Team
MiSaO brings together a multidisciplinary team with expertise in microbial oceanography, molecular biology, biogeochemistry, remote sensing, data science, and field observations. The team includes researchers, technical staff, and international collaborators, ensuring strong integration between observation, analysis, and knowledge dissemination.
Marta M. Varela
Microbial Oceanography · Biogeography · Diversity · Metabolic Processes
Research Scientist at the Oceanographic Centre of A Coruña and Principal Investigator of the MiSaO project. Marta M. Varela is an expert in marine microbial ecology, with a particular focus on the composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM). Her research combines in situ molecular approaches to investigate marine prokaryotic communities.
Contact: marta.varela@ieo.csic.es
Marta M. Varela
Microbial Oceanography · Biogeography · Diversity · Metabolic Processes
Research Scientist at the Oceanographic Centre of A Coruña and Principal Investigator of the MiSaO project. Marta M. Varela is an expert in marine microbial ecology, with a particular focus on the composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM). Her research combines in situ molecular approaches to investigate marine prokaryotic communities.
Contact: marta.varela@ieo.csic.es
Gema Casal
Coastal Remote Sensing · Marine Optics · Data Analysis
Ramón y Cajal Research Fellow at the Oceanographic Centre of A Coruña and Principal Investigator of the MiSaO project. Her research focuses on the analysis of optical remote-sensing data for a range of marine and coastal applications, as well as the planning and implementation of biological and radiometric field campaigns.
Contact: gema.casal@ieo.csic.es
Joaquín Valencia
Plankton Ecology · Oceanographic Surveys · Flow Cytometry
Laboratory Technician at the Oceanographic Centre of A Coruña. He joined the Department of Microbial Ecology in 2018, where he is responsible for flow cytometry analyses. Within the MiSaO project, he conducts flow cytometry and molecular biology analyses and participates in field sampling activities at sea.
Contact: joaquin.valencia@ieo.csic.es
Gelines Louro
Plankton Ecology · Oceanographic Surveys · Microscopy · Science Outreach
Senior Specialist Technician at the Oceanographic Centre of A Coruña and member of the Plankton Ecology and Biogeochemistry Research Group. Gelines Louro specialises in micro- and mesozooplankton sampling, biomass estimation, species identification, data processing, and the development of long-term datasets. She leads WP4 of the MiSaO project, focused on cooperation, communication, and dissemination.
Contact: gelines.louro@ieo.csic.es
Carlota Rodríguez
Communication and Outreach · Oceanographic Surveys · Laboratory Analysis
Technical and Professional Activities Technician at the Oceanographic Centre of A Coruña, with extensive experience in oceanographic surveys and member of the RADIALES observing programme team. She has strong expertise in laboratory analyses, including chlorophyll extraction and other oceanographic measurements. Within MiSaO, she supports communication and outreach activities.
Contact: carlota.rodriguez@ieo.csic.es
Alba Visos
Chemical Oceanography · Inorganic Nutrients · Organic Matter
Chemistresponsible for dissolved carbon and nitrogen analyses at the Oceanographic Centre of A Coruña, as well as coordinator of inorganic nutrient measurements. Within the MiSaO project, she is responsible for laboratory analyses of total organic carbon (TOC).
Contact: alba.visos@ieo.csic.es
Tiit Kutser
Coastal Remote Sensing · Marine Optics · Data Analysis
Professor and Head of the Department of Marine Remote Sensing and Optics at the Estonian Marine Institute, University of Tartu. His research focuses on the development of remote-sensing methodologies for the quantitative assessment of water quality and benthic habitat mapping. Within MiSaO, he provides scientific support for the retrieval of CDOM and DOC from remote-sensing observations and coordinates the connection with the Baltic Sea case study.
Contact: tiit.kutser@ut.ee
Gema Casal
Coastal Remote Sensing · Marine Optics · Data Analysis
Ramón y Cajal Research Fellow at the Oceanographic Centre of A Coruña and Principal Investigator of the MiSaO project. Her research focuses on the analysis of optical remote-sensing data for a range of marine and coastal applications, as well as the planning and implementation of biological and radiometric field campaigns.
Contact: gema.casal@ieo.csic.es
Joaquín Valencia
Plankton Ecology · Oceanographic Surveys · Flow Cytometry
Laboratory Technician at the Oceanographic Centre of A Coruña. He joined the Department of Microbial Ecology in 2018, where he is responsible for flow cytometry analyses. Within the MiSaO project, he conducts flow cytometry and molecular biology analyses and participates in field sampling activities at sea.
Contact: joaquin.valencia@ieo.csic.es
Gelines Louro
Plankton Ecology · Oceanographic Surveys · Microscopy · Science Outreach
Senior Specialist Technician at the Oceanographic Centre of A Coruña and member of the Plankton Ecology and Biogeochemistry Research Group. Gelines Louro specialises in micro- and mesozooplankton sampling, biomass estimation, species identification, data processing, and the development of long-term datasets. She leads WP4 of the MiSaO project, focused on cooperation, communication, and dissemination.
Contact: gelines.louro@ieo.csic.es
Carlota Rodríguez
Communication and Outreach · Oceanographic Surveys · Laboratory Analysis
Technical and Professional Activities Technician at the Oceanographic Centre of A Coruña, with extensive experience in oceanographic surveys and member of the RADIALES observing programme team. She has strong expertise in laboratory analyses, including chlorophyll extraction and other oceanographic measurements. Within MiSaO, she supports communication and outreach activities.
Contact: carlota.rodriguez@ieo.csic.es
Alba Visos
Chemical Oceanography · Inorganic Nutrients · Organic Matter
Chemistresponsible for dissolved carbon and nitrogen analyses at the Oceanographic Centre of A Coruña, as well as coordinator of inorganic nutrient measurements. Within the MiSaO project, she is responsible for laboratory analyses of total organic carbon (TOC).
Contact: alba.visos@ieo.csic.es
Tiit Kutser
Coastal Remote Sensing · Marine Optics · Data Analysis
Professor and Head of the Department of Marine Remote Sensing and Optics at the Estonian Marine Institute, University of Tartu. His research focuses on the development of remote-sensing methodologies for the quantitative assessment of water quality and benthic habitat mapping. Within MiSaO, he provides scientific support for the retrieval of CDOM and DOC from remote-sensing observations and coordinates the connection with the Baltic Sea case study.
Contact: tiit.kutser@ut.ee