ABOUT ME
ABOUT ME
My major research interest is the cycling of elements in the environment, especially the biogeochemistry of carbon. I aim to unravel the natural drivers that control marine ecosystems and the impact that anthropogenic factors have on them.
A major focus of my research is on the factors that regulate the downward flux of material from the surface of the ocean into the interior and from there to the seafloor. I study the role of particles in the oceanic carbon cycle using detailed geochemical characterization (bulk geochemical composition and stable isotopes, lipid biomarkers, major and trace elements, etc.). I integrate the characterization of particle fluxes with the analysis of external (climatic) and internal (oceanographic) forcing conditions. I evaluate the impact of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, on the oceanic carbon cycle. I am also interested in the role of microbes in regulating carbon fluxes in the ocean.
I also have a significant interest in issues of direct societal concern, such as persistent organic pollutants and microplastics/nanoplastics in marine ecosystems, and the ways in which the oceans may be encouraged to remove anthropogenic carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
When long time ago I read the sentence “...the sediments are the materials of the most stupendous snowfall the Earth has ever seen...“ (Rachael Carson, The Sea Around Us), my first thought was that I really wanted to know more about this snowfall, about its composition, transport, deposition, etc.
CURRENT POSITION
October 2018 - present
Research scientist. PI of sub-award of the Oceanic Flux Program at the Ecosystems Center (Marine Biological Laboratory).
(OFP PI Dr. Maureen H. Conte)
EDUCATION
MAIN TECHNIQUES & SKILLS
Laboratory techniques: lipid biomarkers (GC-MS), compound-specific stable carbon isotopic compositions of lipids (GCirMS), elemental composition (C, OC, TN and CaCO3) and stable isotopes (d13C and d15N) (IRMS), grain size (Coulter Counter), centrifugation techniques to fractionate samples, methods for ICP-MS analysis of trace metals, Si and Al contents (ICP-OES), Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS).
2011 - 2016
PhD
University of Barcelona- Research Group on Marine Geosciences.
Thesis title: "Composition, origin and transport of organic matter in continental margins and basins of the Mediterranean Sea".
Specific software usages: GC/MSD ChemStation and ChromPerfect (GC-MS data acquisition and instrument control), Ocean Data View, Sedtrans 05, Piege (motor sediment trap), Data Reading Program (software RCM8/9 current meter), Nortek software (Aquadopp current meter), SBE Data Processing, Seave and Seaterm, Multibeam Suevey Adquisition software, ArcGis, Statgraphics XVII, Mystat, MS Office, Photoshop, Corel, Grapher and basic knowledge of R.
2010 - 2011
Marine Science: Oceanography and Marine Management. University of Barcelona, Polytechnic University of Catalonia and Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC).
2006 - 2010
Bachelor
Environmental Science. University of Barcelona.
Field equipment: sediment traps (PPS3 and McLane), acoustic release and release unit (Benthos and IXBLUE Acoustic), current meters (Anderaa RCM8/9 and Aquadopp), SBE 37-SM MicroCAT, in-situ pumps, GO-FLO sampling bottles, manta trawl (including sampling of microplastics), CTDs, multicorer, boxcorer, Van Veen grabs, gravity corers.
Organic extracts of suspended partiles of the Sargasso Sea (OFP).
Mooring line deployment in the eastern Mediterranean Sea with GRCGM UB.