Born in Boston in 1951, of Mexican nationality. He majored in Chemical Engineering at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) [National Autonomous University of Mexico]. He earned a master's degree in biochemical engineering at the University of Birmingham, England, and a doctorate in the same area from the National Institute of Applied Sciences in Toulouse, France.

Dr. López-Munguía has established himself as a recognized researcher in the industrial biotechnology area, particularly on subjects related to production processes and enzyme applications in the pharmaceutical and food industries. The processes he developed to extract natural products applying biological technologies are considered outstanding for their originality and industrial significance. Also significant, is his work searching for enzymes capable of synthesizing carbohydrates relevant to the food and pharmaceutical industries. Both lines have resulted in publications, national and international patents, and technological development agreements with industrial concerns. In particular, his work on the application of enzymes in the tortilla manufacturing industry, the sugar industry and the food-coloring industry is important for its repercussions on the national context. He developed an enzymatic process for the Tequila-making industry and is now working on the synthesis of insulin, an attractive project from an industrial point of view.

He was a professor at the Facultad de Química [Faculty of Chemistry] of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) [National Autonomous University of Mexico], where he was also a researcher at the departamento de Alimentos [Food department]. He was part of a research group in enzyme technology in the then Centro de Investigación de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología [Center for Research on Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology], today Instituto de Biotecnología [Institute of Biotechnology], where he was Secretario Académico [Academic Secretary] and where he currently conducts research. He is a Member of the Consejo Consultivo de Ciencias de la Presidencia de la República (CCC) [Science Consulting Council of the President’s Office].

He has received the Premio de la Academia Mexicana de Ciencias en el Área de Tecnología [Mexican Academy of Sciences Prize in the Area of Technology], the Premio Nacional al Mérito en Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos [National Merit Prize in the Area of Food Science and Technology] granted by Conacyt under the auspices of the Coca-Cola Bottling co.

He received the Premio Universidad Nacional [National University Prize] and the Premio Nacional de Ciencias y Artes [National Award for Science and Arts].
He has over 80 publications in national and international journals. He has tutored 36 undergraduate, 24 master's theses and 6 doctoral dissertations. He has also been an important contributor to acquaint the general public with the advances of science through his writings in several books and articles, particularly in the ¿Cómo ves? [How do you see?] Magazine where, in addition, he is a member of the Editorial Committee.