My research interests are focused on the investigation of past environmental and climate variability by means of biogeochemical analyses on geological and paleontological archives. I specialized on stable isotope biogeochemistry of Neogene and Quaternary vertebrates, invertebrates and organic matter enclosed in the sediment, although I have used a range of biogeochemical proxies such as trace elements, rare earth elements and biomarkers.

 

I have mainly worked on the Spanish geological and paleontological record, where we are trying to obtain a complete portrait of regional environmental and climatic shifts between the Miocene and Holocene in order to place them in a global context. While most of these studies have focused on herbivore mammalian taxa, I have also explored predator-prey systems in ancient mammalian communities by means of Bayesian mixing models with the aim of understanding patterns of change in trophic interactions throughout time. 

Another line of research focuses on the paleobiogeographical, paleoecological and paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the Neogene and Quaternary from South America by means of stable isotope analyses on terrestrial vertebrates. I received a National Geographic-Waitt Foundation grant that allowed me to investigate questions related to resource and habitat use, niche occupation and trophic interactions in the context of the Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI). 

I am also involved in the paleoenvironmental reconstruction of Iberian Mesozoic terrestrial settings. Particularly, I have investigated the Late Cretaceous “Lo Hueco” locality (central Spain), with a special interest on the determination of the paleoecology of the diverse vertebrate assemblage by means of biogeochemical analysis (stable isotopes and rare earth elements).

Another research topic consists on the geochemical study on the Paleocene-Eocene boundary with emphasis on the characterization of the timing and magnitude of hyperthermal events associated to this boundary, specially the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). This study is being carried out in the Pyrenees, where it is possible to explore these hyperthermals in a terrestrial-marine transect within the same sedimentary system. 

Of late, I got involved in a more in-depth investigation of Quaternary paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental changes through the combined use of stable isotopes and biomarkers on the terrestrial record of northern Spain. Stable isotope analyses of mammalian tooth enamel and bone collagen from Pleistocene archaeo-paleontological sites are allowing us to evaluate changes in the climatic and environmental conditions in the context of the glacial-interglacial climatic dynamics. The use of lipid biomarker proxies (n-alkanes, n-alkanoic acids, sterols) from the organic matter enables us to evaluate Quaternary natural and human-induced environmental history of lakes, mires and archaeo-paleontological sites from northern Spain. 

Since science cannot be disconnected from society, we carry out outreach and educative actions through the Somosaguas project. Somosaguas is a Middle Miocene locality situated in the Somosaguas campus of the Complutense University of Madrid, where we have unearthed an outstanding number of vertebrate fossils (mainly mammals). I am the co-director of the Somosaguas paleontological excavation, which takes place every May. The Somosaguas project is fully commited with the idea of returning to society their efforts to support scientific activities. We design new activities, trails and educative games in order to show our discoveries in Somosaguas and to teach geological and paleontological concepts to the general public, with special emphasis on children and people with special needs.

Last, but not least, I am strongly involved in actions aimed at giving visibility to women in Science and at fostering early STEM vocations among girls.