Professor Zagal was born in Talca on December 19, 1949, and is a Chilean chemist and academic. He earned his degree in Chemistry and a Bachelor’s in Chemistry from the University of Chile in 1973, and completed his doctorate at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Since 1978, he has served as a professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Santiago, Chile (formerly the Technical University of the State), where he had the honor of serving as the department's chairman from 1981 to 1985 at the relatively young age of 31.

He also led the Doctoral Program in Chemistry from 1992 to 2004, playing a pivotal role in the creation of the university's first doctoral program in 1983. Additionally, he co-founded the Green Hydrogen Economy Center, showcasing his commitment to innovation and sustainability.

Throughout his career, he has received research funding from prestigious national and international institutions such as Fondecyt, Fundación Andes, the Chilean Navy, CNRS, and ECOS in France. With this support, he developed three patents related to improving electrodes for batteries and fuel cells. Between 2008 and 2010, he chaired the Dr. Alberto Zanlungo Foundation, which provides scholarships to outstanding students with limited resources.

In 2024, he was awarded the National Award in Natural Sciences by the Government of Chile, a recognition that underscores his career and contributions to science. His professional life has been guided by a deep dedication to research, education, and fostering new generations of scientists.