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IIM-CSIC
Graham Pierce
Graham Pierce is a Research Professor at Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas. He has almost 40 years of experience in marine research in Scotland and Galicia and works mainly on the biology and ecology of cetaceans, seals and cephalopods and associated fishery and conservation management issues. His other current projects concern the fishery bycatch of cetaceans and octopus fisheries.
Josep Rottlant Moragas
Josep Rottlant Moragas is a research scientist at IIM-CSIC with a PhD in Biology from the University of Barcelona. As the principle investigator in 18 of 30 research projects, Josep has published over 100 articles in high-impact journals. His research applies molecular and cellular approaches to fish development and disease, focusing on genomic regulation, aquaculture sustainability, and developmental abnormalities.
María Saura
María Saura's background is focused on population genetics and quantitative genetics. Her main research line is the use of genomic tools to increase the rate of genetic gain in aquaculture selection programmes and to maintain genetic variability in conservation programmes for aquatic species. In recent years, she has become interested in the role of microbiota in disease resistance and welfare. She is currently a member of the scientific committee of the International Society for Animal Genetics.
Rebeca Rodriguez
Rebeca Rodríguez-Mendoza is a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Marine Research (IIM-CSIC) in Vigo, Spain. In recent years, she has been involved in various projects addressing bycatch of marine organisms, including vulnerable marine ecosystem indicator species, sea turtles, and cetaceans. She is currently part of the coordination team for the EMPHATIC project.
Daniel Costas Imbernón
Daniel Costas Imbernon is a PhD researcher at the Aquatic Biotechnology Lab at the Institute of Marine Research (IIM-CSIC). His work applies advanced omics tools to aquaculture research to improve animal health, optimize production, and promote sustainable farming. His current research explores the microbiome as a biomarker for animal welfare. He also studies pigmentary malformations in flatfish using a hologenomic approach, with turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) as a case study.
Marie Petitguyot
Marie Petitguyot is a PhD fellow and research assistant at the Institute of Marine Research – Spanish National Research Council (IIM-CSIC). Her research focuses on marine mammal ecology and conservation. She studies fisheries interactions, food depletion, and health issues in small cetaceans, using historical documents, museum collections, and data from stranded and free-ranging animals to conduct ecological modeling, stable isotope analysis, and microbiome studies.
Silvina Ivaylova Tsanicheva
Silvina Ivaylova Tsanicheva is a veterinary graduate working at the Institute of Marine Research (IIM-CSIC). She initially worked on a parasite-focused project on Anisakis and later studied bycatch impacts on cetaceans and sea turtles. Currently, she contributes to the EMPHATIC project, developing a health index and analyzing Galician stranding data.
IEO-CSIC
Camilo Saavedra
Camilo Saavedra, PhD in Marine Science, Technology and Management, is the principal investigator of the Marine Megafauna research group at the IEO-CSIC in Vigo. He is specialized in marine mammal ecology, management and conservation. He has extensive experience in marine and aerial surveys, bycatch, strandings and ecological modelling. He is currently responsible for the Spanish implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) for marine mammals and turtles.
Paula Suárez Bregua
Paula Suárez Bregua, PhD in Marine Science, Technology and Management from the University of Vigo, is a researcher in the Marine Megafauna research group at the IEO-CSIC. Her research is focused on the application of molecular ecology to study the cetacean´s populations. She is specialized in environmental DNA analysis and genetic characterization, as well as the study of life history parameters for conservation. She also manages the cetacean biobank and laboratory analysis at the IEO-CSIC.
Miguel Alvarez González
Miguel Álvarez is a PhD student in the Marine Megafauna research group at the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC). He holds a degree in Biology from Complutense University of Madrid and a Master’s in Marine Biology from the University of Vigo. Since 2022, he has specialized in cetacean monitoring at the Oceanographic Centre of Vigo. His research focuses on developing genetic and remote tools, particularly environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
CIMA Research Foundation
Massimiliano Rosso
Massimiliano holds a Master's in Biology and a PhD in Environmental Monitoring (2010). With over 1000 days at sea, he has led several marine mammal research projects/expeditions. He is Associate Director at CIMA Research Foundation and Adjunct Professor at the University of Genova. His research specializes in behavioral ecology and conservation technology for marine megafauna, particularly deep-diving marine mammals.
Alberto Sechi
Alberto has a degree in Marine Bio-Ecology
obtained at the University of Cagliari, has six years of work experience in national contexts on topics ranging from data collection on cetacean populations through photo identification and distance sampling to satellite tracking of animals, as well as the use of oceanographic instruments such as AIS buoys. At Fondazione CIMA, he focuses on marine activities for the National Biodiversity Future Centre, particularly in drone monitoring technologies.
PELAGIS
Paula Méndez Fernandez
Paula Méndez Fernandez is a marine biologist with a PhD in trophic ecology of marine mammals. She currently leads the programme monitoring chemical contaminants in marine mammal populations, aiming to identify the most vulnerable populations or cohorts and apply a One Health approach. At Pelagis, she also manages the biobank from the French national stranding network and laboratory analyses. Since 2022, she has coordinated the biopsy campaigns conducted by the observatory.
CIIMAR
Catarina Magalhães
Catarina Magalhães, PhD in Marine Sciences, is a researcher at CIIMAR, professor at the University of Porto, and a coordinator of the Portuguese Polar Program. She studies microbial communities in extreme environments, coastal areas, and the open ocean, focusing on microbiome responses to global changes. Her research also explores cetacean blow microbiota and its role in health and host-environment interactions.
Ana Mafalda Correia
Ana Mafalda Correia is a postdoctoral researcher at CIIMAR and Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, Portugal. Trained as a marine ecologist with a PhD in Biology, she specializes in cetacean ecology and conservation. Her research focuses on cetacean occurrence and habitat preferences in the eastern North Atlantic, and she has expertise in ecological niche modeling, spatial analysis, and marine conservation management.
Raul Valente
Raul Valente is a postdoctoral researcher at CIIMAR, specializing in cetacean ecology and evolution. He focuses on using monitoring tools for conservation and investigating how molecular and environmental factors shaped cetacean unique traits. In EMPHATIC, he supports all tasks, from work plan design to eDNA and microbiome analysis using Next-Generating Sequencing techniques. He also coordinates the project's communication, dissemination, and exploitation activities.
Luís Afonso
Luís Afonso is a PhD student at the Coastal Biodiversity Laboratory and the Microbiome Ecology and Biogeochemistry team at CIIMAR. He holds a master’s degree in Applied Marine Biology from the University of Aveiro. Since 2019, his research has focused on cetacean ecology, with a current emphasis on developing and applying environmental DNA tools to study these animals.
Cláudia Rodrigues
Cláudia Rodrigues is a PhD student at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, with a BSc in Biology and an MSc in Ecology and Environment. Her journey in cetacean research began in 2018 with an internship at ECOMARE – Center for Rehabilitation of Marine Animals. In 2019, Cláudia joined the CETUS project at CIIMAR, where she developed her MSc thesis. Since 2021, she has been hired for the CetAMBICion and ATLANTIDA projects. Currently, Cláudia is pursuing a PhD at CIIMAR, focusing on cetacean acoustics.
Lourenço Pinto
Lourenço holds a PhD in Animal Science – Nutrition from the University of Porto and is an auxiliary researcher with the Aquatic Animal Health team at CIIMAR. He participates in national and international projects, focusing on nutritional immunology and welfare to develop functional feeds that improve fish health. Lourenço also contributes to the EMPHATIC project, analyzing cetacean blow samples to develop protocols for a health index using non-invasive methods and assessing stress based on hormone content.
Benjamím Costas
Benjamín Costas completed a Master's in Aquaculture at the University of Algarve and a PhD degree in Animal Science at the University of Porto. Benjamín Costas is currently Principal Researcher at CIIMAR and Head of the Aquatic Animal Health laboratory. His research focuses on targeting novel strategies to improve fish disease resistance and welfare, developing non-invasive health biomarkers of animal health, and coordinating several national and international projects.
Maria Paola Tomasino
Maria Paola Tomasino coordinates the Open Science and Data Management Office at CIIMAR, supporting researchers in Data Management. With a background in marine microbial diversity and experience in oceanographic expeditions since 2013, she specializes in microbiome sample processing and genomics. She manages data for EU projects and serves as Data Steward for the CIIMAR MONITORING PLATFORM - CIIMAR WATCH, ensuring the interoperability of marine data.
Joana Costa
Joana Faria da Costa holds a degree in Aquatic Sciences and a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto. She is a postdoctoral researcher at CIIMAR’s Laboratory of Microbiome Ecology and Biogeochemistry. Her expertise includes molecular biology, next-generation sequencing, and environmental toxicology, focusing on microbial communities in mercury and nitrogen cycling and pollutant detoxification in polar environments.
Isabel Sousa Pinto
Isabel Sousa Pinto, a PhD in Marine Biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, is a Professor at the University of Porto and leads the Coastal Biodiversity group at CIIMAR. Her research focuses on marine biodiversity, kelp forest conservation, algae biology, and sustainable aquaculture. She serves on the steering committees of EOOS and AtlantOS, co-chairs the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON/GEO BON), and global platforms as the UN IPBES.