Naiara Berrojalbiz Castrillejo

Currently, I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Global Change Genomics Biogeochemistry group of the Institute of Environmental and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC) with the “Juan de la Cierva Incorporación” grant from the Spanish Government. I have a BS in Environmental Sciences and in 2014 I obtained my Ph.D. carried out in the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (CSIC) under the supervision of Dr.Dachs (supported by a Basque-Government predoctoral fellowship). I also have two years of research experience at the Benthic Ecogeochemistry Laboratory (UPMC/CNRS)in France and two years more as a postdoctoral researcher at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (Research Council of Norway funding) within a JPI-Oceans project.
My research interest has been focused on the study of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the marine and coastal environments (i.e. distribution and fate, coupling with the organic carbon cycle, etc.). This was reflected in my Ph.D.´s main working line: clarify the interactions of POP atmospheric inputs and the surface ocean biogeochemical processes, emphasizing on the biological pump. The novelty of the study lied in using a multidisciplinary integrated approach where field POP concentration data, controlled laboratory studies, and modeling tools were applied organically. The results of this work made me possible to generate important contributions to the knowledge of the biogeochemical and physical controls on the cycling of POPs in marine systems (Berrojalbiz et.al.2011a,2011b; Morales et.al.2015; Galban-Malagón et.al.2012; Marinov et.al.2009), help to clarify the role of planktonic organisms in POP cycling (Berrojalbiz et.al.2009, Echeveste et.al. 2006, 2010) and create the first comprehensive assessment of POPs in the atmosphere of Mediterranean (Berrojalbiz et.al.2014; Castro et.al. 2014; Sanchis et.al. 2012), Arctic and Antarctic (Galvan-Malagón et.al. 2013a, 2013b) waters.
During my postdoctoral experience in Norway, I have also been able to acquire invaluable knowledge regarding different advanced field and laboratory methods that had extended my capabilities (i.e. advance passive sampling techniques, innovative passive dosing procedures, new technical insight regarding environmental modeling of chemical partitioning and fluxes) and expanded my research interests. Following the growing concern about the impact of microplastic pollution in our oceans, one of my research spotlights was to asses how weathering processes influence the transport, fate, and toxicity of microplastics in the marine environment. As a result, my work has allowed me to generate an invaluable comprehension regarding the interactions of POP fluxes and microplastics in the marine environment and will fill the existing gaps in the current scientific knowledge regarding this hot topic.