Vita
Senior astrophysicist specializing in the physics of the Sun and solar-type stars, with a focus on stellar structure and evolution, helio- and asteroseismology, and solar neutrinos, using the Sun as a precision laboratory for particle physics. I have extensive experience in scientific leadership, including the coordination of international collaborations, work packages for ESA and NASA missions, and large ground-based surveys. My research integrates theoretical and statistical modeling with the exploitation and design of observational programs, enabling advances in topics ranging from the characterization of the solar neutrino spectrum to the determination of stellar fundamental parameters for galactic archaeology and exoplanet science. This multidisciplinary approach –at the crossroads of stellar physics, nuclear astrophysics, and neutrino physics– has been recognized by the award of the ERC 2025 Synergy project LUNANOVA.
Professional Career
2023-present: Director of Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC, Spain)
2023-present: Scientific Researcher (Investigador Científico, ICE-CSIC)
2020-2023: Deputy Director (ICE-CSIC)
2018-2023: Staff Researcher (Científico Titular, ICE-CSIC)
2010-2018: Ramón y Cajal Fellow (ICE-CSIC)
2008-2010: Postdoctoral Researcher (Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics - MPA, Germany)
2003-2008: Long-term Member (Institute for Advanced Study - IAS, USA)
Projects and Awards
2026-2032: ERC 2025 Synergy Grant "Laboratory Underground for Nuclear Astrophysics New Observatory for Solar Neutrino Reactions (LUNANOVA)", European Research Council
https://www.ice.csic.es/news/news-press-releases?view=article&id=867&catid=8
2024-2027: Spanish Research Grants PID2023-149918NB-I00 "Properties, evolution, winds and remnants of low and intermediate mass stars", MCIU
2022-2025: 2021-SGR-1526 "Stellar and exoplanetary astrophysics from space", Generalitat de Catalunya
2021-2025: H2020-INFRAIA "Chemical Elements as Tracers of the Evolution of the Cosmos - Infrastructures for Nuclear Astrophysics (ChETEC-INFRA)", European Research Council
2020-2022: Spanish Research Grants PID2019-108709GB-I00 "Development of the WFM instrument for the phase B of eXTP and progress on the study of stellar explosions and their scenarios", MICINN
2018-2019: Spanish Research Grants ESP2017-82674-R "e-ASTROGAM and e-XTP: two space mission opportunities to diagnose stellar explosions through their emission at high energies", MINECO
2016-2017: Spanish Research Grants ESP2015-66134-R "Stellar explosions and their scenarios at high energies: models, observations and technology", MINECO
2015: Spanish Research Grants ESP2014-56003-R "Stellar explosions and their scenarios at high energies", MINECO
2014: Spanish Research Grants ESP2013-41268-R "Stellar Explosions and their scenarios in X- and gamma-rays", MINECO
Professional Service
2024-present: Scientific Director of Maria de Maeztu Excellence Seal & Grant (ICE-CSIC, Spain)
2023-present: Director of Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC)
2020-2023: Deputy Director (ICE-CSIC)
2020-present: Member of 4MOST S4 Survey, leader of Asteroseismic subsurveys
2017-2024: Leader of Work Package WP121 (Stellar Models) of the PLATO Science Management Consortium
2016-2020: Steering Committee of WG on Asteroseismology of Solar-like Oscillators of TESS mission
2013-2017: Board Member of APOKASC (APOGEE, Kepler) collaboration
Service on Committees and Reviewer: AGAUR (Andorra), Swiss National Science Foundation, Niels Bohr International Academy (Denmark), ERC, ESO, NRDI (Hungary), ETAg (Estonia), NSF among others
Referee for professional journals: MNRAS, A&A, ApJ, JCAP, PRD among others