MARÍA JOSÉ GARCÍA LÓPEZ

María José García López is a first-year PhD candidate specializing in environmental and industrial biotechnology. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Biology from the School of Experimental Sciences and Technology (ESCET) at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (2023) and a Master's degree in Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. During her undergraduate studies, she broadened her academic training through a SICUE mobility program at the Universidad de Alicante, where she specialized in biotechnology.

Throughout her academic training, she completed several research assistantships across different institutions. At Rey Juan Carlos University, she worked within the Department of Biology, Geology, Physics, and Chemistry, contributing to climate change simulation studies in gypsophile plants and assessing their ecological responses. At the University of Alicante, within the Extremophile Biotechnology group, she focused on the modification and characterization of halophilic bacteria and archaea. She later conducted research at the Center for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics, studying plant–bacteria interactions under high concentrations of heavy metals. These experiences allowed her to develop strong skills in microbiology, molecular biology, experimental design, and laboratory techniques.She has also worked on waste treatment through biological processes, applying microbial-based strategies for the sustainable management and valorization of organic residues.

Since September 2024, María José has been a junior researcher within the ITPS PurpleGreen Synergistic Project, focused on the biorefinery of pig slurry using biological technologies—particularly purple phototrophic bacteria and microalgae—to produce energy and high value-added compounds.

In September 2025, she began her PhD within the European Purple4Life project as a predoctoral researcher. Her doctoral research focuses on the bioelectrochemical production of purple phototrophic bacteria for the valorization of CO₂ derived from biogas into high-value microbial products, such as carotenoids and Coenzyme Q10. Her work is framed within sustainable bioprocess development and circular bioeconomy strategies.

Keywords: 

Bioelectrochemistry, Purple Phototrophic Bacteria, Anaerobic Biotechnology, Biorrefenieries, Antioxidants Production