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Photo Surname and name Address + info Biography
FLORES TORNERO, MARIA

FLORES TORNERO, MARIA

PDI-Ajudant Doctor/A

EDIFICI INVESTIGACIÓ JERONI MUÑOZ, Bloc B, Planta 4, despatx 4.46 +34 963543911

43911

maria.flores@uv.es
Personal file
 Biography
 

I am Assistant Professor at University of Valencia since January 2025 and PI of the PlantRepro lab, where my research combines my PhD background in plant development with 9 years of postdoc abroad in the field of plant reproduction and omic approaches.

After defending my PhD (2016) at University of Valencia with “Outstanding Cum Laude and International Mention” qualification, I got a postdoc position in the lab of Stefanie Sprunck and Thomas Dresselhaus at the University of Regensburg (2016-2020). There I studied the evolution of sexual plant reproduction as a part of the international consortium EVOREPRO. I developed expertise on plant gamete isolation techniques, transcriptomic profiling of female gametes (Flores-Tornero et al., 2019), contributed to elucidate the role of a protein in the acquisition of sperm fusion competence (Wang et al., 2022), and to demonstrate the conservation of transcriptional programmes underlying sexual reproduction in land plants (Julca et al., 2021).

During my second postdoc (2021-2024), I worked in Jörg Becker’s lab at ITQB NOVA (Portugal), expanding my knowledge about sperm cell isolation by FACS and the impact of heat stress in Arabidopsis and tomato male gametophytes at omic level. Among the main contributions, I led the creation of the first fluorescent male gamete marker line in tomato to enable high throughput isolation by FACS (Flores-Tornero et al., 2025), as well as a detailed Open Access review (Flores-Tornero and Becker, 2023), highlighting the current omic knowledge about sperm cells. 

My dedication to scientific excellence is reflected in a h-factor of 13, with 590 citations (Web of Science, 2025) and I have one 6-year-researching period recognised by ANECA. So far, I have co-authored 3 book chapters and 25 papers (13 as first author and 6 as corresponding) in high impact journals (e.g. Nature Plants, Molecular Plant, The Plant Cell, or Plant Physiology), and half of them without my PhD supervisor, clearly showing a strong commitment to develop my own scientific path. I also participated in 8 national and 16 international congresses, where I obtained awards for “Best oral” (Madrid, 2013) and “Best poster” (Toledo, 2015; Braga, 2023) communications.

I have participated in 11 projects, funded at regional (2), national (7), and European (2) level, and secured 4 highly competitive grants: a European Marie Curie Postdoc Fellowship (MSCA 2022) to start my own research on single-cell omics analysis of plant gametes; a CEEC Junior 2021 by the Portuguese FCT to perform integrative omics analysis of plant gametes; a Exploratory Project (PEX 2023, Portuguese FCT) to explore the putative role of embryo sac cells in triggering gamete fusion inside the ovule, and recently a 3 years national grant (PID2025, Spanish State Research Agency) to explore a putative fusion preference of arabidopsis sperm cells linked to significant differences at omic level. Due to the mobility and collaborations, I had the possibility to create my own multidisciplinary network with leading scientist like Prof. Thomas Dresselhaus (Germany), Prof. Marek Mutwil (Singapore), Antonio Granell (Spain) or Prof. Zbynek Zdráhal (Czech Republic), among others.

Additionally, I serve as Assistant Features Editor in Plant Physiology and have done peer-reviewing for Molecular Plant, The Plant Cell, Plant Reproduction or Journal of Experimental Botany, among others. I have been “Visitor Scientist” in Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC, now GIMM)(Oeiras, Portugal) and invited to deliver seminars in foreign institutions, like Beijing University (China), CIB (Madrid), Universidade Porto (Portugal) or IBMCP (Valencia). I was member of the Scientific Committee of ITQB NOVA, as well as member of scientific societies like the American Society of Plant Biologist (ASPB), the Spanish Society of Plant Biology (SEBP), Board member of the International Association of Sexual Plant Reproduction Research (IASPRR) since september 2026, and member of the European COST action CA22157 (RECROP) involved in the enhancement of crop resilience to extreme climates from the plant reproductive perspective.

Besides my research tasks, I have been always involved in teaching and supervising duties of my host institutions and I have one 5-year-teaching period recognised by the UV. I taught theory and practical sessions in different Degrees at the University of Regensburg and University of Valencia, as well as in Master programs at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) de Lisboa, and in international PhD programs like “Plants for Life” at ITQB NOVA or “Integrative Biology and Biomedicine” at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (Oeiras). I have supervised 1 Master thesis, and took part in 2 PhD Defence Committees as well as 14 Final Degree Thesis.

Finally, I have attended 25 courses related to innovative teaching methods and scientific skills, and contributed in several international outreach activities like “European Researchers Nights” or “Fascination of Plants Day” by making educative experiments or leading the organization of the info-stand to raise awareness in general audiences about the importance of working with plants for a sustainable future of our society.
GOMEZ MINGUET, EUGENIO

GOMEZ MINGUET, EUGENIO

PDI-Ajudant Doctor/A

43785

eugenio.gomez@uv.es
Personal file
GONZALEZ MAS, MARIA DEL CARMEN

GONZALEZ MAS, MARIA DEL CARMEN

PDI-Titular d'Universitat

Edifici d'investigació Jeroni Muñoz, 4ª planta, despatx 4.50 Av. Vicent Andres Estelles, 19- 46100 Burjassot (València)

(9635) 44227

carmen.gonzalez-mas@uv.es
Personal file
RENAU MORATA, BEGOÑA

RENAU MORATA, BEGOÑA

PDI-Titular d'Universitat

EDIFICI INVESTIGACIÓ JERONI MUÑOZ, Bloc B, Planta 4, despatx 4.50 (9635)44199

begonya.renau@uv.es
Personal file
 Biography
 

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.