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Mar Benavides

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Research scientist, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD)

I am a junior researcher at the Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (France). My research is devoted to understanding the interactions between marine microbes and their physical, chemical and biological environment through a multi-spatiotemporal scale lens. My underlying philosophy is that processes that take place at small scales (molecule or cell level) can have impact at larger -regional or even global- scales. In the same manner, larger scale processes such as ocean circulation can alter the interactions between microbes and their environment affecting their distribution and activity. From the nanoscale to the global scale, unveiling the interactions between the marine environment and its microbes requires an interdisciplinary approach. I combine nanotechnology, molecular biology, biogeochemistry and modeling to bridge the spatiotemporal scales of microbial processes in the ocean.

Experience

  • 2018–present
    Research scientist, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement
  • 2017–2018
    Postdoctoral research associate, University of Copenhagen
  • 2014–2016
    Marie Curie Postdoctoral fellow, Aix-Marseille Université
  • 2013–2014
    Postdoctoral fellow, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research

Education

  • 2022 
    Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches, Aix-Marseille Université
  • 2013 
    PhD Oceanography, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
  • 2008 
    MSc Oceanography, Universidad de Cádiz
  • 2007 
    MSc Integrated Environmental Studies, University of Southampton
  • 2006 
    BSc Marine Science, Universidad de Cádiz

Grants and Contracts

  • 2023
    PANDA: Particles as niches for non-cyanobacterial diazotrophs
    Role:
    Research grant
    Funding Source:
    EC2CO
  • 2023
    ANITA: Architecture and dyNamics of marIne parTicle colonizAtion
    Role:
    Research grant
    Funding Source:
    AMIDEX
  • 2022
    MANIOC: iMpact of particle microbial colonisation on Nitrogen cyclIng in the Ocean
    Role:
    Research grant
    Funding Source:
    AMIDEX
  • 2022
    FIESTA: “FInE scale dynamicS of diazoTrophs in the oceAn”
    Role:
    Research grant
    Funding Source:
    Agence Nationale de la Recherche
  • 2022
    DEFINE2: “Diazotroph activity and diversity shaped by fine scale ocean dynamics”
    Role:
    Research grant
    Funding Source:
    LEFE
  • 2021
    DOGMA: “Diazotrophs and OrGanic Matter under climAte change”
    Role:
    Research grant
    Funding Source:
    EC2CO
  • 2020
    IDEFIX: “Dinitrogen Fixation in the Indian Ocean: an interbasin and seasonal comparison”
    Role:
    Research grant
    Funding Source:
    Pure Ocean
  • 2020
    DINDE: “Dinitrogen Fixation in the Indian Ocean: an interbasin and seasonal comparison”
    Role:
    Research grant
    Funding Source:
    CEFIPRA
  • 2020
    FIGURE: “Fine scales shaping nitrogen fIxation in the GUlf stream”
    Role:
    Oceanographic cruise
    Funding Source:
    EuroFleets
  • 2020
    ART: “AggRegation processes in Trichodesmium”
    Role:
    Research grant
    Funding Source:
    EC2CO
  • 2020
    DINDE: “Dinitrogen Fixation in the Indian Ocean: an interbasin and seasonal comparison”
    Role:
    Research grant
    Funding Source:
    CEFIPRA
  • 2020
    DEFINE: “Diazotroph activity and diversity shaped by fine scale ocean dynamics”
    Role:
    Research grant
    Funding Source:
    LEFE
  • 2020
    EMPANADAS: “Exploring Microbes in marine PArticles: fuNction, trAits and Diversity Associated”
    Role:
    Research grant
    Funding Source:
    MIO AT&Pôles
  • 2020
    NOTION: “NitrOgen fixers structuring phyToplankton bIodiversity in the OceaN under climate change”
    Role:
    Research grant
    Funding Source:
    BNP Paribas Foundation Climate & Biodiversity initiative
  • 2019
    REACH: Remineralization of black carbon (BC) particles in coastal waters off Halong Bay (Vietnam) under different oxidation states"
    Role:
    Research grant
    Funding Source:
    IRD Action Sud
  • 2019
    OASIS: Oceanic nitrogen fixation Across SpatIotemporal Scales”
    Role:
    Research grant
    Funding Source:
    Thomas Jefferson Fundation
  • 2019
    TAPAS: “Transfert et cAractéristiques des PArticules dans les Systèmes océaniques”
    Role:
    Research grant
    Funding Source:
    MIO AT&Pôles
  • 2018
    Black carbon project
    Role:
    Research grant
    Funding Source:
    IRD Action Sud

Professional Memberships

  • Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO)
  • American Geophysical Union (AGU)
  • Microbiology Society
  • IAPSO Early Career Scientist Network
  • Ocean Carbon & Biogeochemistry (OCB) N2 fixation working group
  • JETZON - Joint Exploration of the Twilight Zone Ocean Network
  • Aquatic N2-Fixation Research Coordination Network (ANF-RCN)
  • Member of the European Marine Biological Resource Centre (EMBRC) scientific council in France
  • Member of the French Oceanographic Fleet Commission (Commission Nationale de la Flotte Hauturière-CNFH)
  • Member of the Specialized commission for Ocean-Atmosphere (CSOA), INSU, France
  • Member of the Turing Centre for Living Systems (CENTURI) Research Committee

Honours

International Association for the Physical Sciences of the Oceans (IAPSO) Early Career Scientist Medal ; Young researcher prize from the Provence Department (France)