Meet the Team


  • Co-founder - CEO

    Paloma Gonzalez-Rojas, is a distinguished entrepreneur and material scientist with deep expertise in machine learning. Earning her Ph.D. from MIT, she pioneered AI applications in materials science to commercialize sustainable products. At Atacama, an MIT spinout, she leads the development of innovative, cost-effective alternatives to traditional plastics using locally sourced raw materials. Utilizing just 11% of the energy typically required and powered by green energy and advanced robotics, Atacama is setting new industry standards. The company's efforts are poised to significantly reduce the reliance on single-use packaging by making sustainable options more affordable and reducing CO2 emissions by two gigatons by 2035. Under her leadership, Atacama has developed WPk, a recycled-paper-based composite that matches the cost and exceeds the performance of conventional materials in strength, durability, and lightness. This breakthrough has catalyzed market interest, leading to an expansion of Atacama's pilot line to increase material sampling and meet growing demand.

  • Founder

    Jose Tomas Dominguez, is an experienced developer of industrial deep tech robotics and manufacturing applications; he took two startups to market and mentored several more in this process. His obsession with tackling global warming led him to work in the solar energy sector, a thriving industry in Chile. His most successful project at Inti-Tech deployed a fleet of autonomous robots able to withstand an on-site 20 years accelerated aging test in one of the world's most hazardous environments, the Atacama Desert. In addition, the technology proved to increase solar farm efficiency by 25%, avoiding the emission of 355 tons of CO2. This accomplishment made the company one of the first Chilean companies to export robotic technology. During the last four years, he has worked at the intersection of renewable materials and advanced manufacturing technologies to accelerate the transition toward a circular economy. His work in this field has been recognized by industry leaders and academia. Presented papers for the American Society of Mechanical Engineering conferences. Showcased and prized by Dassault Systems and Formlabs, both industry leaders in manufacturing. And collaborated closely with the International Molded Fiber association in advanced manufacturing techniques to modernize their industry. His experience deploying deep tech projects in challenging environments and highly demanding industries and his connections in the renewable material industry make him the ideal person to produce and scale Atacama's technology.

  • Founder


    Jose Antonio Gonzalez,is a seasoned operations manager and entrepreneur, passionate about creating value from knowledge and tech. As part of his five years of work at the non-profit Wadhwani Foundation, a global NGO focused on entrepreneurship, he has evaluated, mentored, and measured the impact of 300+ startups from several sectors yet mainly focused on climate tech. Jose Antonio is deeply passionate about startup innovation and imprints sustainability, wealth creation, social awareness, and environmental impact at Atacama and the startups he mentors. Prior to Atacama, he launched and ran two ventures for four years –an importer of innovative sports products and an importer company of designer garments – where he empowered a circular approach. These companies allowed him to gain experience in manufacturing exchange, global supply chain knowledge, and general management. Before that, he had 3+ years of experience managing the operations and finances of a construction firm in Chile. Jose Antonio has a Master of Business and Administration (MBA) and a Civil Industrial Engineer from Universidad Federico Santa Maria (UTFSM) in Chile. Jose leads Atacama's global business development, operations, and management.


  • Dr. Steven Kaye is the scientific advisor for Atacama Biomaterials and the former CTO of Our Next Energy (ONE) in California, where he led the scaling of a 20 GWh battery production plant. An experienced leader in battery technology and R&D, Dr. Kaye has held key positions such as Vice President of Engineering at Refractal, led materials R&D for batteries as part of Apple's Special Projects Group, and served as Chief Scientific Officer at Wildcat Discovery Technologies. He has developed breakthrough battery technologies and collaborated on over 60 R&D projects with significant material suppliers, device manufacturers, and OEMs. Dr. Kaye holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from UC Berkeley and has more than 60 patents covering innovations in cathode, anode, electrolyte, cell architecture, and pack designs. In addition to co-founding Mosaic Materials, which was acquired by BASF, Dr. Kaye has been instrumental in Wildcat Discovery's continued success. Now, as the scientific advisor for Atacama Biomaterials, he brings his deep expertise in computational chemistry and material science to help scale their operations, leveraging his success in similar roles, including his work at ONE.

  • Romina Pacheco, a graduate of Industrial Design from the University of Chile, excels in design and process engineering, focusing on industrialization. Her career is characterized by a deep knowledge of robotics and production processes, skills she has successfully applied in scaling ventures. Romina has led design and engineering projects that have transformed ideas into innovative and scalable products, marking a milestone in integrating advanced technology and functional design.

  • Svafa Grönfeldt is the business advisor for Atacama Biomaterials and a professor of the practice at the MIT School of Architecture and Planning. She is a founding member and faculty director of MITdesignX, a program focused on design innovation and entrepreneurship. Svafa also serves on the board of directors for three publicly listed companies on Nasdaq OMX and the Amsterdam Stock Exchange. Before joining MIT, she was instrumental in creating two global life science companies and served as the president of Reykjavik University. She holds a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics.

    Her work is centered on applying design principles to solve complex problems, focusing on the dynamic relationship between people and their environments. Svafa's unique blend of academic knowledge, entrepreneurial drive, and executive leadership is instrumental in fostering new enterprises through design innovation. Her expertise is a significant asset to Atacama Biomaterials, helping to shape their business strategy at the intersection of design, sustainability, and innovation.

  • Melissa Shaltis is an accomplished engineering and operations leader with a proven track record in creating and optimizing high-volume production processes. With a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, Melissa has spent over 20 years at Sensata Technologies, where she held key leadership roles in Engineering, Quality, Product Management and most recently as Director of Operations. Within her various roles she has created high quality, highly automated production processes. She is adept at back-end operations as well as customer facing roles. In her most recent role, she was responsible for streamlining supply planning and reducing material costs across a global network of more than 10 manufacturing facilities. Melissa is also known for her hands-on approach to implementing Lean and Six Sigma methodologies, which have significantly enhanced manufacturing output and quality for successful commercialization. Her deep commitment to operational excellence and continuous improvement has made her a key player in advancing manufacturing capabilities on a global scale. She has a strong passion for waste reduction and creating the next generation of sustainable products.

  • Summer Intern and Academic Researcher

    Hui-Ying Suk is a Mechanical and Design Engineer committed to linking sustainability with manufacturing and bringing innovative ideas to life. Currently pursuing a Master in Design Engineering at Harvard, she holds Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and Geosciences. As a Mechanical Engineer and R&D specialist in the manufacturing industry, Hui-Ying has leveraged her expertise to develop advanced cloud server mechanical systems, utilizing simulation to optimize structural integrity and overall efficiency while ensuring design for manufacturability and cost-effectiveness. She has also served as a Junior Mechanical Project Manager, fostering strong connections between clients, cross-functional teams, and suppliers. Her love for nature and her background in geosciences fuels her passion for sustainable design.

  • Haukur Hafsteinsson, a seasoned Principal Engineer at Marel and an Engineering Advisor for Atacama Biomaterials brings nearly three decades of experience in driving innovation and technological advancements. Since 1996, he has led key engineering projects, including developing a robust Linux-based embedded systems framework and a cutting-edge 3D vision system for high-accuracy volume measurement. Haukur has extensive knowledge in material simulation and packaging line development for protein products, ensuring that processes are optimized for efficiency and product integrity. His recent focus on integrating augmented and virtual reality into real-time control systems further enhances machine design and simulation capabilities. Haukur’s expertise in mechanical engineering, material simulation, and packaging technology is a significant asset to Atacama, ensuring their biomaterials are effectively integrated into advanced, scalable, and sustainable packaging solutions.