I am an environmental microbiologist studying the diversity and function of soil microbiomes. My research interests fall into two main areas: the mechanisms and pre-existence of antimicrobial resistance genes in soil ecosystems, and the study of microbes involved in the oxidation of carbon monoxide and methane. The specific aims of my research are to identify and characterise the major players in biogeochemical cycling of the components of trace gases (for example carbon monoxide and methane). I am currently studying the metabolic processes and substrate preferences of microorganisms in volcanic deposits, which are one of the most fertile soils in the world. I analyse the metabolic pathways for key microorganisms by using metagenomic approaches to determine which natural gases they use as carbon sources. For this, I lead sampling campaigns in volcanoes in Chile and the US and incubate volcanic soils with labelled carbon and perform metagenomics to identify the active microbial communities and characterise their function in these soil deposits.

Website: www.marcelahernandez.com

Google scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=dlddUx0AAAAJ&hl=en

• PhD, Natural Resource Sciences, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile. Advisor: Prof. Michael Seeger, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Valparaíso, Chile

• MSc Natural Resource Sciences, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile

• BSc, Universidad Católica Ssma. Concepción, Concepción, Chile

• 2019-2023: Senior Editor for Journal of Applied Microbiology

• 2019-2022: Trustee of the Society for Applied Microbiology

• 2020-2021: Senior Research Associate, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK

• 2019-2020: Humboldt Fellow, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Thünen Institut für Biodiversität, Braunschweig, Germany

• 2016-2018: NERC Research Associate in Environmental Microbiology, University of Southampton, UK

• 2012-2015: Research Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology (MPItM), Marburg, Germany

• 2013-2015: Scientific Coordinator, International Max Planck Research School for Environmental, Cellular and Molecular Microbiology IMPRS, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology (MPItM), Marburg, Germany

• 2010-2012: Humboldt Fellow, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology. Marburg, Germany