I am a phytoplankton ecologist and marine biogeochemist. I am interested in the study of phytoplankton plasticity in elemental content, and how it modulates the biogeochemical cycles of key elements in the ocean.
I work at the Electron and Optical Microscopy Service, where I advance in the development of X-ray microanalysis (XRMA or EDS, Energy Dispersive Spectrometry), a methodology that allows the simultaneous identification and quantification of the elements (C, N, O, Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K and Ca) present in single plankton cells, that can be collected directly from the sea. I give support to scientists for the analysis of plankton and bacteria, or other materials of biological origin.
As a biogeochemist, I have an extensive experience in biochemical quantification of main macromolecules (nucleic acids, lipids, proteins, pigments and carbohydrates), as well as nutrient analysis by spectrometry, using a variety of instruments: segmented-flow analysers (FIA); on board analysis, both discrete and high-frequency analysis; liquid laveguide capillary cell; and chemoluminescence.
