- Research scientist, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD)
I am a junior researcher at the Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (France). My research is devoted to understanding the interactions between marine microbes and their physical, chemical and biological environment through a multi-spatiotemporal scale lens. My underlying philosophy is that processes that take place at small scales (molecule or cell level) can have impact at larger -regional or even global- scales. In the same manner, larger scale processes such as ocean circulation can alter the interactions between microbes and their environment affecting their distribution and activity. From the nanoscale to the global scale, unveiling the interactions between the marine environment and its microbes requires an interdisciplinary approach. I combine nanotechnology, molecular biology, biogeochemistry and modeling to bridge the spatiotemporal scales of microbial processes in the ocean.
Experience
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2018–presentResearch scientist, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement
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2017–2018Postdoctoral research associate, University of Copenhagen
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2014–2016Marie Curie Postdoctoral fellow, Aix-Marseille Université
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2013–2014Postdoctoral fellow, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research
Education
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2022Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches, Aix-Marseille Université
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2013PhD Oceanography, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
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2008MSc Oceanography, Universidad de Cádiz
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2007MSc Integrated Environmental Studies, University of Southampton
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2006BSc Marine Science, Universidad de Cádiz
Grants and Contracts
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2023PANDA: Particles as niches for non-cyanobacterial diazotrophs
- Role:
- Research grant
- Funding Source:
- EC2CO
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2023ANITA: Architecture and dyNamics of marIne parTicle colonizAtion
- Role:
- Research grant
- Funding Source:
- AMIDEX
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2022MANIOC: iMpact of particle microbial colonisation on Nitrogen cyclIng in the Ocean
- Role:
- Research grant
- Funding Source:
- AMIDEX
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2022FIESTA: “FInE scale dynamicS of diazoTrophs in the oceAn”
- Role:
- Research grant
- Funding Source:
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche
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2022DEFINE2: “Diazotroph activity and diversity shaped by fine scale ocean dynamics”
- Role:
- Research grant
- Funding Source:
- LEFE
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2021DOGMA: “Diazotrophs and OrGanic Matter under climAte change”
- Role:
- Research grant
- Funding Source:
- EC2CO
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2020IDEFIX: “Dinitrogen Fixation in the Indian Ocean: an interbasin and seasonal comparison”
- Role:
- Research grant
- Funding Source:
- Pure Ocean
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2020DINDE: “Dinitrogen Fixation in the Indian Ocean: an interbasin and seasonal comparison”
- Role:
- Research grant
- Funding Source:
- CEFIPRA
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2020FIGURE: “Fine scales shaping nitrogen fIxation in the GUlf stream”
- Role:
- Oceanographic cruise
- Funding Source:
- EuroFleets
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2020ART: “AggRegation processes in Trichodesmium”
- Role:
- Research grant
- Funding Source:
- EC2CO
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2020DINDE: “Dinitrogen Fixation in the Indian Ocean: an interbasin and seasonal comparison”
- Role:
- Research grant
- Funding Source:
- CEFIPRA
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2020DEFINE: “Diazotroph activity and diversity shaped by fine scale ocean dynamics”
- Role:
- Research grant
- Funding Source:
- LEFE
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2020EMPANADAS: “Exploring Microbes in marine PArticles: fuNction, trAits and Diversity Associated”
- Role:
- Research grant
- Funding Source:
- MIO AT&Pôles
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2020NOTION: “NitrOgen fixers structuring phyToplankton bIodiversity in the OceaN under climate change”
- Role:
- Research grant
- Funding Source:
- BNP Paribas Foundation Climate & Biodiversity initiative
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2019REACH: Remineralization of black carbon (BC) particles in coastal waters off Halong Bay (Vietnam) under different oxidation states"
- Role:
- Research grant
- Funding Source:
- IRD Action Sud
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2019OASIS: Oceanic nitrogen fixation Across SpatIotemporal Scales”
- Role:
- Research grant
- Funding Source:
- Thomas Jefferson Fundation
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2019TAPAS: “Transfert et cAractéristiques des PArticules dans les Systèmes océaniques”
- Role:
- Research grant
- Funding Source:
- MIO AT&Pôles
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2018Black carbon project
- Role:
- Research grant
- Funding Source:
- IRD Action Sud
Professional Memberships
- Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO)
- American Geophysical Union (AGU)
- Microbiology Society
- IAPSO Early Career Scientist Network
- Ocean Carbon & Biogeochemistry (OCB) N2 fixation working group
- JETZON - Joint Exploration of the Twilight Zone Ocean Network
- Aquatic N2-Fixation Research Coordination Network (ANF-RCN)
- Member of the European Marine Biological Resource Centre (EMBRC) scientific council in France
- Member of the French Oceanographic Fleet Commission (Commission Nationale de la Flotte Hauturière-CNFH)
- Member of the Specialized commission for Ocean-Atmosphere (CSOA), INSU, France
- Member of the Turing Centre for Living Systems (CENTURI) Research Committee
Honours
International Association for the Physical Sciences of the Oceans (IAPSO) Early Career Scientist Medal ; Young researcher prize from the Provence Department (France)
Contact Mar for
- General
- Media request
- Speaking request
- Consulting / Advising
- Research collaboration
- Research supervision
- Location: Marseille, France
- Website
- X (formerly Twitter): @Mar__Benavides
- Article Feed
- ORCID
- Joined