The Ecophysiology of Marine Organisms (EOMAR) group of the ECOAQUA University Institute, leaded by May Gómez Cabrera, was founded in 2008 thanks to the concern of some researchers from various disciplines of Marine Sciences, who looking for answer several questions in the field of Oceanography, allowing a better understanding of marine ecosystems.

It has been incorporating several lines of research into its structure, and currently focuses its work on the ecophysiology of marine organisms, enzyme biochemistry, marine pollution, the risk caused by microplastics to marine fauna, and the field of toxic algae and invasive species.

It is a group especially committed to the conservation of the marine environment and the dissemination of the results obtained, both at national and international congresses and through various actions aimed at society in general.

It is currently growing, adding laboratories, equipment and staff.  For now, the number of official members is 12, linked to various projects: IMPLAMAC, RESPONSE, LICEM, MICROPLEACH, CAPonLitter and EnviroPlaNet.

In addition to participating in projects, the group has published numerous scientific papers and has supervised a large number of master's and bachelor's degree theses and doctoral dissertations.

Its headquarters are located in the Ciencias Básicas building of the Tafira University Campus of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Download our dossier

Follow EOMAR on social networks

  • May Gómez Cabrera

    Deputy Director of the University Institute ECOAQUA and head of the EOMAR Group and also of the Doctoral School of the ULPGC, this professor is a specialist in Zoology. Her research lines are especially related to Ecology, Physiology and Biochemistry of Zooplankton. She has also studied the transfer of microplastics in the marine food chain.

    Academic position: Professor of the ULPGC

    Corporate email:
    may.gomez@ulpgc.es


    accedaCRIS profile
    ORCID profile
    ResearchGate profile

  • Alicia Herrera Ulibarri

    PhD in Marine Sciences by the ULPGC, her line of research focused on marine pollution by microplastics, and its transfer through food webs and the possible effects on marine organisms, for which she won the first award of the Telefónica Chair of the University of ULPGC. Co-founder of the Latitud Azul Association, she is particularly concerned with dissemination, with the aim of generating a change in environmental conscience.

    Academic position: "Viera y Clavijo" Researcher of Excellence

    Corporate email:
    alicia.herrera@ulpgc.es


    ORCID profile
    ResearchGate profile

  • Rodrigo Almeda García

    PhD Almeda received the extraordinary end of degree award (Marine Biology, ULL) and the extraordinary PhD award (Marine Sciences, UB) and has worked as a contract researcher in the United States and Denmark. He is currently leader of the research line "Plankton ecology and marine pollution" at University Institute ECOAQUA. He has been highlighted by prestigious research programmes at European (Marie Curie) and national (Ramón y Cajal) level. Currently, he focuses on the study of the effects of plastic additives on marine food webs.

    Academic position: “Ramón y Cajal" Researcher of Excellence

    Corporate email:
    rodrigo.almeda@ulpgc.es


    accedaCRIS profile
    ORCID profile
    ResearchGate profile

  • Ted Packard

    PhD in Oceanography from the University of Washington, he currently teaches Ecosystem Oceanography in the Master's Degree in Oceanography at the ULPGC. His research interests focus on the Ecology, Physiology and Biochemistry of Plankton. Also in metabolism, respiration, ammonium excretion, and the growth and production of planktonic communities.

    Academic position: University Institute ECOAQUA Researcher

    Corporate email:
    theodore.packard@ulpgc.es


    ORCID profile
    ResearchGate profile

  • Emilio Soler Onís

    PhD in Marine Sciences from the ULPGC, he is accredited by the IOC-UNESCO as an expert in the identification of potentially harmful algae. His research focuses on the control and monitoring of changes in marine ecosystems in the Macaronesian region, climate change and organisms associated with microplastics, among other lines.

    Academic position: Researcher at the Canary Islands Harmful Algae Observatory (OCHAB), associated with EOMAR.

    Corporate email:
    emiliosoleronis@fpct.ulpgc.es


    ResearchGate profile

  • Ico Martínez Sánchez

    Researcher graduated in Marine Sciences from the ULPGC, and specialises in zooplankton ecology, physiology and biochemistry. Her lines of research concern metabolism, respiration, ammonium excretion and the growth and production of zooplankton communities. She has also carried out several projects on the transfer of microplastics in the marine food web.

    Academic position: Researcher contracted at University Institute ECOAQUA (ICP2)

    Corporate email:
    ico.martinez@ulpgc.es


    ORCID profile
    ResearchGate profile

  • Borja Aguiar González

    Academic position: Professor hired by the ULPGC specialized in Applied Physics.

    Corporate email:
    borja.aguiar@ulpgc.es


    Profile in accedaCRIS
    Profile in Google Scholar
    Profile in ResearchGate

  • Marta Sampalo Morales

    Pre-doctoral researcher with a degree in Biotechnology from the Pablo de Olavide University in Seville (UPO), with a Master's degree in Biotechnology from the University of Cadiz (UCA), specialising in the management of bioremediation projects, specifically, complex effluent treatments using microalgae technology. Her line of research focuses on the effects of microplastic additives on marine phytoplankton, in order to achieve a circular and environmentally sustainable system, especially with the oceans.

    Academic position: PhD student of the ULPGC

    Corporate email:
    marta.sampalo101@alu.ulpgc.es


    ORCID profile
    ResearchGate profile

  • Alberto Navarro Molina

    Graduated in Veterinary with a master's degree in Animal Health and Food Safety from the ULPGC. He has completed the scholarship of the Inserta Program of the Fundación Universitaria de Las Palmas (FULP) with the position of veterinarian at the Centro de Recuperación de Fauna Silvestre de Tafira. He is currently working as a predoctoral researcher,  his main line of research is the impact generated by plastics on marine vertebrate fauna. 

    Academic position: PhD student of the ULPGC

    Corporate email:
    alberto.navarro106@alu.ulpgc.es


    ResearchGate profile

  • Jessy Le Du-Carrée

    PhD in biology and animal physiology from the University of Western Brittany (UBO), Jessy Le Du is a postdoctoral researcher of the EOMAR group. His current research focuses on the study of the effects of plastic additives on marine organisms, including ecotoxicity tests, the use of "Effect-directed analysis" for the identification of toxic organic compounds in complex mixtures such as plastic leachates and the use of molecular techniques, and enzymatic biomarkers in ecotoxicology. He has recently been chosen as a postdoctoral researcher as part of the "Juan de la Cierva" National Program.

    Academic position: "Juan de la Cierva" Postdoctoral Researcher

    Corporate email:
    jessy.leducarree@ulpgc.es


    ORCID profile
    ResearchGate profile

  • Sofía Huelbes Muñoz

    Predoctoral researcher and graduated in Marine Sciences with a Master's degree in Sustainable Management of Fisheries Resources. She was hired as a project technician through the 'Investigo' program, which is part of the IMPLAMAC project, within the research line called 'Study of microplastics and their influence on trophic chains'. 

    Currently, her line of research focuses on the study of anthropogenic impact and other natural stressors on marine crustaceans.

    Academic position: PhD student of the ULPGC

    Corporate email:
    sofia.huelbes@ulpgc.es


    ORCID profile

  • Anna Cunill I Sáez

    Graduated in Marine Sciences from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and holds a Master's degree in Oceanography. Currently hired as a project technician by the Fundación Parque Científico Tecnológico in the framework of the national project MICROPLEACH. Her research interest is focused on the ecotoxicology of emerging contaminants leached from plastic and their ecological and biochemical impact on plankton. Funded by an INVESTIGO grant, she develops her studies in the EOMAR group, with the main objective of determining the effect of various plastic additives on the mortality and larval development of different species of marine planktonic organisms.

    Academic position: Technician in TCP4 project

    Corporate email:                   anna.cunill@fpct.ulpgc.es


  • Álvaro Torres Gómez

    PhD in Immunology from the Complutense University of Madrid, with international mention (stay at Harvard, USA) and extraordinary prize. His expertise is focused on the study of the mechanisms of innate immune response, especially in the phagocytosis of neutrophils and macrophages and their molecular mechanisms. His current line of research is based on the application of recombinant DNA techniques, gene editing using CRISPR-Cas9, RT-qPCR, flow cytometry and immunophenotyping, enzyme analysis, ELISA, Western blotting and confocal microscopy, to study how immune response mechanisms are affected by stress stimuli in marine organisms, and how these changes affect their metabolism, health and well-being.

    Academic position: Postdoctoral Researcher ICP1.

    Corporate email:                       alvaro.torres@ulpgc.es


    AccedaCRIS profile

    Google Scholar profile
    ORCID profile
    ResearchGate profile

  • Marta Veny López

    Graduated in Marine Sciences, she has a master's degree in Oceanography. Currently, she is doing the PhD Program in Oceanography and Global Change at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), and hired as predoctoral research staff in training at the ULPGC by the Canarian Agency for Research, Innovation and Information Society. The main focus of my thesis is on the study of variability in shelf circulation, hydrography and chlorophyll-a concentration northwest of the Antarctic Peninsula.

    Academic position:Contract Research Staff specialized in Applied Physics.

    Corporate email:                      marta.veny101@alu.ulpgc.es


    AccedaCRIS profile

    ORCID profile

  • Tania Pareira Vázquez

    Marta Veny López

    Graduate in Marine Sciences by UVigo, and Master in Oceanography by UVigo and ULPGC, specializing in open ocean processes and unique regions. Currently hired as predoctoral research staff by the ULPGC through funds belonging to the ACIISI (Canary Agency for Research, Innovation and Information Society), for the development of her doctoral thesis. Her thesis project focuses on the study and characterization of the western boundary current system located in the Weddell Gyre, with the title: "Spatial and temporal characterization of the current system in the western boundary of the Weddell Gyre".

    Academic position:PDI contracted, predoctoral,

    Corporate email:                      tania.pereira@ulpgc.es


    AccedaCRIS profile

    Google Scholar profile

    ORCID profile

  • Tania Pareira Vázquez

    Marina Gutiérrez García

    Graduated in Marine Sciences from the University of Alicante, she holds a Master's degree in Oceanography from the ULPGC. Her line of research focuses on Physical Polar Oceanography, both in the Arctic and Antarctic.

    Academic position:Research staff in training at the ULPGC.

    Corporate email:                      marina.gutierrez103@alu.ulpgc.es


    ORCID profile

News

09/12/2024
09/05/2024
09/05/2024 FREE This free workshop is aimed at the aquaculture sector, focusing on the problem of the generation of...

Events

29/11/2024

This welcome event for new doctoral students, which brings together students from previous editions and professors, aims to give an insight into the research career through the researchers themselves. This year the theme of the scientific talks is the latest eruption of the volcano on La Palma.

Date and time: 29th November, 8:45h.

Venue: Sala de Grado, Faculty of Marine Sciences, ULPGC.

Researchers:

- Borja Aguiar: ‘Building a flexible career: The PhD is just the beginning, you define your career’, 9:00h.

- Ángel Rodríguez and Antonio Juan González: ‘In situ and remote monitoring of the Tajogaite volcanic eruption’, 12:30h.

Organizer: PhD in Oceanography and Global Change, ULPGC.

Partners: Spanish Geological and Mining Institute (IGME-CSIC), Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN), Volcanological Institute of the Canary Islands (INVOLCAN), Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), University of La Laguna (ULL).

Research group: EOMAR and OFYGA.

 SCHEDULE

07/11/2024 09/11/2024

Lava Circular is an interdisciplinary cultural circuit held on the island of El Hierro, which proposes to discover the territory by visiting its three municipalities (Valverde, El Pinar and La Frontera) through changing itineraries in which the programme is developed. Musical projects, talks-workshops and artistic activities are some of its activities, which revolve around the traditional and contemporary culture of the Canary Islands archipelago, with the main themes varying with each edition.

Date: 7th to 9th November.

Venue: El Hierro, Canary Islands.

Organiser: Hisla, El Hierro Island Council, Valverde Town Council, El Pinar Town Council and La Frontera Town Council.

Research group: EOMAR

- Emilio Soler. Talk and photo exhibition: 'In-VISIBLES'.

MORE INFORMATION

10/07/2024 12/07/2024

This congress is an important meeting point for researchers and professionals in the field of marine sciences in Spain and Europe. With the aim of disseminating the latest scientific research, the results and conclusions of studies in this sector will be presented. The event, dedicated to the nautical and marine-maritime sector, aims to promote and boost the Blue Economy.

Date: 10, 11 and 12 July.

Venue: Port of Valencia.

Organisers: University of Alicante, University of Barcelona, University of Cadiz, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Catholic University of Valencia and University of Vigo.

Partners: Valencia City Council, Valencia Provincial Council, Valencia Port Authority, University of Barcelona, Catholic University of Valencia.

Research groups: EOMAR and OFYGA.

ECOAQUAS SCHEDULE

MORE INFO

logo-ulpgc6

The University Institute ECOAQUA is a research centre that belongs to the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, a public institution that offers a wide range of degrees in all the major areas of knowledge, with the aim of providing comprehensive training to those who come to it, in a commitment based on innovation, quality and internationalisation.

VISIT THE ULPGC