URJC
Biodiversity
and Conservation
Research Area
We are united by the study of biodiversity and its conservation
We form a team of more than 100 people committed to science and quality teaching.
The Biodiversity and Conservation Area is integrated into the Higher School of Experimental Sciences and Technology (ESCET) ) of the URJC, a public university in the south of Madrid. You can find us at the Móstoles campus.
The area is made up of researchers from different areas of knowledge from Ecology, the largest area, to Cell Biology, Botany, Plant Physiology, Microbiology and Zoology. We actively collaborate in a multitude of projects and share the concern about the effects that global change is causing on biodiversity and the well-being of our society.
Collaborative work as a group with common objectives has allowed the constitution of the Institute for Research on Global Change (IICG), our most ambitious joint project. With the IICG we want to enhance our research and open new channels of knowledge transfer to society.
Our values
BASIC SCIENCE
We share the curiosity and admiration for all forms of life on our planet. Our first vocation is that of the naturalist who observes and studies nature. Basic science is our starting point.
COLLABORATION
We research collaboratively, adding diversity of perspectives and methodological approaches.
ECOLOGICAL VISION
The complexity of the processes we study requires an integrative vision..
COMMITMENT
We are united by our commitment to finding solutions to the serious situation of biodiversity loss and global crisis.
PUBLIC SERVICE
We put our science at the service of society through disciplines such as Conservation Biology, Ecological Restoration or Biotechnology.
RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY
We work to achieve a creative, inspiring environment that respects people’s diversity.
How we work
Management Team
María del Camino Ordás López.Academic Secretary of the Department.
Marcelino de la Cruz Rot.Functional Coordinator.
Department Council
You can consult the composition of the council and the framework regulations here.
Commissions
STANDING COMMITTEE
Director: Ana M Sánchez (Area of Ecology)
Academic Secretary: Camino Ordás (Area of Cell Biology)
Functional Coordinator: Marcelino de la Cruz (Area of Botany)
Professor 1: Rosa Viejo (Area of Ecology and former director of the department)
Professor 2: Luis Merino (Area of Microbiology)
Professor 3: Ana Millanes (Area of Plant Physiology)
Postdoctoral Researchers Representative: María Herranz (Area of Zoology)
Predoctoral Students Representative: (vacant)
PTGAS Representative: Lizete Escudero
ACADEMIC PLANNING AND DEGREE PROGRAMS COMMITTEE
Department director, academic secretary, and functional coordinator: Ana M. Sánchez, Camino Ordás, Marcelino de la Cruz
Coordinator of the Degree in Biology: Luis Merino
Faculty representative in other ESCET degrees: Isabel Martínez
Director of the Master's Degree in Techniques for Biodiversity Conservation and Ecology: Aran Luzuriaga
Director of the EMJM GLOBE: Rubén Milla
Coordinator of the Master's Degree in Ecosystem Restoration: Raúl García
Director of the Master's Degree in Biomedical Research: Natalia González
Coordinator of the Doctoral Program in Conservation of Natural Resources: María Prieto
Postdoctoral researchers representative: Jesús López-Angulo.
Predoctoral students representative: Raquel Tera
PTGAS representative: Lidia Plaza
Department representatives on the ESCET governing team: Pilar Martínez and Rosa Viejo
RESEARCH COMMITTEE
Department director, academic secretary, and department representative on the URJC research committee: Ana M. Sánchez, Camino Ordás
Director of the IICG: delegates to Ana Isabel García-Cervigón, secretary of the IICG.
Principal investigators of the department's research groups: Natalia González, Sergio Álvarez, Javier Sánchez, Rubén Torices, Silvia Matesanz, Miguel Ángel Olalla, Nuria Navarro, Isabel Martínez
Scientific directors of the Redlab laboratories: Alfredo García and Sergio Álvarez Ortega
Postdoctoral researchers representative: Cayetano Gutiérrez-Cánovas
Predoctoral researchers representative: Carlos Celdrán
Representative of technical staff contracted under projects: Victoria Calvo Donate.
PTGAS representative: Yolanda Valiñani
EQUALITY COMMISSION
- Our society is still far from real and effective equality and the university world and scientific activity are no exception.
- From the commission we want to actively help to advance towards equal opportunities among all the people who are part of our group. We act in two ways: by making situations of inequality visible and by proposing actions for improvement.
- We work to make the Biodiversity and Conservation area a safe and violence-free workplace.
- We want to provide support in possible cases of inappropriate, violent, discriminatory treatment, etc.
If you are living or know of someone who is experiencing a violent, uncomfortable situation, that moves away from what is established in our manual of good practices, tell anyone in the commission.
Manual of Good Practices.
Basic indications for a safe and violence-free workspace.
Access >
Women scientists.
Leading researchers to give visibility in your subjects to the role of women in science.
Access >
- Boivin et al. 2023. Sexism in academia is bad for science and a waste of public funding. Nature Review Materials,
- Mendoza-Lera et al. 2023. My teaching is not gender biased, is it? Limnology and Oceanography Bulletin, 32: 145-146.
- Sebastián-González et al. 2023. Ten simple rules for a mom-friendly Academia. PLoS Comput Biol 19(8): e1011284.
SPACES COMMISSION
Coordination: Luis García Quintanilla
Remember to let us know as far in advance as possible of future incorporations. We will take your communication into account to organize ourselves, but the allocation of space will be made according to the date of incorporation, first those who join first.