Fitxa persona

I hold a BSc degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Valencia (1997) and a PhD in Biological Sciences from the same institution (2004). My research activity is conducted within the fields of Plant Physiology and Plant Biotechnology, with a particular interest in plant metabolism, mineral nutrition, plant responses to environmental stress, the regulation of plant development, and plant adaptation to climate change conditions.

I am currently a Full Professor (Profesora Titular de Universidad) in the Department of Plant Biology at the University of Valencia and a researcher at the Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED).

Research

I began my research career during my doctoral studies in the Department of Plant Biology at the University of Valencia, where I worked on breeding, propagation, and conservation programs for Mediterranean forest species of economic and environmental importance.

Subsequently, I joined the Institute for Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology (IBMCP, CSIC-UPV), first as a research assistant under different research grants and projects, and later through a postdoctoral fellowship funded by the Valencian Regional Government. During this period, I expanded my expertise in molecular biology and plant genetics, working with different species including Medicago truncatula and chickpea, and focusing particularly on the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of flowering.

Afterwards, I worked at the Center for the Conservation and Improvement of Valencian Agrodiversity (COMAV-UPV), where I participated in projects aimed at producing doubled-haploid eggplant lines with agronomic applications. In 2008, I joined the Plant Physiology research group at the Universitat Politècnica de València, led by Professors Sergio G. Nebauer and Rosa V. Molina, where I carried out my research activities for more than a decade. During this period, I worked on plant nutrition, developmental physiology, plant metabolism, sustainable crop production, flowering and reproductive development, as well as on agronomically important crops such as tomato and saffron.

Since 2019, I have been a member of the Department of Plant Biology at the University of Valencia, where I joined the Primary Metabolism and Plant Metabolic Engineering research group at BIOTECMED, led by Professor Roc Ros. My current research focuses mainly on plant primary metabolism, serine biosynthesis, nitrogen metabolism, plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, crop nutritional quality, and the effects of climate change on plant metabolism.

Teaching

My university teaching career has been developed at both the Universitat Politècnica de València and the University of Valencia. At UPV, I taught in the Master's Degree in Plant Breeding. Since joining the University of Valencia, I have taught both theoretical and practical courses in several undergraduate programs within the Faculties of Biological Sciences and Pharmacy and Food Sciences.

The courses in which I have participated include:

• Plant Biology (BSc in Gastronomic Sciences).
• General Biology (BSc in Human Nutrition and Dietetics).
• General Biology (BSc in Food Science and Technology).
• General Biology (Double Degree in Pharmacy and Human Nutrition and Dietetics).
• Plant Physiology (BSc in Biology).
• Plant Physiology (BSc in Pharmacy).
• Plant Biotechnology (BSc in Biotechnology).

I have served as course coordinator for Plant Biology in the BSc in Gastronomic Sciences, General Biology in the BSc in Human Nutrition and Dietetics, and Plant Physiology in the BSc in Biology. In addition, I have supervised numerous Bachelor's and Master's theses, participated in examination boards, and held responsibilities related to academic coordination and international student mobility programs.

My teaching philosophy combines solid theoretical training with active-learning methodologies, promoting collaborative work, critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and the use of scientific literature.

Teaching Innovation

Educational innovation constitutes an important part of my academic activity. Over recent years, I have actively participated in projects aimed at incorporating active-learning methodologies, Service-Learning (SL), digital tools, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into university education.

I participated in the Projecte Natura initiative, a Service-Learning project focused on scientific outreach among primary and secondary school students. Subsequently, I co-led the following teaching innovation projects:

• GASTROVEG: Adapting Plant Biology for Future Gastronomy Professionals.
• CO-GASTROVEG: Consolidation of GASTROVEG through the Integration of SDGs into Plant Biology Teaching.
• BIOVEG-ACTIU: Implementation of Active-Learning Methodologies in Courses of the Department of Plant Biology.

The outcomes of these projects have been presented at several University of Valencia Innovation in Education Conferences, as well as at national and international conferences focused on educational innovation and curriculum sustainability. Notable contributions include studies on the GASTROVEG initiative, the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals into higher education curricula, the implementation of active-learning methodologies in Plant Biology courses, and the adaptation of laboratory practical sessions during the COVID-19 pandemic.