Dr. rer. nat. Crisanto M. Lopez, RMicro is also currently the research group leader of the Ateneo Food Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology Research Group, the head of the Microbiological Services Laboratory of the Philippine Institute of Pure and  Applied Chemistry (PIPAC), as well as a member of the Board of Directors of the Philippine Society for Microbiology as Food Microbiology Division Representative.

Dr. rer. nat. Lopez's research interest covers the detection and enumeration of microorganisms in various food systems; and the utilization of microorganisms in providing solutions to problems in health,  agriculture, and environment. Traditional and molecular-based techniques are used in the detection and enumeration of foodborne microorganisms. Cell- and molecular biology-based methods are employed in the manipulation of microorganisms to create useful products and in understanding mechanisms of action in the areas of infection biology, agricultural production,  and environmental sustainability.