His main line of research focuses on the bacterial nucleoid structure in extreme acidophiles and the epigenetics control of Acidithiobacillia class phenotypic plasticity and mobile genetic elements biology. Simón research interests also span the microbial ecology of acidophilic bacterial communities inhabiting both natural and anthropogenic environments, such as acidic rivers, acid mine drainage (AMD) impacted systems and copper ore bioleaching operations.

Simón Beard is a Molecular Biotechnology Engineer (2004, Universidad de Chile) with graduate studies in Microbiology (Universidad de Santiago de Chile, 2010). His expertise in the fundamental and applied microbiology of bioleaching acidophiles is grounded on his background in biochemistry and metabolism of sulfur oxidizing acidophiles. In addition, he has professional experience in R&D project and intellectual property management. Currently, Simón is Assistant Professor at Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián and HINGE Postdoc fellow at Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida.

He teaches molecular microbiology, genomics and proteomics for biochemistry students at Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián. In addition, he also advise Profesional Practice and Thesis projects for Biochemistry students as well.