The key topic of my research is the plant-microbe interaction aiming to improve plant physiology for an improved yield and quality, under the framework of an environmentally sustainable agriculture. During the early stages of research, a number of screenings for beneficial bacteria (PGPR) were carried out in the rhizosphere of different wild species. These species were selected for different reasons, and always because they grew naturally on stressed areas, under the rationale of the ability of the plant to select bacteria that would be able to provide an adaptative improved ability to survive under adverse conditions. These isolates were screened based on genetic criteria, putative PGPR traits in vitro and biological assays in planta with different purposes. First, studies targeted growth improvement and the underlying mechanisms involved on growth enhancement under controlled conditions and in model plants. Once a few beneficial isolates were available, they were tested on Woody species under controlled conditions, evaluating the impact of bacterial inoculation on the natural microbial communities of different soils, being the main outcome that strains that did not disrupt the preexisting communities were effective growth enhancers and only some specific strains were able to enhance natural mycorrhization. A turning point of our approach was done towards stimulation of plant defensive mechanisms upon pathogen challenge on model plants (arabidopsis and tomato), to unravel the pathways involved in plant protection against biotic and abiotic stress (salt), supporting data of plant-microbe specificity and different pathways triggered by different microbes. Some field studies were done with individual strains and combinations on rice production, finding effective protection and increased rice yield and quality in field conditions. This stimulation of defensive metabolism was extended to enhancing quality of edible fruits or increased yield in medicinal plants, under the rationale that defensive metabolism is part of the plants secondary metabolism, and some secondary metabolites that play a role on plant defense are also able to trigger human receptors, improving human health. These studies have been carried out in edible plants under controlled conditions as soybean, for the isoflavone contents, or in field production greenhouses for blackberries, given the high concentration of polyphenol sand in field grown Papaver somniferum; furthermore, when cell cultures are used, triggering secondary metabolism is a challenge; at this point, only parts of the bacteria can be used opening a new area for bacterial derived elicitors. Recent approach focuses on modification of the photosynthetic process by beneficial bacteria as the source of C to feed all these processes and the fine-tunning of the same through the redox balance.

All this research has been gathered on more than 80 articles published on scientific journals, 15 book chapters, more than 100 congress communications, and 5 patents; funding has been obtained from the current Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, and FEDER funds, for 18 research projects, being Principal researcher in two of them. In addition, some studies have been funded directly by private companies (14 projects), in which my participation has been done from the contact to establish the contract, through the field work, to the final report. (https://www.biotecnologia-vegetal-microbioma-ceu.es/)

 On the way, doctorate students have been educated with 5 defended thesis and 1 on course. In addition, undergraduate students have participated in our research, from our own university and especially relevant the number of Erasmus students (24 students since 2007) that have spent one year with us under my direct supervision.

Management activity: I have been the coordinator for International Relations from 2003 through December 2014, managing the erasmus program (incoming and outgoing students; teaching staff mobility; establishment of agreements and other activities). Secretary to the Department of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources (2004-2009). Vicechancelor of Acadmic Staff and Teaching (January-July 2015)