The Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities has recently awarded three research projects under the National R&D Plan, each accompanied by specific funding for a predoctoral contract. The selected proposals address fundamental challenges ranging from biodiversity research to emerging environmental problems and innovative circular economy strategies.
Integrating unified models and metabarcoding to infer the processes governing biological diversity in beetles
The project, led by Andrés Baselga and Carola Gómez-Rodríguez, will investigate the processes that drive variation in the composition of beetle communities in mountain systems of north-western Iberian Peninsula. By combining Unified Models of Biological Diversity with Next Generation Sequencing technologies (metabarcoding), the team will compare genetic and species-level diversity across different strata (soil-dwelling, ground-surface and epiphytic).
The results will provide a pioneering perspective on biodiversity at multiple scales, with implications for both basic research and conservation planning.
Expected impact. The project aims to advance fundamental knowledge of the processes that determine biological diversity, validate metabarcoding as an integrated tool within unified models, and develop new methods to evaluate beta diversity patterns.
Assessing the environmental behaviour of PFAS and sustainable recovery strategies for contaminated soils
A team led by Sarah Fiol will study soil contamination caused by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), compounds that are highly persistent and harmful to both human health and the environment. The project’s main goal is to understand PFAS behaviour within the soil-water-plant system and to develop effective and sustainable strategies for soil recovery. To this end, the team will identify affected areas, analyse mechanisms of transport, accumulation and immobilisation of these pollutants, and propose solutions such as phytoremediation or the use of reactive amendments.
Expected impact. The project seeks to generate applied knowledge to establish environmental thresholds and design remediation methodologies, with significant scientific, social and economic impact. It aims to deliver sustainable solutions to an emerging public health issue.
Ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents for the valorisation of fish waste
With the aim of fostering bioeconomy and circular economy, this project, led by Ana Soto, proposes an innovative methodology to valorise fish by-products through maceration with neoteric solvents (ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents) followed by aqueous extraction.
This process will yield high value-added bioproducts such as collagen, proteins, hydroxyapatite and bioplastics, with applications in the food, pharmaceutical and biomedical industries. Furthermore, the production of bioplastics will contribute to the development of sustainable biomaterials, reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
Expected impact. The project’s main outcomes include generating knowledge on the separation processes employed and transferring it to the fish processing industry, which will also be directly involved in the project. This proposal contributes to waste reduction, the promotion of circular economy and the production of sustainable biomaterials as alternatives to fossil-derived products.