BSc Biology, UCM, Madrid (1980); PhD Biology, Alcalá de Henares University (UAH) (1985); Post-graduate researcher and honorific assistant colaborator in the Department of Plant Physiology at UAH (Prof. Bartolomé Sabater) (1981-1985); Post-doctoral Researcher IF-CSIC (Prof. Jose Luis de La Plaza) (1986-1987), Post-doctoral Researcher at Nottingham University-School of Agriculture (Prof. Donald Grierson) (1988); Tenured Scientist (1989-2009); Research Scientist (2009-). Group Leader of Biotechnolgy and Postharvest Quality at ICTAN-CSIC created in 1990. She leaded the European projects STD2 nº 0266 ES (JR) and TS3* CT93-0205 and 10 Spanish projects (CICTYT). She has participated in 3 Spanish Patents, several contracts with Spanish Agro-food Industries such as nº id CSIC-200370 and different special actions. She has published over 60 scientific papers Q1 and awarded 6 Sexenios.
Research career focused on:
-Protein recovery from agricultural subproducts for human and animal consumption.
-Application of low-cost postharvest technologies for the reduction of pesticide residues in fruit, aiming towards a sustainable and safety postharvest storage.
-Physiological and molecular responses of subtropical fruits, mainly avocado and cherimoya to chilling injury.
-Study of biomarkers of fruit quality and damage based on microstructure and water status.
-Analysis of defence mechanisms associated with the accumulation of procyanidins and fructooligosacharides in fruits treated with high CO2 concentrations.
-Molecular mechanisms and identification of key routes involved in the quality during the shelf-life of strawberries prone to water loss and fungal attack.
-Metabolic responses in climacteric and non-climateric fruits to protective postharvest treatments mainly short-term high CO2 concentrations.