is one of the few marine biology post doctorates in Chile.

Home to the largest known copper reserve in the world, Chile produces over a third of the world’s annual copper output, which accounts for almost half of the country’s exports. As Chilean miners push to increase production and take advantage of higher prices caused by fast-growing Chinese consumption, Dr. Pamela Chavez-Crooker is in a prime position. Pamela runs Aguamarina, a biotech research and development company that offers services for the mining and aquaculture industries. Based in Antofagasta, the largest city in northern Chile, Aguamarina offers laboratory services to local mines and develops prototypes for environmentally-responsible products that increase the efficiency of copper extraction.

Born and raised in Antofagasta, the center of Chile’s mineral region, Pamela always knew she wanted to be a scientist. She studied Aquaculture Engineering at the University of Antofagasta. After graduating, Pamela undertook research projects and became an Associate Professor for the University. Later she accepted the prestigious Mombusho Scholarship from the Japanese Ministry of Education and received her Masters of Science in Aquatic Microbiology and Ph.D. in Molecular Marine Microbiology from the University of Kyoto, Japan. Shortly thereafter, Pamela completed her post-doc fellowship in Cell Physiology of Marine Invertebrates at the University of Hawaii, Manoa.