stories
snis PROJECT AWARDED
While looking for funding for my post-doctoral project, I found interesting to apply for a large research project with the support of Prof. Kull and other partners from different institutions (Université de Lausanne, Université d'Antananarivo, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, South African National Parks, Swansea University, FAO, Kew Royal Botanical Gardens and local entities). After intense weeks of work, we ended a comprehensive, interdisciplinary and international proposal, which aims to produce policy relevant outputs within the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The project, entitled "Fire regimes and ecosystem services in African biodiversity hotspots: can fire policies favoring climate change mitigation, biodiversity and local communities converge?" was among the 8 projects selected for funding by the Swiss Network for International Studies (SNIS), and starts in January, 2023.
I am very excited about the success of the proposal, and enormously grateful to all those who have supported it. I now feel a great responsibility to successfully fulfill my role as principal member, at the time I am excited to begin field work soon and to collaborate with multiple partners.
POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP AWARDED
My wife and I decided it was time for a change. Whether out of necessity or to start our shared life project, I applied for a 3-year post-doctoral contract aimed at completing my scientific training abroad. We were not very confident, as post-doctoral fellowships in Spain are becoming very competitive. To our surprise, I was the highest rated candidate on the entire list! It was the beginning of a new stage.
My destination was Prof. Kull's group, based at the University of Lausanne and a worldwide reference on the use of fire in Africa. I found his expertise on fire very comprehensive by including also human geography perspectives. Thus, I realized that would be the perfect complement to my background which so far has a more technical and scientific character.
The next step will be to find funding to carry out my post-doctoral research about fire in Africa for the coming years.
WINNER ule-poc
I would like to show you a nice video made about our FIREMAP proof-of-concept project.
The purpose of the four researchers participating in this project was to design a friendly platform for managers to be used for fire perimeter mapping, burn severity analysis and to study post-fire recovery. We did that with the support of a private company (Vexiza).
The main algorithms are based on the findings of our research group, and thus we are currently registering the intellectual property. Take a look here!
PARTICIPATION AT EXPOCIENCIA
Expociencia is a nationwide project in which scientists bring our research to society. To the elderly, and to the little ones.
In recent years my research group at the University of León (GEAT) has participated in Expociencia events showing aspects related to fire, such as the possibility of observing fires using satellites. Attendees can participate in small games and experiments with laboratory tools to analyze and visualize the changes that occur in the soil chemistry and erosivity.
It is very satisfying to see the little ones go away excited to tell their parents about their new discoveries.
award to the best phd thesis in science at the university of león
My PhD Thesis, entitled "Effects of fire recurrence and burn severity in fire-prone pin ecosystems. Basis for forest management" was supervised by Dr. Calvo and Dr. Marcos and defended in November 2019 with Excellent Cum Laude, and an international mention thanks to three research stays at the USA.
It was the end of a beautiful period in which I was initiated into the world of science, learning to carry out scientific work and to teach at the university level.
In recognition of the quality of Thesis outputs and scientific productivity, it was ranked in 2021 as the best Thesis in Sciences at the University of León, and thus received the extraordinary award. I am grateful for all the support that my supervisors, my colleagues and my family have given me to be able to achieve this goal so successfully.
AMAZING RESEARCH STAY AT NAU
My last pre-doctoral research stay was in Flagstaff, at the Northern Arizona University with Dr. Fulé's group.
It was a very complete and amazing experience, in which I discovered the potential of dendrochronology to reconstruct fire history, I had the possibility of learning a different way of teaching by attending all Prof. Fulé classes and fieldtrips, I shared moments with several scientists in small field trips to research sites (e.g. with M. Moore to centennial permanent plots at Coconino, with S. Owen to the burned area near Kendrick Peak, or with with several group members to the RMRS Fort Valley Experimental Forest). I participated in a workshop at a elementary school and in a SER conference among other activities. All within a very kind research group and resulting in a high scientific productivity.
I also took advantage of this stay to discover the beauty of Arizona, Nevada and Utah. I am very grateful to all of you who made this a wonderful stay.
award to the best Master´s marks at the university of león
I finished my MSc in Natural Hazards in 2014. It was a period shared with my classmates that I look back on with longing. We learned fundamental notions for risk assessment and planning, and deepened our knowledge of health, meteorological, biological, and geological risks. Moreover, we participated in the international scientific and educational contest "The Quarry Life Award" with a project on biodiversity in lagoon systems, which was awarded in the first national phase and was in the 4th position in the international arena according to the public's evaluation. Once I finished my master's degree, I was honored to receive the award for having the highest grades of the promotion.