Biography

Sergi Díez is Senior Research Scientist and Head of the Environmental Chemistry Department at the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research IDAEA-CSIC (Barcelona, Spain). He obtained his PhD in Chemistry from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (1994), complemented by predoctoral research stays at the University of Tennessee and the University of Kentucky. He was a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Porto (1995) and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (1996-1999). His research focuses on the origin, transformation, transport and fate of trace metals and organic pollutants (priority and emerging) in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The scope of his research involves field work and the development of cutting-edge analytical methodologies. In recent years, his research has primarily centered on unraveling the biogeochemical cycling of mercury in the environment and assessing its health impact, particularly in regions affected by artisanal-scale gold mining activities. Additionally, he actively contributes to the field of remediation, specifically addressing the challenges posed by metal-contaminated soils. Novel passive samplers such as Diffusive Gradients in Thin Films (DGT) have been developed by his research team to determine the bioavailability of pollutants in water and soil-plant systems. His contributions also include conducting comprehensive risk assessment studies to evaluate the potential impact of contaminants on human health. To date, he has published over 160 publications, 144 scientific papers indexed in SCI, 11 book chapters, with over 5500 citations, h index 41. He has presented to over 150 communications at international congresses. Associate Editor of Science of the Total Environment, Scientific Reports, Frontiers Environ Chem. and reviewer of Nature, Science, ES&T, Anal. Chem., Environ. Pollut., Environ. Int. or Environ Res. He has served as a member of the UNEP expert group overseeing the monitoring of biota and human health under the Minamata Convention. Currently, he holds the position of Coordinator for MercuRed, a CYTED Ibero-American network dedicated to advancing research in the field of mercury studies.