My research aims to reveal the fundamental basis of desiccation and low temperature stress tolerance in seeds and other plant propagules, particularly in relation to successful cryopreservation. In addition, I am interested in the variation in longevity in plant propagules, from bryophyte and fern spores as a unicellular model to more complex systems. Often these studies involve making structural and biophysical determinations. At the university, I carry out teaching activities in Botany. I also carry out training activities on cryobiotechnology for technical staff and researchers and supervise undergraduate (MSc and PhD) students and postdocs.

Isaac Garrido Benavent (Quatretonda, 1988) has a degree in Biology from the Universitat de València (2011), a Master in Biodiversity-Botany Specialty from the University of Barcelona (2012), and a PhD in Biological Sciences from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (2017). The PhD stage was sustained with the help of a University Teacher Training Grant (FPU), enjoyed at the National Museum of Natural Sciences, which belongs to the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). He is currently a 'Profesor Permanente Laboral' at the Department of Botany and Geology of the Faculty of Biological Sciences of the University of Valencia (2020). He is co-IP of a Knowledge Generation research project of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, and has participated or participates in the research and work team of other six projects, highlighting one of National Parks (2023), a PROMETEO (Generalitat Valenciana, 2021), one related to Citizen Science (LiquenCity, FECYT, 2018) and another funded by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN, 2021). His research encompasses different approaches to the diversity, taxonomy, phylogeny and phylogeography of lichenized fungi (lichens) and non-lichenized fungi, as well as lichenized algae, from Antarctic, bipolar and Mediterranean environments, which has resulted in 81 scientific publications in national and international journals, with approximately 50% indexed and 60% open access. He has also authored 76 contributions to national and international congresses, conferences and workshops. He collaborates with different national (MNCN-CSIC, RJB-CSIC) and international research groups from several European countries, Canada and China. He is a reviewer for numerous scientific journals, such as Journal of Biogeography and Microbial Ecology. He is also a reviewer of scientific projects and PhD grant proposals for the Spanish Research Agency (AEI) since 2018, as well as Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) postdoctoral contracts. He is a member of the scientific committee and editor of the Bulletin of the Societat Micològica Valenciana (SOMIVAL). He has taught courses on mycology and phylogeny in academic and sociocultural settings, and has been a guide in mycological excursions. Finally, and as the most significant contribution to the advancement of knowledge on the biodiversity of fungi and algae, he has been the author in the description of 22 new species of fungi and algae, from the Mediterranean to Antarctica, and also for these groups of organisms, a new order, four new genera, a new section and four new combinations.