Short bio

My work focuses on conservation genetics, molecular ecology and resource management (fisheries and aquaculture) mainly, but not exclusively, on aquatic organisms. I have a degree in Biology from the University of Oviedo and worked for six years as a Scientific Advisor in a government conservation programme for Atlantic salmon before obtaining a PhD in Conservation Genetics from the University of Cantabria (Spain). I did postdocs at the Institute of Zoology in London and the University of St Andrews before obtaining a lectureship at Aberystwyth University. I moved to Swansea University in 2013 where I became Professor of Evolutionary Ecology. Since October 2024, I hold a Distinguished Researcher position (under the ATRAE programme funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation) at the IIM-CSIC. Some of my current projects include testing temporal genomic shifts in exploited fish populations using ancient and environmental DNA (OLDSALMO, funded under ATRAE), identifying long lasting epigenetic biomarkers for prognosis of farmed fish performance (funded by the Royal Society in collaboration with Benchmark Genetics), assessing the potential of epigenetic and microbiome programming for fish disease and stress resistance (Cure4Aqua, funded by Horizon Europe) and investigating the role of epigenetic markers on the evolution of sex-determination in vertebrates (EpiSex, funded by The Leverhulme Trust).