CISeAL was born as a small laboratory in 1999, and developed into a center thanks to the collaborative efforts of Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador and Ohio University, USA. The Center's growth was achieved with the support of Ecuadorian organisms, such as the Ministry of Public Health and international organizations like the World Health Organization and the United States National Institutes of Health.
The Center’s constant growth led to the expansion of its infrastructure. In June 2016, CISeAL had its grand opening in PUCE's new campus in Nayón, Ecuador (near Quito). The new state-of-the-art level 2 and 3 biohazard research facility can accommodate 22 permanent research groups and support personnel, as well as visiting researchers and students.

Addressing Complexity
We conduct interdisciplinary research that deepens the understanding of the interrelated factors that often drive chronic and infectious diseases.
We apply our knowledge to the development of strategies and technology that promote health and combat disease.
Fostering Interaction
We work across institutions, disciplines, geographies, and cultures to explore approaches to public health challenges that combine globally and locally produced knowledge.
Creating Opportunities
We enable health research and education in Latin America through alliance building, infrastructure development, and the recruitment and retention of researchers and educators.

Putting Knowledge to Work
We bridge the theory-practice gap by employing research and education beyond laboratories and classrooms to apply knowledge and assess its ability to improve people’s health and well being.
Internationalizing Education
We have created opportunities for international academic learning within the context of science-driven, community-based research initiatives.
We envision a collaborative space in Latin America for diverse scientific interaction unified by a commitment to build better health for people whose well-being is undermined by the presence of infectious and chronic disease.
After more than 18 years of strategic and creative interaction, we have created a comprehensive infrastructure and technical ‘know-how’ that provide the foundations for basic research, as well as for new transnational research and new education initiatives that explore complex relations between biological, social, economic, and environmental drivers of chronic and infectious diseases.
The Administrative Unit of CISeAL (UGACI) is in charge of planning, organizing, directing, and supervising all activities related to the administrative and financial management of research and community outreach projects, and all services and programs that are developed in the Center, with the objective of speeding up its execution. Likewise, its role is to provide support to CISeAL researchers and directors in the preparation of project budgets, as well as in the financial settlement and verification of project execution.
The unit is currently made up of an Administrative Expert and two administrative operatives with functions defined according to their position. Each member of the UGACI has an important and specific role within the work team, oriented towards achieving the common objective, which is the efficient administration of the CISeAL.
The main objective of the UGACI is to provide support to principal investigators and their work teams, to relieve them from the administrative burden, and to allow them to devote more time to research and teaching, without the need to get directly involved in the administrative procedures of their projects. The main responsibilities of the unit include the following: 1) planning and executing the administrative and financial procedures of CISeAL and PUCE; these include human resources, financial, procurement, and other processes; 2) request for review and signing of inter-institutional cooperation agreements, memorandums of understanding, specific agreements and others; 3) request for the maintenance of CISeAL equipment and infrastructure; 4) support in the logistical organization for the execution of research and community outreach projects, services and programs developed at CISeAL; among others.

The Scientific Planning Unit (UGEP) is responsible for the scientific and academic areas of CISeAL. Since its creation, in 2017, the Unit has been in charge of multidisciplinary tasks such as managing, planning, and providing support to the Center. In collaboration with PUCE, the Unit supervises all academic processes, research projects, community outreach activities, research work, certifications, accreditations, research permits, material transfer agreements, export permits, services, and other programs that are developed at CISeAL. All this to achieve the optimal performance of the investigations in the Center.
UGEP's organizational structure, composed of a Management and Administration Expert, a Laboratory Manager and a Research and Project Manager, allows it to be the bridge for interactions between national and international researchers. The collaborative orientation of the Management makes it the strategic partner for the conceptualization and development of research. Whether it is through assistance in the preparation and presentation of research proposals, through advisory and permit management, or by monitoring progress, the unit accompanies the staff in every step of the research process.
UGEP is qualified to provide support for a wide range of tasks, among which we can find: establishment and supervision of compliance with SOPs, monitoring laboratory equipment and making sure it is in optimal conditions, funding options tracking, monitoring of the Center's Animal facility, and organization of scientific events of different scale, etc.
With its holistic approach, UGEP reduces the workload of research teams and accompanies them in the publication process. Thanks to its motivation to share knowledge, CISeAL, through its Scientific Planning Unit, provides researchers with the necessary inputs to ensure that their scientific production reaches the highest impact among academics and the public.
At CISeAL we are proud of keeping high standards in every thing we do, which includes staff search and talents recruitment. If you are interested in helping to change the world with science, you can also be a part of the Center for Research on Health in Latin America, to start your aplication process keep in mind the following steps:
1. Check vacancies. Make sure you fulfill all the requirements detailed in the document with the terms of reference.
2. Complete the form attached at the end of the document of the vacancy you would like to apply.
3. Send us an email to: ciseal@puce.edu.ec containing all the information requested inside the terms of reference + your CV.
*All applications that don't fulfill the necessary requirements will be automatically dismissed.
**Each researcher will review his or hers aplications and will evaluate the candidates according to their needs. Is full responsability of the researcher to contact with aplicants.
Vacancies:
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| Biodiversity Researcher |
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Subcategories
Ambiente Laboral
Un Ambiente Laboral Saludable y Dinámico en el CISeAL
En el Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina (CISeAL), creemos firmemente que un ambiente laboral positivo y saludable es fundamental para fomentar el trabajo en equipo y el sentido de pertenencia.


