Students

Current students

PhD candidate – Jorge Mestre

Project: Advanced Bayesian Statistical Modeling and Tools for Spatio-Temporal and Compositional Data in Marine Science
University: Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), Spain

Years: 2024-2026
Funding: Contracted

Supervisors: Marta Coll and J. Martínez Minaya

PhD candidate – Andrea Kaplan

Project: Assessing the cumulative impacts of extreme events on marine ecosystems in a context of global ghange.
University: Authonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Spain

Years: 2023-2027
Funding: FPU (Spanish Government)

Supervisors: Marta Coll, Fran Ramírez and Miquel Ortega

PhD candidate – Miriam Gimeno Castells

Project: Analysis of penguin distribution on their threats to protect Southern Ocean ecosystems.
University: University of Barcelona (UB), Spain

Years: 2023-2027
Funding: FPI-SO

Supervisors: Marta Coll and Fran Ramírez

PhD candidate – Lucía Espasandín Soneira

Project: Evaluation of social and ecological effects of climate change in the Western Mediterranean Sea.
University: Authonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Spain

Years: 2022-2025
Funding: Contract EU project FutureMares, GES4SEAS, MarinePlan

Supervisors: Marta Coll and Valerio Sbragaglia

PhD candidate – Alba Fuster

Project: Modelling the cumulative effects of global change and pausible future oceans.
University: University of Valencia (UV), Spain

Years: 2022-2026
Funding: Contract ProOceans and FPI (Spanish Government)

Supervisors: Marta Coll, Jose María Bellido and David Conesa

PhD candidate – María Dolores Castro Cadenas

Project: Evaluation of nature-based solutions focused on the sustainable management of fisheries for mitigation and adaptation to climate change in the Mediterranean Sea.
University: University of Barcelona (UB), Spain

Years: 2021-2025
Funding: FPU (Spanish Government)

Supervisors: Marta Coll and Valerio Sbragaglia

PhD candidate – Giulio Tarantino

Project: Integrative approach to understand socio-ecological aspects of artisanal and recreational fisheries in marine coastal areas.
University: University of Barcelona (UB), Spain

Years: –
Funding: –

Supervisors: Valerio Sbragaglia and A. Terlizzi.

PhD candidate – Riccardo Nanni

Project: HumanFear
University: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Spain

Years: 2025 – 2029
Funding: PIF

Supervisors: Valerio Sbragaglia

PhD candidate – Yesmina Mascarell

Project: Las Mujeres de la Mar en las Confradías del Mediterráneo Español
University: Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), Spain

Year end: 2027
Supervisors: Miquel Ortega and Paloma Herrera

MSc student – Eleanora Carmen Savino

MSc Project: Stable isotope analysis and trophic structure of the pelagic community in the western Mediterranean Sea.
University: Master in Biologia Marina (Università Politecnica delle Marche)

Years: 2025 – 2026
Supervisors: Marta Coll, Maria Bas and Clàudia Aparicio

MSc student – Giorgia La Mura

MSc Project: Quines són les principals afectacions del canvi climàtic al sector pesquer a Catalunya?
University: Master in Oceanography and Coastal Management (Universitat de Barcelona)

Years: 2025 – 2026
Supervisors: Miquel Ortega and Marta Coll

MSc student – Julio Cesar San Miguel

MSc Project: Papel de las gaviotas en la dispersión de semillas en los arrozales del Delta del Ebro
University: Universitat de Barcelona

Years: 2025 – 2026
Supervisors: Néstor Pérez-Méndez, Víctor Martín-Vélez and Joan Navarro

MSc student – Álex Domínguez Rosco

MSc Project: Evaluación de riesgo en las colisiones de gaviotas urbanas en el aeropuerto de Barcelona
University: Universitat de Barcelona

Years: 2025 – 2026
Supervisors: Joan Navarro and Víctor Martín-Vélez

MSc student – Daniel Vidal Barrachina

MSc Project: Integrated Models for Citizen Science Data: Improving Ecological Monitoring and Decision-Making
University: Universitat de València

Years: 2026
Supervisors: Maria G. Pennino

MSc student – Manuela Marcilese

MSc Project: Relación entre la ontogenia y la ecología trófica: reconstrucciones isotópicas en peces pelágicas del Mediterráneo occidental
University: Universitat de Barcelona

Years: 2026
Supervisors: Marta Coll

MSc student – Anna Sallés Marco

MSc Project: Detecció de l’efecte de les AMP en la comunitat de peixos mitjançant eDNA
University: University of Groningen

Years: 2026
Supervisors: Cesc Gordó and Marta Coll

JAE Intro ICU 2025 internship – Catarina Fernandes de Oliveira

JAE Training plan: ICM-01: Network modelling for marine ecological applications
Years: 2025 – 2026
Supervisors: Marta Coll

JAE Intro 2025 internship – Laura Torres Abellán

JAE Training plan: Análisis de redes tróficas marinas y aplicaciones de conservación y gestión
Years: 2025 – 2026
Supervisors: Marta Coll

Erasmus+ 2025/26 internship – Alexandra Berg

Internship plan: Trophic ecology from archaelogical remains
Years: 2026
Supervisors: Maria Bas and Konstantina Agiadi

Visiting Students and Students on Authorized Stay

PhD Student – Alisson Peter Brito Dopona

Principal aim: Application of the qualitative mathematical modeling technique in a chapter of the doctoral project that will investigate the effect that traditional community management practices to increase marine and coastal food resources availability have on other species in the community.
University: UFRN (Brazil)

Period: November 2025 – June 2026
Supervisors: Marta Coll & Maria Grazia Pennino

PhD Student – Gabriella Lo Cicero

Principal aim: Application of ensemble Species Distribution Models (SDMs) to investigate the potential effects of climate change on the spatial distribution of small pelagic fish species in the Mediterranean Sea. The study integrates large-scale occurrence datasets and environmental predictors to model current habitat suitability and project future distribution under different climate scenarios. Particular attention is given to uncertainty assessment and to the potential implications for fisheries resources and ecosystem management.
University: UNIPA (Italy)

Period: March 2026 – July 2026
Supervisors: Maria Grazia Pennino

Past students

PhD candidate – Elena Fernandez Corredor

Project: Conservation and adaptative management of marine predators at risk: combined use of genetic tecniques, spatial and trophic ecology with ecosystem models.
University: Authonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Spain

Years: 2022-2025
Funding: FPU (Spanish Government)

Supervisors: Marta Coll, Joan Navarro and Fran Ramírez

PhD candidate – Jazel Ouled Cheikh

Project: Predicting the effects of climate change on the distribution of marine megafauna.
University: University of Barcelona (UB), Spain

Years: 2021-2024
Funding: University of Barcelona

Supervisors: Marta Coll and Lluis Cardona.

Msc student – Jorge Eloy

MSc Project: Operational research and optimization processes in studies of marines species, movements and connectivity between marine habitats.
University: University of Barcelona (Spain)

Years: 2024-2025
Supervisors: Francisco Ramírez

Msc student – Francisco Pablo Salvador

MSc Project: Mapping Habitats for Southern Hemisphere Penguins: a Penguin Conservation Initative.
University: Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) (Spain)

Years: 2024-2025
Supervisors: Zuzana Zajkovà and Jorge Mestre

MSc student – Ben Möller

MSc Project: Environmental Assessment of the (North)western Mediterranean Sea using the Nested Envrionmental Assessment Tool (NEAT) and the GES4SEAS toolbox.
University: Master in Marine and Coastal Systems at University of Algarve (Portugal)

Years: 2024-2025
Supervisors: Miquel Ortega and Marta Coll

MSc student – Roger Roca

MSc Project: Observación de aves marinas desde barco: retos y oportunidades del turismo ornitológico como actividad con potencial transformador para comunidades costeras.
University: Màster d’Oceanografia i Gestió del Medi Marí at University of Barcelona (UB) (Spain)

Years: 2024-2025
Supervisors: Miquel Ortega and Jose Manuel de los Reyes

MSc student – María Valencia

MSc Project: Stable isotopes of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon in the muscle tissue and otoliths of Mediterranean myctophids.
University: Màster d’Oceanografía i gestió del medi marí at University of Barcelona (UB) (Spain)

Years: 2024-2025
Supervisors: Maria Bas and Konstantina Agiadi

MSc student – Jordi Aznar

MSc Project: Long-term changes in the trophic interactions of sardine and anchovy in the NW Mediterranean Sea
University: Màster d’Oceanografia i gestió del medi marí at University of Barcelona (UB) (Spain)

Years: 2024-2025
Supervisors: Marta Coll and Marta Albó

MSc student – Victor Moya

MSc Project: Ecology roles of Mediterranean large pelagic predators through extinction scenarios and food web modelling.
University: Màster d’Oceanografia i gestió del medi marí at University of Barcelona (UB) (Spain)

Years: 2024-2025
Supervisors: Marta Coll and Elena Fernández

MSc student – Raúl Martos

MSc Project: How do we assess the cumulative environmental risk of all activities in the marine environment? An exploration in Catalonia and the Gulf of Lion using the SCAIRM method.
University: Màster d’Oceanografia i gestió del medi marí at University of Barcelona (UB) (Spain)

Years: 2024-2025
Supervisors: Miquel Ortega and Marta Coll

MSc student – Irati Bort

MSc Project: Individual drivers and human factors shaping the migratory behaviour of Audouin’s Gull.
University: Màster en Biodiversitat at University of Barcelona (UB) (Spain)

Years: 2024-2025
Supervisors: Jose Manuel de los Reyes and Maria Bas

MSc student – Sílvia Manglano

MSc Project: Patrones alimentarios de las tortugas marinas y su rol ecológico: una revisión sistemática.
University: Màster d’Oceanografia i gestió del medi marí at University of Barcelona (UB) (Spain)

Years: 2024-2025
Supervisors: Marta Coll, Alba Fuster and Claudia Aparicio

MSc student – Joana Riera

MSc Project: Mapping Habitats for Southern Hemisphere Penguins: a Penguin Conservation Initative.
University: University of Barcelona (UB) (Spain)

Years: 2024-2025
Supervisors: Zuzana Zajkovà and Francisco Ramírez