Our people

Find out who's involved in our research group!

Prof. Dr. Sergi Munné Bosch

Principal Investigator

Prof. Dr. Sergi Munné Bosch

Principal Investigator

Prof. Dr. Sergi Munné-Bosch was born in Barcelona, Spain, in 1974. He received the Biology degree and the Ph.D. from the University of Barcelona, Spain, in 1996 and 1999, respectively. He has performed several stays as a research scientist abroad, including the University of Hannover (Germany), University of Fukuyama (Japan) and University of Virginia (United States), among others. From 2000 to 2003, he was an Assistant Professor at the Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences at the University of Barcelona, and during the period from 2002 to 2003, he also worked as a research scientist at the National Research Council in Spain (CSIC). Since 2017, he has been a Full Professor of plant physiology and he leads the PLANTsynergy research group at the Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences at the University of Barcelona focused on the synergy between plant biochemistry, ecophysiology and agrifood biotechnology in plants. During 2000 and 2003, he was a recipient of the Plant Water Relations and Plant Physiology Awards, respectively, given by the Spanish Society of Plant Physiologists. He was a recipient of the ICREA Academia Award, given by the Catalan Government in 2008, 2014 and 2020. Since 2015 he is Editor-in-Chief of the Elsevier journal “Environmental and Experimental Botany”. Prof. Dr. Munné-Bosch also leads the CRG of Antioxidants in Agrobiotechnology.

Correo electrónico:smunne@ub.edu

Dr. Marta Pintó Marijuan

Lecturer Professor

Dr. Marta Pintó Marijuan

Lecturer Professor

Marta Pintó-Marijuan received a BSc in Biology and a Ph.D. from the University of Barcelona, Spain, in 2003 and 2009, respectively. In December 2020, she became Associate Professor of Plant Physiology at the Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences at the University of Barcelona. She performed several research stays in both national and international research centres: National Research Council in Spain (CSIC), University of the Basque Country (UPV; Bilbao), Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica (ITQB – Universidade Nova de Lisboa; UNL), Institute of agro-environmental and forest biology (IBAF-CNR, Montelibretti, IT), Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE-CNRS, Montpellier, FR), Instituto Superior de Agronomia (Lisbon, PT), Universidade de Aveiro (PT) and University of California-Berkeley (UC Berkeley, USA). Moreover, she collaborated with several private companies: Syngenta España SAU (Madrid, SP), Biovert SA (Lleida, SP), Bioiberica SA (Barcelona, SP) and Altri Gestão florestal (Olho Marinho, PT). With a background on plant ecophysiology, mainly related to the mechanisms to cope with abiotic stresses or climate change conditions of Mediterranean forest, crops and model species, Dr. Pintó-Marijuan became member of the Antiox research group in January 2013. Since then, she has been involved in the developement of the new research line focused to understand the physiological and biochemical traits of native vs invasive species. We focused our research interests on the importance of the role of the antioxidant molecules (tocopherols, ascorbic acid and carotenoids) and the photoprotection mechanisms of these species to be adapted to the Mediterranean conditions.

Correo electrónico:martapinto@ub.edu

Sabina Villdangos

PhD Candidate

Sabina Villdangos

PhD Candidate

Sabina Villadangos is performing her PhD thesis in the PLANTSynergy group. She received a BSc in Biochemistry from the Autonomous University of Madrid in 2019 and a MSc in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Biomedicine from the Autonomous University of Barcelona in 2020. Moreover, she performed a Data Analysis Course in 2021. Currently, she is studying the protective mechanisms to cope with severe drought stress in non-model plants, both in C3 and CAM species, particularly focusing on the role of jasmonates. Specifically, the selected species are the olive tree due to its agroecological relevance and Sempervivum tectorum for its resistance to harsh environments. Her thesis is ascribed to the research line “Mechanisms of abiotic stress tolerance”.

Correo electrónico:sabina.villadangos@ub.edu

Laia Jené

PhD Candidate

Laia Jené

PhD Candidate

Laia Jené began collaborating with the PLANTsynergy group in 2018, during her final project for her Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology, focusing on seed aging in the invasive species Caprobrotus edulis. Subsequently, she pursued consecutive Master’s degrees, first in Secondary Education Teaching at the “Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona” (UAB), followed by a Master’s degree in Environmental Agrobiology at the “Universitat de Barcelona” (UB). During the completion of her Master’s thesis, titled “Development of a Method for Studying Calcium Uptake in Peach Trees under In Vitro Conditions Using Stable Isotope 44-Ca,” she had the opportunity to undertake a training period and work with the Fruit Cultivation group at the “Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia dels Aliments” (IRTA) at the Fruitcentre in Lleida. Currently, Laia Jené is a predoctoral student within the PLANTsynergy group, investigating physiological mechanisms of holoparasitic plants and their consequences on hosts, considering different models and holistically examining the different components of the system composed of both the parasite and the host.

Correo electrónico:laia.jene@ub.edu

Alba Arabia

PhD Candidate

Alba Arabia

PhD Candidate

Alba Arabia completed her BSc in Biotechnology at the University of Barcelona (UB) and her MSC in Novel Foods at Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM). Then, she studied an MSc in Environmental Agrobiology at the University of Barcelona (UB). Alba started collaborating with the PLANTsynergy group in 2018, where she developed her BSc final project about the differential accumulation of tocochromanols in strawberry. For her MSc, she focused her research on the development of a commercial product to expand shelf-life of stone fruits during postharvest. At the moment, Alba is a PhD student within the PLANTsynergy research group where she is investigating the complex interplay of hormones and biomolecules that regulate fruit ripening and postharvest in non-climacteric fruits, focusing on melatonin’s physiological function and its technological applications for improving fruit quality.

Correo electrónico:alba.arabia@ub.edu

Tania Mesa

PhD Candidate

Tania Mesa

PhD Candidate

Tania received a BSc in Biotechnology, an MSc in Food Research, Development and Innovation and an MSc in Environmental Agrobiology from the University of Barcelona in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. She joined the PLANTsynergy group in 2018 and conducted her final BSc project in Biotechnology and MSc project in Environmental Agrobiology within the group. Her BSc project focused on the study of the Bacon Avocado variety and its vitamin E content, while her MSc project examined the response of tomato plants to both high and low temperatures. In September 2022, she received a 4-year fellowship from the Spanish Government to carry out her PhD thesis focused on the study of the biosynthesis and function of vitamin E in plants.

Correo electrónico:taniamesa@ub.edu

Núria F. Bermejo

PhD Candidate

Núria F. Bermejo

PhD Candidate

Núria F. Bermejo finished her BSc in Biotechnology at the University of Barcelona in 2021. She joined the PLANTsynergy research group in 2020 with her BSc final project about β-carotene biofortification of chia sprouts using plant growth regulators. She received her MSc in Enviromental Agrobiology at the University of Barcelona in 2022 and carried out her MSc final project in the ANTIOX group, continuing in the same research line, focusing on antioxidant vitamins E and C. In 2022, she was awarded with a 4-year PhD Fellowship (FPU) from Spanish Government. Núria is currently performing her PhD research, studying the physiological mechanisms involved in water stress tolerance in legumes and new biostimulants to improve its growth and quality.

Correo electrónico:nfernandezbermejo@ub.edu

Ot Pasques

PhD Candidate

Ot Pasques

PhD Candidate

Ot Pasques received his BSc in Biotechnology from the University of Barcelona in 2021. As a part of his final degree project he studied the stress tolerance mechanisms of Plantago lanceolata across an altitudinal gradient in the Pyrenees. After that, he started working in tree longevity during his Environmental Agrobiology master degree. Nowadays, as a PhD candidate, he is extending his research focusing on tree longevity and ecophysiology of high mountain mature forests with spetial attention in Pinus uncinata senescence and longevity in the Pyrenees, under the supervision of Prof. Sergi Munné-Bosch.

Correo electrónico:opasques@ub.edu

Clara Julián

PhD Candidate

Clara Julián

PhD Candidate

Clara Julián obtained her Bsc in Biology from the University of Seville (US). During her bachelor she joined the University of Lisbon to study the role of fatty acid in extreme salinity resistance in invasive species, as Spartina patents. Then she developed her Bsc final project at the Institute of Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis (IBVF) in Irene Garcia’s group studying the role of cyanide-mediated signaling in plant response to fungal pathogens. After, she moved to Barcelona to study a Msc in Plant Biology, Genomics and Biotechnology at the Centre for research in Agriculture Genomics (CRAG), where she studied the role of antimicrobial peptides for crop protection and wrote her final project about the same topic. After this period, she moved to Germany to work in the field of agriculture and farming and participated writing the book “Traditional uses of plants in Anthroposophical Medicine”. Now, she is performing her PhD about holoparasitic plants and its effects in different plant species, as tomato and the Mediterranean shrub Cistus albidus.

Correo electrónico:cjulian@ub.edu

Elena Velasco

PhD Candidate

Elena Velasco

PhD Candidate

Elena Velasco Serrano earned her BSc in Biotechnology from the Universitat de Barcelona (UB). During her undergraduate studies, she participated in research at the Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, studying the panicle's role in salt stress tolerance in quinoa. She completed her BSc final project at the Dahlem Centre of Plant Sciences under the direction of Dr. Anne Cortleven. There, she investigated the consequences of extending the circadian cycle in tomato plants. Elena then pursued an MSc in Environmental Agrobiology at the Universitat de Barcelona (UB), collaborating with Aptus Plant Tech and the Experimental Fields of UB to research the effects of a silicon-based biostimulant in wheat, rice, and chili plants. In December 2023, she was granted a 4-year PhD Fellowship (FPI) from the Spanish Government. Currently, she is working on her PhD, studying the interactions between pre- and post-harvest technologies to extend the shelf-life and improve the quality of different fruits.

Correo electrónico:evelascos@ub.edu

Ana Manzanera

Bachelor Student

Ana Manzanera

Bachelor Student

Ana Manzanera is studying an environmental science degree at the University of Barcelona. She is working on her final project for her Bachelor’s degree, studying the consequences of the parasitic plant Viscum album on one of its hosts, Pinus sylvestris, and also how it responds to cold stress.

Correo electrónico:amanzape76@alumnes.ub.edu

Denis Baz

Bachelor Student

Denis Baz

Bachelor Student

Denis Baz is a student of Environmental Sciences with a specialization in natural environment management at the University of Barcelona. He is doing his final degree project in the PLANTsynergy group, focused on mechanisms of tolerance and acclimatization to cold in Sempervivum tectorum. The project is under the supervision of Sabina Villadangos and Prof. Dr. Sergi Munné-Bosch.

Correo electrónico:dbazrami7@alumnes.ub.edu

Gil Vigué

Bachelor Student

Gil Vigué

Bachelor Student

Gil Vigué is currently a last year student in biotechnology (AgriFood mention) at University of Barcelona. He is perfoming his final degree project with PLANTsynergy group about a product for extending post-harvest shelf life in peaches during cold storage, and how this product may interact with the fruit at tissue level. The project is under supervision of Alba Arabia and Prof. Dr. Sergi Munné-Bosch.

Correo electrónico:gvigueme7@alumnes.ub.edu

Jana Jordana

Bachelor Student

Jana Jordana

Bachelor Student

Jana Jordana is studying Biotechnology at the University of Barcelona. She has joined the PLANTsynergy group with the aim of performing her final degree project, focusing on the study and comparison of the regreening effect in citrus fruits. The project is under the supervision of Tania Mesa and Prof. Dr. Sergi Munné-Bosch.

Correo electrónico:jjordaca65@alumnes.ub.edu

Leire Boyano

Bachelor Student

Leire Boyano

Bachelor Student

Leire Boyano is studying Biotechnology with a specialization in AgriFood at the University of Barcelona. She is performing her final degree project in the PLANTsynergy group, focusing in the study of the effect of a seaweed extract biostimulant on tomatos under abiotic stress. The project is under the supervision of Tania Mesa and Sabina Villadangos.

Correo electrónico:lboyanca98@alumnes.ub.edu

Lucas Taboada

Bachelor Student

Lucas Taboada

Bachelor Student

Lucas Taboada is studying Marine sciences at the University of Barcelona. He is performing his final degree project in the PLANTsynergy group, studying the ecophysiology of an invasive species Caulerpa cylindracea, and the different mechanisms it uses to fight off stress factors within the mediterranean environment. The project will be under the supervision of Sabina Villadangos and Prof. Dr. Sergi Munné-Bosch.

Correo electrónico:ltaboama8@alumnes.ub.edu

Maria Afonso Melo

Bachelor Student

Maria Afonso Melo

Bachelor Student

Maria Afonso Melo is studying Biotechnology with a specialization in AgriFood at the University of Barcelona. She is performing her final degree project in the PLANTsynergy group, focused on studying the mechanisms that allow nectarines to preserve longer at cold refrigeration temperatures. The project is under the supervision of Alba Arabia and Prof. Dr. Sergi Munné-Bosch.

Correo electrónico:mguedede7@alumnes.ub.edu

Núria Campillos Teixidó

Bachelor Student

Núria Campillos Teixidó

Bachelor Student

Núria Campillos Teixidó is currently studying Biotechnology with a specialization in Agrifood at the University of Barcelona. She is performing her final degree project in the PLANTsynergy group, focusing on quality evaluation of the sunflower seed affected by the invasive plant Amaranthus palmeri. The project is under the supervision of Laia Jené and Prof. Dr. Sergi Munné-Bosch.

Correo electrónico:ncampite39@alumnes.ub.edu

Xavier Miró

Bachelor Student

Xavier Miró

Bachelor Student

Xavier Miró is studying Environmental Sciences with a mixed mention at the University of Barcelona and is completing his final degree project in the PLANTsynergy group. He is deeply interested in understanding the drivers of global change and contributing to solutions for better inhabiting the Earth. Therefore, during his stay with the group, he will evaluate: How the colonization of Carpobrotus sp, Opuntia ficus-indica, and Buddleja davidii is occurring across the European continent in different climatic gradients.