Since 2019, I am Full Professor of Genetics at the UMH. After my Biology studies at the Universidad de Alicante (España), I did my PhD in the group of Prof. J.L. Micol, at the neighbouring Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche (UMH), on the genetic analysis of leaf development in Arabidopsis thaliana.

I carried out my postdoctoral research with Prof. B. Scheres at Utrecht University (The Netherlands), on the link between cell cycle regulators and root growth and development. Afterwards, I came back to the group of Prof. J.L. Micol to work on leaf growth coordination from a Systems Biology perspective.

In 2012, I started my own research and since 2017 I head the Research Group Genetics of regeneration and reproductive development of plants at the UMH.

Taras Pasternak studied Biophysics at the University of Kharkiv (Ukraine) and obtained his PhD from the National Academy of Sciences in Kyiv (Ukraine). He joined the laboratory in April 2021 with a “María Zambrano” grant to attract international talent. His current work focuses on the investigation of the mechanism of de novo organ formation from isolated tomato explants, such as cotyledons or hypocotyls.

María Salud studied Biology at the Universidad de Alicante and followed the Master in Biotechnology and Bioengineering at the UMH. She has been involved on the optimization of in vitro micropropagation in different plant species. During her PhD, she characterized adventitious root formation on a collection of commercial carnation cultivars. Her current work focuses on phenotypic and hormonal characterization of root system architecture in tomato and wild relatives.

Mariem studied Agronomic Engineering at the Higher School of Agriculture in Mograne (Tunisia) and obtained the International Master’s degree in Plant Breeding and Genetics at the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza (CIHEAM Zaragoza) and the University of Lleida (UdL). Her doctoral project focuses on the phenotypic and hormonal study of adventitious rooting in species such as Prunus, tomato and related species.

Míriam studied Biotechnology at the UMH. She has joined the laboratory as a Technician from the “Garantía Juvenil” program of the Generalitat Valenciana, and collaborates in research projects related to adventitious root formation.

Lara studied Biotechnology at the UMH and completed the Master’s Degree in Basic and Applied Neurosciences at the University of Valencia (UV). She has joined our laboratory as a technician in the “Investigo” program of the Generalitat Valenciana, and collaborates in the research projects related to de novo organ formation in the lab, while she is helping us to valorize our results.

María José studied Biochemistry at the University of Murcia and completed her doctoral studies at the UMH, where she has been working since 2014 in the Technical Support Service for Teaching and Research (SATDI). Since September 2018, she provides technical support to the research projects in our lab.