I hold a degree in Biology from the University of Valencia, where I also completed a Master’s in Animal Biodiversity, Evolution and Conservation. During my Master’s thesis I analyzed the diversity and ecological impact of parasitoid wasps in a mature forest of high ecological value. This research laid the groundwork for my knowledge of parasitoid ecology and sparked my interest in the relevance of these wasps on real-world ecosystems.
Driven by my interest in parasitoids, I obtained a grant to work at Rothamsted Research (UK) where I was subsequently employed. There, I studied the effects of climate change on large-scale population synchrony between parasitoids and their hosts and evaluated the role of cover crops in biocontrol strategies.
This experience deepened my interest in biological control and led me to pursue a PhD at the Valencian Institute for Agricultural Research (IVIA) where I focused on developing sustainable biological control strategies against two key invasive citrus pests: Delottococcus aberiae and the HLB vector Trioza erytreae.
During this period, I carried out research stays at INRAE (France), the University of Pretoria (South Africa), and the Canary Islands Institute of Agricultural Research (ICIA, Spain). My postdoctoral research began at Wageningen University & Research (Netherlands), where I was involved in multiple projects focused on enhancing biological control of aphids in greenhouse environments through the use of novel natural enemies.
Since 2023 I am a postdoctoral researcher at BIOTECMED (Universitat de València, Spain). My current research explores the role of viruses in parasitoid-host interactions, with a particular interest in uncovering new mechanisms that might improve the effectiveness of biological control strategies.
