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Biography
After completing my biology degree at U del Valle, Colombia, I progressed to the U de Barcelona and ICM, enjoying a JAE-CSIC fellowship, earning my PhD in 2012. My journey then led me to WWF-Med while based in New Zealand, followed by influential postdoctoral positions at the Millennium Marine Conservation Centre (2013) and Pontificia U Católica (2014) in Chile. A milestone of my career was being honored with the H2020 Marie S. Curie Action (2017), facilitating my return to Spain to join IMEDEA (UIB-CSIC) since 2018. My tenure here was enriched with fellowships from the Balearic Is. Gov. (2021), Juan de la Cierva (2022), Maria de Maeztu (2024) and Ramón y Cajal (2024).
Generation of Knowledge: Central to my research is connectivity, vital for understanding complex systems. This includes defining the fundamental unit for connectivity study, differentiating structural from functional connectivity, understanding emerging behavior, and measuring the systems’ connectivity. My research revolves around hypotheses on ecological networks’ emergent properties, examining topology and centrality to understand ecosystem dynamics, human activities’ effects, and environmental and global changes. I use programming languages like Python, Java, R, and dynamic modeling techniques, including Individual Based Models, Bayesian Belief Networks, GAMs, GLMMs, supplemented by advanced GIS apps. My work blends technical expertise with creative visualization, evident in interactive apps and infographics I have created. My earlier studies range from seabird nesting connectivity in dense colonies to biophysical transport of larvae of small pelagic fish in the Mediterranean and key invertebrates in the Humboldt Current System. Further in my career, I have expanded to trophic webs, benthic habitat connectivity, networks in MPAs, and ecosystem services. More recently, my studies of the global seafood trade network unveil complexities links between producers, exporters, and importers countries. My academic output includes + 50 peer-reviewed publications, 40% as first, leading, or corresponding author; an H-index of 19; and active participation in over 44 conferences (36 as oral). I have collaborated with organizations like FAO, WWF, and governmental bodies in Spain, New Zealand, Chile or Colombia contributing to over 15 sci./tech. reports, establishing a significant presence in the international research community.
Development of Individuals: My career embodies a commitment to leadership and mentorship. I have guided BSc, MSc, and PhD students from prestigious institutions like U Barcelona, U Santiago Compostela, Aarhus U, and Pontificia U Católica Chile. My mentoring includes PhD theses at U Barcelona (2019) and U Balearic Islands (2023), continuing with James Cook U (2024). My passion for education shines through in my coordination and teaching of international courses in network analysis and graph theory, benefiting students, PhD’s, postdocs, and researchers worldwide. In Chile, my role in coordinating a major FONDECYT project is noteworthy. I have participated in +18 EU-funded projects like CERES, FutureMares (H2020), and MARBEFES Horizon EU, showcasing my efficiency and results-driven approach. My involvement in the EqualSea ERC project (PI S. Villasante) as task coordinator and core team member underscores my leadership in scientific endeavors.
Wider Research Community: My influence extends to various international WGs. I evaluate Mediterranean fisheries, contributing to groups like the ICES WG on small pelagic fishes (WGSPF), benthic community dynamics WG (WGCOMEDA), and I am a central member of the GFCM FAO-CopeMed II WG on dolphinfish fisheries in the Mediterranean. Recently, I have joined Alimentta, a think tank for a sustainable food system. Additionally, the organization of international courses (ECOMAR network, CYTED), and the evaluation of the MSCA programme of the EU, highlights my dedication to the broader research community.
Broader Society: My research, focusing on ecological and socio-economic aspects of globalized natural resources, has a profound societal impact. I assess management strategies for exploited species in the Humboldt Current Ecosystem and the Mediterranean, collaborating with managers and spatial planners to enhance ecosystem connectivity and service flow, contributing to global sustainability. My outreach efforts include 5 popular articles, the documentary “Larvas las viajeras del Oceano” with over 1450 views on Vimeo, +130 newspaper mentions, and 9 radio interviews. In 2021, I presented my research at the EU Green Day in Brussels to a general audience.
At my research's heart is a passion for unraveling complex interconnections in marine ecosystems. I aim to advance understanding and contribute to sustainable management strategies, enhancing ecosystem resilience. In an era of environmental and socio-economic shifts, I lead research that harmonizes human interaction with nature sustainably.
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IJC2020-044266-I
0118648