Fitxa persona

Research career

My research career began during the last year of my Bsc in Biology at the University of Alicante (UA), where I carried out an experimental final degree project on virus-host interactions in hypersaline environments, under the supervision of Professor Josefa Antón. After that, I took several postgraduate courses focused on Microbiology and Biochemistry, including two official masters: one in Secondary School Teaching (UA) and another in Molecular, Cellular and Genetic Biology Research (Universitat de València, UV).

In 2015 I joined the Biotechnological Pest Control group (CBP) of the University Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (UV), where I developed a project in collaboration with the AFRASA S.A. industries, aimed at designing a bioinsecticide based on native strains of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) against lepidopteran pests. Later on, I obtained an FPU grant (training of university teachers), thanks to which I carried out a doctoral thesis focused on the biochemical basis of resistance to Cry1 and Vip3 proteins produced by Bt and their interaction with intestinal receptors in insect pests. The thesis, co-directed by Juan Ferré and Patricia Hernández Martínez, obtained the qualification of “Cum Laude” with “International Mention” and was later awarded with the Extraordinary Doctorate Prize in the area of Biochemistry and Cell Biology.

During this stage I carried out a research stay at the Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS, USA), where I applied genomic editing tools such as CRISPR/Cas9 to lepidopteran pests. I also established collaborations with international institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), the University of Tennessee or Imperial College London, which resulted in several publications as first author in scientific journals and award-winning presentations at national and international conferences.

After my PhD, I worked in different University-Industry agreements in the field of biological pest control, in collaboration with companies such as BASF and Bayer-CropScience. Currently, I am participating in an international project funded by the Human Frontier Science Program Organization, under the supervision of Cristina Crava, in collaboration with researchers from Peru, UK and Spain. In this framework, I have also supervised laboratory internship students. In addition, I have made a stay at the Francis Crick Institute (London), thanks to a José Castillejo grant (Ministry of Universities), where I studied the infection of the nervous system of Spodoptera exigua by baculovirus.

Throughout my scientific career I have consolidated a solid experience in molecular biology and entomology, especially in the interaction between lepidopteran pests and biological control agents such as B. thuringiensis and baculoviruses.

Teaching career

I have been actively involved in university teaching since my doctoral period, mainly in the Department of Genetics (UV), where I taught more than 300 hours of sessions, mostly practical, in subjects such as Genetics, Molecular Genetics, Molecular Methods in Biology and Criminal Analysis Techniques. These activities were developed in the degrees of Biotechnology, Biology and Criminology.

Recently, I have worked as a Substitute Professor, teaching theoretical and practical classes of Biochemistry in the degrees of Food Science and Technology and Gastronomic Sciences, experience that has allowed me to consolidate my teaching skills at the university level in an interdisciplinary environment.

I have always shown a strong commitment to teaching quality, so I enjoy participating in various training activities in innovative educational methodologies, digital tools and development of transversal competencies. This training has allowed me to incorporate updated and integrative approaches to my teaching practice, with special attention to scientific evidence and student motivation.