Graduate in Science (Biology) (Extraordinary Award, 1998) and PhD in Biology (1992) from the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB). I began my academic career as an Assistant Lecturer at UIB in November 1993 and, after holding various positions, I have been a Full Professor of Genetics in the Department of Biology at UIB since July 2017. I have taught courses in Biology and Biochemistry, particularly in the subjects of Genetic Engineering, Human Genetics, and Molecular Genetics.

My research work has been developed in the Population Genetics field (with special emphasis on isolated populations) and has been carried out basically in the Human and Evolutionary Genetics (HEGEN) group of the UIB.

The research lines within this field have been diverse, with the main focus on Human Population Genetics. On one hand, we have studied the Balearic population from a population-genetics perspective, both from an anthropological standpoint and in relation to specific genetic disorders such as hereditary hemochromatosis, variegate porphyria, and beta-thalassemia. On the other hand, we have also examined Jewish populations of various origins, with particular attention to the Chueta community—descendants of Majorcan Crypto-Jews. This work has been carried out in collaboration with institutions such as the University Hospital of Son Espases and the IPATIMUP Institute at the University of Porto (Portugal). Additionally, research on Andean populations from the province of Salta (Argentina) and the Moroccan population has been conducted through collaborations with the National University of Salta and Mohammed V-Agdal University (Morocco), respectively.

Further work has included the study of mitochondrial DNA population dynamics in Drosophila subobscura, in collaboration with Dr. Moya’s group at the Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology (Valencia). We also investigated the interaction between the hepatitis C virus and the host in patients co-infected with HCV and HIV, in collaboration with researchers from Son Llatzer Hospital (Mallorca) and the Center for Public Health Research (Valencia).

More recently, our research has focused on the multidisciplinary study of the evolution of the genus Podarcis in the Mediterranean, in collaboration with Dr. Pérez-Mellado (University of Salamanca) and Dr. Brown (Liverpool John Moores University). Additionally, in partnership with the Spanish Institute of Oceanography and other research centers, we have concentrated on Conservation Genetics of endangered marine species and the application of genetic tools—particularly next-generation sequencing techniques—to support sustainable fisheries management.

I have combined my research activity with teaching work since 1988 and with various academic and governance roles at UIB: co-director of the Master in Biotechnology, Genetics and Cell Biology at the UIB (2009-2013), Head of Biology Studies (2012-2016), Vice Dean of the Faculty of Sciences (2012-2016) and Coordinator of mobility of Biology studies from 2012 to 2016; and Director of the PhD program in Biomedical and Evolutionary Biotechnology since 2022.

The research developed across these various lines of work has been funded through more than 50 competitive national and regional project calls, as well as 2 European projects. As a result of these efforts, I have published approximately 100 articles in internationally indexed journals. The findings have also been presented at genetics conferences and have contributed to doctoral theses and research reports. In addition, I have undertaken research stays at the universities of Haifa, Munich, Salta, Barcelona, and Porto, as well as at Beth Israel Hospital in New York.