She was born in Pánuco, Veracruz, in 1927. She is a graduate of the Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas [National School of Biological Sciences] of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) [National Polytechnic Institute], where she obtained a degree as Química Bacterióloga Parasitóloga [Bacteriologist-Parasitologist Chemist] and earned her doctorate in biochemistry. She completed research stays at the Universities of Cologne and Würzburg in Germany and a postdoctoral stay at the University of California (Davis).
Dr. Ortega is one of Mexico’s best known scientists abroad for her work on species such as bean, corn, nopal and xoconostle the most renowned Mexican scientists abroad for his work with species such as beans, corn, nopal [prickly pear] and xoconostle [sour prickly pear]. She pioneered in the areas of plant physiology and biochemistry, thereby contributing to improve production methods and to the study of species of great economic and cultural value.
Her work and efforts opened the doors of the Universidad Autónoma de Chapingo [Autonomous University of Chapingo] to women, turning what was a male-only militarized school into a coed University. She was a promoter of the Colegio de Postgraduados [Postgraduates’ College]; today one of Mexico’s better known academic institutions in the area of agriculture.
She is a former head of research and director of the Centro de Botánica del Colegio de Postgraduados [Botany Center of the Postgraduates College]. Member of the American Society of Plant Physiologists. Member of the Consejo Consultivo de Ciencias de la Presidencia de la República (CCC) [Science Consulting Council of the President’s Office].
Dr. Ortega has received the National Award for Arts and Sciences, the Diploma al Mérito de la Sociedad Mexicana de la Ciencia del Suelo [Merit Diploma of the Mexican Society of Earth Sciences]; the Premio Mujeres Pioneras en la Enseñanza e Investigación en el Colegio de Postgraduados [Pioneer Women in Education and Research at the Postgraduates College Award]; Miembro de Honor de la Asociación de Egresadas de la Universidad de Chapingo [Honor Member of the University of Chapingo Women Alumni Association]. Distinguished Daughter of the City of Pánuco, Veracruz.
She has published 62 scientific papers, 36 research notes in international journals and 19 publications in conference proceedings. She has tutored 14 undergraduate and 58 master's theses and 16 doctoral dissertations.
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