Prof. Dr. Roberto Gonzalez from the Universidad Politecnica de Nicaragua in Managua has returned to Central America after a two-month visiting professorship at the Giessen -Friedberg University of Applied Sciences. At the Institute for Biopharmaceutical Technology (IBPT), he collaborated with the research team of Prof. Dr. Peter Czermak. The visiting scientist, who comes from Cuba, has been a regular visitor to the university since 2002 for collaborative research purposes.

Prof. Gonzalez, whose research focuses on the modeling and simulation of biotechnological and chemical processes, heads the Center for Biotechnology at the University of Managua. At the Department of Hospital and Medical Technology, Environmental and Biotechnology in Giessen he worked on two projects that fall within the scope of the IBPT's services. He developed a mathematical model for simulating systems for the cooling and transport of cells or blood. He also worked on the development of an enzyme reactor model.

Prof. Gonzalez and Prof. will continue their collaboration at the research level. Furthermore, a partnership agreement is imminent, through which the university of applied sciences and the university of the Central American country intend to regulate the exchange of researchers and students. Laura Placido, a biotechnology student from Giessen , was already able to use the visiting professor's stay to prepare for her final phase of studies. She will travel to Nicaragua in 2008 to complete her practical semester and write her diploma thesis.