Dr. Blanca Figuerola

Academic education

2013: PhD in Biodiversity. University of Barcelona.
2008: M. Sc. in Animal Biodiversity. University of Barcelona.
2006: B.S. in Biology. University of Barcelona.

Academic positions

2021-24: Beatriu de Pinós/ Marie Sklodowska-Curie postdoctoral fellow. Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC; Barcelona). Medrecover team.
2019-21: Juan de la Cierva- Incorporación postdoctoral researcher from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC; Barcelona). Medrecover team.
2017-19: SENACYT & STRI postdoctoral fellow. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI; Panamá). O'Dea Lab
2016-17: Postdoctoral researcher. Dept. of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences. University of Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain). Conxita's Lab.
2016: Centre for Polar Studies postdoctoral researcher. Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences (Sopot, Poland).
2014-2015: Postdoctoral collaborator. Dept. Animal Biology, University of Barcelona (Barcelona). Dept. of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences. Conxita's Lab.
2008-2013: FPI predoctoral student from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science. Dept. of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain). Conxita's Lab.
2008: Postgraduate fellowship from the UB. Research Management of University of Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain)
2007-2008: Postgraduate Research fellowship from the University of Barcelona. Dept. of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain).
2006-2007: Postgraduate fellowship from the University of Barcelona. Health, Safety and Environmental Issues Office (OSSMA), University of Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain).
2006: Undergraduate Research fellowship from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science. Dept. of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain).

Awards

2018: Travel grant. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
2015: Environmental Volunteer Badge award. Xarxa de Voluntariat Ambiental de Catalunya.
2011: Travel grant. University of Barcelona.
2010: Travel grant. University of Barcelona.
2008: Nature Photography Award, Centre de Recursos de Biodiversitat Animal (CRBA). University of Barcelona.
2005: Environmental Volunteer Award “Jaume Ciurana”. Generalitat de Catalunya.

Academic service

2022-28: Scientific Council member, International Bryozoology Association.
2023-present: member of the Diversity & Inclusion Commission of the Sociedad Ibérica de Ecología (SIBECOL)
2021-present: Steering Committee member, Institució Catalana d'Història Natural.
2020-22: Steering Committee member, APECS-Spain.
2018-present: Academic Editor of PeerJ.
2022-present: Guest Editor of Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution.
Reviewer for panels: National Science Foundation, NSF (2018), National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development, FONDYCET (2021); Premi Torras-Foulon, Institució Catalana d'Història Natural (2023).
Reviewer for 27 SCI journals (verified reviews in Publons).

Memberships

2023-current: Sociedad Ibérica de Ecología (SIBECOL)
2021-current: Institució Catalana d'Història Natural
2020-2022: Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS-Spain)
2011-current: International Bryozoology Association

Research stays and expeditions

2019: Expedition to Coiba National Park, Panama (1 week; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute).
2018: Expedition to Bocas del Toro archipelago (1 week; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute).
2018: Department of Geology & Geophysics, Texas A&M University, Texas (US, 1 month).
2018: Expedition to Coiba National Park, Panama (1 week; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute).
2018: Expedition to Bocas del Toro archipelago (5 days; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute).
2018: Expedition to Perlas archipelago (3 days; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute).
2017: Australian Antarctic Division, Tasmania (Australia; 2 months).
2017: Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney (Australia; 1 month).
2017: Antarctic campaign on board the BIO-Hespérides vessels and at the Spanish Antarctic Base “Gabriel de Castilla” in Deception Island, Antarctica (DISTANTCOM-2; 6 weeks).
2016: Antarctic campaign on board the BIO-Hespérides vessel in Antarctic Peninsula (DISTANTCOM-1; 5 weeks).
2015: Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry at Italian National Research Council (CNR), Naples (Italy; 3 months)
2015: Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London (UK; 3 weeks).
2014: Falkland Islands Government Fisheries Department, Falkland Islands (UK; 5 weeks).
2012: National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Wellington (New Zealand; 2 months).
2012: Antarctic campaign on board the BIO-Las Palmas and BIO-Hespérides vessels and at the Spanish Antarctic Base “Gabriel de Castilla” in Deception Island, Antarctica (ACTIQUIM-3; 2 months).
2009-10: Antarctic campaign on board the BIO-Las Palmas and BIO-Hespérides vessels and at the Spanish Antarctic Base “Gabriel de Castilla” in Deception Island, Antarctica (ACTIQUIM-2; 1 month).
2008-09: Antarctic campaign on board the BIO-Las Palmas vessel and at the Spanish Antarctic Base “Gabriel de Castilla” in Deception Island, Antarctica (ACTIQUIM-1; 1 month).

Other positions

2014-2017: Marine biologist. Plàncton, Divulgació i Serveis Marins (Ametlla de Mar, Spain).
2013: Marine biologist. Santander Work Placement Grant. SUBMON (Barcelona, Spain).
2005: Environmental Management Coordinator. Grup d'Estudi i Protecció dels Ecosistemes del Camp (Reus, Spain)
2004: Outreach Staff (Plan for Spaces of Natural Interest, PEIN). City Hall of Torredembarra (Spain).