William Roca
After obtaining a B.Sc. in Biology at the Universidad Nacional Agraria, La Molina, Peru, W. Roca was awarded with a Ph.D. degree from Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. USA, in Plant Cell Physiology under Prof. F.C.Steward. Following a Post-doctoral stage at Cornell, Dr. Roca joined CIP, Lima in 1973; five years later, he moved to CIAT as a Plant Cell Physiologist. While leading CIAT Genetic Resources Unit, Dr. Roca developed in vitro culture techniques for the conservation and distribution of cassava clones, and started cryopreservation of cassava shoot tips.
In 1986, Dr. Roca was instrumental in the creation and development of CIAT Biotechnology Research Unit, hence formalizing biotechnology R&D for the first time in the CGIAR. This Unit allowed Roca to work and develop the use of double haploid rice lines and bean interspecific hybrid lines in breeding programs; the BRU also allowed Roca to broaden CIAT’s research to molecular /biochemical and cellular technologies for the characterization, genetic mapping and assisted selection /breeding , and genetic modification with all CIAT crops.
After 22 years work at CIAT, Dr. Roca moved back to CIP, Lima, in 2000, where he became leader of biodiversity research and head of the genebank, managing, studying and conserving the world largest root & tuber crop collections, including in vitro, seed and in situ conservation of potatoes, sweetpotatoes and a range of Andean root and tuber crops.
Throughout his career Dr. Roca received several academic and professional distinctions, including the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Medal on Biotechnology presented by REDBIO and FAO, the CIAT Outstanding Senior Staff Achievement Award, and was distinguished as Academician by the LAC Academy of Sciences, as well as the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society, Cornell Chapter. Dr Roca has also conducted a number of reviews and evaluations of biotechnology and genetic resources programs and projects, including the recent coordination of the first half of the LAC Biosafety multi-country project supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the World Bank.
Dr. Roca is author and co-author of 45 refereed journal publications, of several invited book chapters and manuals, and editor/coauthor of a multi-author book; he has also co-authored an invention patent and a variety registration. Currently, Dr. Roca is a Consultant in Genetic Resources and Biotechnology.
Dr. Roca is married to María del Rosario Delgado. They have two children, Eduardo and Claudia.