Young researchers

Carlos Lara

Biologist who has focused his research on coastal biological-oceanography, land-ocean coupling, ocean remote sensing, and marine ecology. His studies evaluate the use of remote sensing satellite tools to understand oceanographic and ecological dynamics of the Chilean coast, from the north-central zone to the islands and channels of Chiloé.

Working package

María José Martínez-Harms

Engineer specialized in spatial ecology. Her research focuses on coastal ecosystem services integrating biodiversity, ecosystem ecology and conservation. The aim of her research is to generate theoretical and methodological tools to strengthen the policy-science interface, and in turn to contribute to decision-making that balances conservation and social development.

Working packages

Francisca Santana

Physical anthropologist and professor at the School of Anthropology of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Her research focuses on the bioarchaeology of human and animal groups that inhabited different areas in northern and southern Chile. Through the application of analytical techniques such as stable isotopes, her studies have centered on the transition and intensification of agriculture, pastoralism, on paleo-diet and human mobility during pre-columbian times.

Working package

Jimena Torres

Archeologist, researcher and professor at Universidad of Magallanes. She specialized in the study of adaptation strategies of hunter-gatherer groups along the coast of Chile. Her research has focused on the Patagonian coast, where she has applied ichthyo-archaeological, sclero-chronological, and technological analysis to address the origin and development of prehistoric fishing.

Working package

Adriana Aránguiz

Marine Biologist, she has developed her line of research in continental aquatic systems. Her main interest is to study ecological and evolutive responses of planktonic and benthic communities exposed to stressful conditions, such as those promoted by human activity. For instance, she has studied ecotoxicological responses of zoo and phytoplankton to heavy metal exposure in high Andean basins.

Working package

Alexis Castillo

Marine Ecologist, specialist in Aquatic Geochemistry, Sedimentology and Palaeoceanography. His interests are focused on understanding the processes (natural/anthropogenic) and mechanisms that modulate the transport, accumulation and sedimentation of substances in aquatic ecosystems, with special emphasis on coastal upwelling systems. Through the evaluation and application of a range of sedimentary geochemical proxies (trace metals, stable isotopes, organic matter, microfossils, minerals, etc.) he analyses and studies current and past environmental changes of aquatic ecosystems in response to natural and anthropogenic stressors. He is currently an Assistant Professor and Researcher at the Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del Maule, Universidad Católica del Maule (Campus San Miguel, Talca).

Working package

Mauricio H. Oróstica

Marine Biologist dedicated to the biology, ecology and management of species living at rocky shores ecosystems. He focused his research on key organisms, studying biological responses across species geographical distributions as well as on the processes and mechanisms (natural and anthropogenic) that determine spatial patterns of intertidal habitats at local scales. His research questions are related to temporal shifts on the structure and composition of intertidal communities as a signal of change to the climate.