Ivan Loaiza graduated as a Bachelor in Fisheries Engineering at Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina - Peru, and then concluded a masters in Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management (Oceans & Lakes). In 2020, Ivan defended his PhD dissertation at the Ghent University through a joint PhD program with University of Antwerp. His research involves the study of macrobenthic communities associated to the Peruvian scallop Argopecten purpuratus aquaculture. Ivan´s research areas of interest include trophic interactions, contaminant exposures, and the influence of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). In 2018 he conducted a course in Punta San Juan in collaboration with UGhent, where samples were collected for the MACOPSproject initiative, that includes other sampling sites along the coast of Peru. Dr. Loaiza is also a scientific associated professor at the Universidad Científica del Sur - Lima since 2014.