Carla Olmo

Biography

My research centers on ecology, with a primary focus on limnology, adopting population and community perspectives to explore the effects of global changes on ecological functioning and aquatic biodiversity within freshwater ecosystems. My work integrates a multidisciplinary approach, drawing on fields such as biodiversity, chemistry, toxicology, and mathematics. I have examined both biotic and abiotic characteristics, as well as local and regional factors, to understand drivers influencing the distribution of zooplankton, both in their active and dormant forms. Additionally, my research has extended to other organisms, including phytoplankton, macroinvertebrates, fish and amphibians, aiming to elucidate their distribution patterns across large spatial scales and their biotic interactions. Temporary ponds, the core of my studies, are ecologically significant as stepping-stone habitats, however, they remain critically underrepresented in ecological research worldwide. Over the past seven years, I have conducted cutting-edge research adopting a metacommunity perspective, with a particular focus on network analysis, across various countries, including Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Germany, and Spain. This perspective and its associated analytical tools have significantly enriched my primary lines of research focusing on temporary ponds. My research experience is evidenced by my publication record, which includes 20 articles in peer reviewed WoS journals, with 50% of them as first author. Additionally, I have contributed to four articles in other indexed sources, and authored two book chapters. Collectively, these publications have garnered 319 citations, resulting in an h-index of 11 (Google Scholar, Feb25). Furthermore, I have made 52 contributions to high-profile conferences and served on the scientific committee of the International Congress of Limnology (Brazil, May 2024). Some of these accomplishments have been made possible through my active participation in the recently established Latin American and Caribbean Limnology Network, which includes the International Network on Limnology of Drylands. Membership in these networks has facilitated ongoing collaborations, the development of future projects (eg. in Galápagos Islands), and opportunities to serve as a workshop speaker across Latin America. Furthermore, I am member of the Iberian Association of Limnology and the International Society of Limnology, where I currently contribute as a member of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Task Force. I would like to emphasize my success in obtaining personal funding through three highly competitive programs: postdoctoral grants from the GVA and the María Zambrano fellowship in Spain, and the FONDECYT grant in Chile. These achievements have provided me with valuable experience as project coordinator. Notably, in 2023, I was awarded the FONDECYT Iniciación project (3 years with approx. 100,000€), a highly competitive grant designed for early-career scientists (<10 years post-PhD). This funding has enabled me to allocate resources for salaries, operational costs, and experimental work conducted within chilean territory. Leveraging my expertise in Chilean aquatic systems, I was invited to join a scientific committee for the Chilean Ministry of Environment to contribute to the development of future legislation on invasive alien species. Since 2023, I am Editorial Board of Limnologica (Q2 in WoS). Additionally, I have served as a reviewer for articles in 12 WoS-indexed journals, evaluated two research projects for the national research agencies of Chile and Poland, and participated as thesis defense committee for six doctoral dissertations. Recently, I was honored as PI by the Institució Catalana d’Història Natural, receiving the Torras-Foulon Prize, valued at 4,000€, to develop the project "Metacomunitats de fauna aquàtica associades a cadolles". I am deeply committed to educational and outreach activities. I have contributed to student instruction at the Universidad de Valencia and the Universitat de Girona, teaching both undergraduate and master's level courses, with 293 h of teaching experience. Additionally, I have co-supervised numerous student projects, including three MSc theses at the Universidad de Valencia and five BSc theses across the Universidad de Valencia, Universidad Mayor, Universidad de Chile, and Universidad Austral de Chile. Currently, I am co-supervising a PhD thesis at the Universidad de Valencia titled "Aquatic metacommunities in Mediterranean climate areas: ecological patterns and network analysis of active and dormant organisms". I conducted the workshop "Research and Scientific Writing" on four occasions (100 h) for PhD students in Mathematical Modelling at Universidad Católica del Maule. In 2022, I hold Spanish accreditations from ANECA for Assistant Professor and Junior Lecturer positions. Furthermore, I have experience in environmental education and citizen science.