Junior group Scientist at the Ecological Novelty group (AG Jeschke)

Interested in a summary of my academic career? You can download my CV 

 

My research interests have always been linked to the study of degraded lands and the underlying mechanisms that allow the recovery of such environments. My road started with my degree in Renewable Natural Resources Engineering with a special focus in Arid Lands from the National University of Cuyo in Mendoza, Argentina. My research back there was related to assessing the potential recovery after abandonment of farmlands within the Monte Desert Biome in Argentina. Still interested on ecosystem degradation, but this time related to plant invasions, my PhD took me to the Technical University of Munich in Germany thanks to a full PhD scholarship, where I aimed to find ways to increase the resistance of native communities to the invasion of alien plant species in the context of ecological restoration. After my PhD I moved to South Africa for my first postdoc at the Center for Excellence in Invasion Biology (C·I·B). Here I incorporated the underground perspective on plant invasions, by investigating the role that soil bacterial communities may have in explaining invasion success and how they influence ecosystem restoration. In particular I am interested in the role that changes in soil biotic and abiotic conditions have in creating legacy effects that would impact restoration success. If I have to choose my place in this planet, I have to say without doubt that this is South Africa. Sadly I couldn’t stay longer and my second research stay so far has been at the Freie Universität Berlin, where I am investigating the role that factors related to urbanization may have in invasion success, which a particular interest in interactions with soil microorganisms. 

For further information on my current research interests, please visit the «Research interests» section.