MARIA
CARBU ESPINOSA DE LOS MONTEROS

I have a degree in Chemistry (specialising in Industrial Fermentations and Oenology) since 1997 and have formed part of the BIO 219 Group [Biology and Biotechnology] of the Andalusian Research and Development Plan, which is part of the Campus of International Excellence in Agri-Food (CeiA3) since 1998. I have a PhD in Science from the University of Cadiz since 2006 and I have focused my research on the molecular and genetic study of the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea, which causes serious diseases in many crops, both in plants and during storage. The main objective is to explain the mechanisms of infection of this phytopathogen by means of genomic and transcriptomic studies both in vivo and in vitro. Recently, I have been working on the search for alternatives to chemical control of this pathogen based on biological control (by antagonistic microorganisms) as a more environmentally friendly control method. Since the beginning, I have been involved in the field of Oenological Microbiology, studying the evolution of yeasts responsible for alcoholic fermentations that take place during the production processes of different wines (whites, reds, finos and manzanillas). Since 2017, I have been actively collaborating with the TEP-243 Nanomaterials Research Group, studying the biocidal capacity and carcaterisation of nanoparticles designed by members of the specialist research group (TEP-243), as a result of which numerous publications have emerged. As a result of my research, I have published 37 scientific articles, of which 30 have been published in JCR journals (Q1), one in peer-reviewed journals and 6 reviews. I have also published a book, a book chapter and a popular science study published in a journal aimed at professionals, winegrowers and oenology researchers. I have participated in 24 research projects, all of them funded in competitive calls from public administrations or entities and in 4 non-competitive R&D&I agreements with several wineries of the Jerez-Xéres-Sherry and Manzanilla Sanlúcar de Barrameda and Vinagre de Jerez designations of origin. I have been awarded two six-year research periods (date of the last one awarded: 01/01/2019) and I have supervised 3 doctoral theses, one of them qualified with "Sobresaliente cum laude" and with the recognition of the best doctoral thesis of the University of Cadiz, while the other two are in the development phase. In the last 5 years, I have been a reviewer for 3 international journals: Industrial Crops and Products, Food Control and Applied Sciences. I have presented more than 70 contributions to conferences and I have participated in the organising committee of 6 R&D activities (2 training/initiation courses in microbiology for final year students, three national conferences and one international conference) related to research in microbiology and molecular biology. My teaching career started in the academic year 2001/2002 at the University of Cadiz and has continued uninterruptedly since then. I started as part-time Associate Professor (from 2001 to 2007) and, on a full-time basis, as Collaborating Professor (from 2007 to 2012). Currently, I have been an Associate Professor since 2012. I have taught on undergraduate and graduate degrees in Oenology, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Marine Sciences and Environmental Sciences. I also teach in the Biotechnology master's degrees and in the interuniversity master's degrees in Agri-Food and Chemical Engineering. In addition, I have participated in teaching projects for the implementation of the European Higher Education Area of the Andalusian Regional Government.