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Research Team
The team of OLIGOlife project is interdisciplinar, with specialized researchers in paleontology, botany and zoology. This point of view allows to address the main goals of the OLIGOlife project from different fields of knowledge, applying different techniques, and resulting in cross-disciplinarity final conclusions. We are dedicated to advancing our understanding of the Oligocene period in the NW of Iberian Peninsula, and its significance in the history of life on Earth. Our lab is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and equipment, allowing us to conduct cutting-edge research in the field.
Image: Grass of the Zapateira Campus, UDC. Credits: B. Moncunill Solé. CC BY-SA.
Members
Dr. Alejandro Blanco
Co-PI
Dr. Blanco is specialist on the taxonomy and systematics of crocodyliforms, and also has previous expertise on taxonomy of actinopterygians, chondrichtyans, lissamphibians and squamates. Among his research results, highlight three new species of eusuchian crocodyliforms, one notosuchian crocodyliform and one batoid chondrichtyan.
Dr. Blanca Moncunill-Solé
Co-PI
Dr. Moncunill-Solé is a paleontologist specialist on the taxonomy, paleobiology, and paleoecology of small mammals, specially lagomorphs. She has pioneered the development of models for reconstructing the size of past small mammals and the use of cutting-edge paleontological techniques for disentangling their biology and evolution.
Dr. Néstor Carrillo
Researcher
Dr. Carrillo is a seed biologist, specialized in taxonomical classification and the regulation of seed germination in response to both endogenous and environmental factors. He has acquired extensive experience in histological techniques applied to seeds. Now, he is a part-time lecturer at the Universidade da Coruña, in the area of plant physiology.
Dr. Elvira Sahuquillo
Researcher
Dr. Sahuquillo is a botanist specialized in phylogeny and evolution of Poaceae and Orchidaceae, with special interest in the evolutionary processes that entailed their diversification. She has participated in 19 research projects, being PI of 5 of them, and has published 64 articles, 4 books, 6 book chapters and has 64 congress communiations. She is full professor at Universidade da Coruña.
Dr. Manuel Pimentel
Researcher
Dr. Pimentel is a botanist with special interest in the phylogeny, biogeography and evolution of vascular plants, specially the Families Poaceae and Orchidae. In addition, his research line is also focused on the reproductive biology and diversity of ferns and bryophytes. At present, he is associate professor at the Universidade da Coruña, particularly in the area of Botany.
Dr. MarÃa José Servia
Researcher
Dr. Servia is a zoologist with interest in terrestrial and freshwater biology, mainly in insects. She has expertise also in invasive species management. Other fields of her investigations are ecotoxicology and animal behavior. At present, she is associate professor at the Universidade da Coruña, in the area of Zoology.
D. Fredrik K Söderblom
PhD student
Fredrik Söderblom is a PhD student who carried out BSc studies in Earth Science and MSc studies in Palaeobiology at Uppsala University (Sweden). Under the supervision of Dr. Blanco and Dr. Moncunill-Solé, his PhD thesis is focused on assessing the morphological change, biomechanics, and phylogenetic significance of extinct and extant eusuchian postcrania.
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