Valentina Perez
About
Valentina Perez Escobar is a multidisciplinary designer with a deep passion for research, design thinking, biodesign, textiles, science, and aerospace engineering. Her interests lie at the intersection of biotechnology, sustainability, and education, where she aims to fuse design with science and engineering to develop sustainable solutions.
While earning her Bachelor’s in Design at the Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia, she co-founded LixiLab, a biotech company known for its innovative filtration technology that removes heavy metals from water sources. Its work has earned international recognition, showcasing at the UN's FAO World Food Forum in Rome and Prototypes for Humanity in Dubai. She is also part of the 25 Under 25 cohort of the Young Climate Prize, a global initiative that empowers young innovators tackling environmental challenges.
Valentina pursued an M.A. in Fibers at SCAD in Savannah, Georgia, specializing in smart textiles, textile engineering, as well as weaving and knitting technologies. Her work involves textiles and engineering, with a commitment to improving quality of life and advancing sustainability.
She has experience in CMF design and R&D of sustainable composites for aerospace and automotive industries. Valentina also has knowledge of AS9100 and AS9010 quality standards, with hands-on experience in quality control and inspection in the aerospace sector. Above all, Valentina strives to make a lasting impact by bridging design, science, and engineering to shape a more sustainable future.
Experience
Valentina completed her internship at the MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute in Boston, as Teacher Assistant, where she supported the E-textiles and Wearable Technology course. Passionate about user centered design, she taught design thinking methodology and guided high school students in developing wearable tech prototypes that combined textiles, electronics, and Arduino. Additionally, she delivered lectures and provided mentorship in project development as part of a multidisciplinary STEM program.
She has also worked as a Teacher Assistant at the Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia, where she collaborated with professors and guided students in research, project development, communication, biodesign, and textile projects for three undergraduate courses.
Valentina is certified in Innovations in Textile Engineering from MIT and has experience in quality control processes within the aerospace industry, with knowledge of AS9100 and AS9010 standards at SAHAR Group in Miami, where she conducted parts inspections using a Measuring Arm (CMM). Additionally, she designed a collection of lighting pieces for L1 Laser Tube Cutting in Miami, utilizing advanced laser cutting technologies.
Valentina co-founded LixiLab, a biotech company dedicated to making biotechnology accessible to farmers to combat heavy metal contamination. She applied her knowledge in microbiology to develop Bacua, a biotech prototype that uses dead bacteria to treat water contamination for irrigation, based on farming practices. Additionally, she designed educational workshops to raise awareness about the impact of heavy metal contamination in water and agriculture.