Maria Fernández Altimira

My scientific journey began when I pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Sciences at the University of Barcelona (2018–2022). During this period, I developed a strong interest in marine microorganisms and their fundamental role in biogeochemical element cycling.

Motivated by this interest, I continued my training with a Master’s degree in Biological Oceanography at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (2022–2025). During my MSc, I was awarded a JAE Intro fellowship, which allowed me to carry out an internship in the MP2 lab. Through this experience, I became familiar with persistent organic pollutants and their occurrence and impact in marine environments.

Currently, I am pursuing a PhD at CSIC–IDAEA, where my research focuses on marine microbial taxa and degradation pathways involved in the interaction between selected contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) and marine microbial communities.