Dolores Jiménez López

Since my degree in Biology (2013-2017) my interests were focused on research, despite doing a bibliography revision for my honour’s degree project bibliographic work on the anti-predatory behavior of scaly reptiles. My first experimental work related to the field of biogeochemistry and ecology began in my postgraduate stage (Master in Oceanography (2017-2018), thanks to all the support of the laboratory of which I am part, the Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Biogeochemistry of the University of Cadiz. Right now, we are carrying out a project that focuses on the study of the interactions between extreme weather factors with the benthic community and its metabolism in shallow water areas such as the Bay of Cadiz, a topic of great interest. Research work is an enormous challenge, but the satisfaction generated by making a discovery through one’s work done by your own hands is indescribable.

Expertise:

• Impacts of ECE on the sediment-water column interface
• Microphytobenthic Productivity of the Guadalquivir intertidal sediments 
• Biogeochemical model of the Bay of Cadiz

Jose Calderón Caro

Although my training as a biotechnologist focused on Environmental, Industrial and Food Biotechnology, in my undergraduate thesis I carried out a characterization of microorganisms from characterization of microorganisms in wastewater from a refinery using Molecular Biology techniques.

I joined the Microbial Ecology and Biogeochemistry laboratory of the
University of Cadiz at the beginning of 2022 as a Graduate Researcher. At
currently, I am in charge of the work related to Molecular Biology and Flow Cytometry.

Expertise:

• Molecular biology (DNA/RNA extractions, PCR/qPCR, …)
• Flow cytometry  of bacterioplankton and nano- and picophytoplankton.

Julio Bohorquez Ferrando

My research activity is primarily focused on primary production of microphytobenthos and its influence on the nutrient dynamic at the water-sediment interface and the associated microbial community . I use a combination of methods including measurements using selective microsensors (e.g. O2, H2S and pH) and more traditional biogeochemical techniques. I perform measurements both in laboratory microcosms and in situ to achieve my goals.

At present, I am offering technical assistance in the lab and specifically the 1) to perform analyses using different setups with the microsensors available in our laboratory; 2) to prepare cultures of microalgae to measure their respiration rates under conditions of low oxygen levels.

Expertise:

• Use of microsensors to measure fluxes at the sediment-water column interface
• Microphytobenthic productivity  
• Culturing of microalgae
• Analysis of nutrients, EPS and other biogeochemical variables