Gloria Vazquez Vives

Gloria Vazquez Vives in a purple beanie hat

MRes Student

One year into the degree in Marine Science in my hometown Barcelona, I decided to pursue this career abroad, in the exceptional location of the west coast of Scotland. In 2023 I completed my undergraduate degree in Marine Science at SAMS.

During my third year, I was able to work as a laboratory technician in the CCAP, which helped me to develop as a scientist, learning a wide range of new skills. Furthermore, when I started to gain more interest within the field of algae, this encouraged me to pursue a dissertation on this topic.

Today I am very grateful for the opportunity to embark on a project that allows me to continue doing research within this field, on the current challenging topic of understanding algal diseases. 

Contact details:
  • Gloria.Vazquez-Vives@sams.ac.uk
  • +44 (0)01631 559 000

Qualifications

2023 BSc (Hons) Marine Science, SAMS-UHI

Career

Oct 2021 - Feb 2022, CCAP Laboratory Technician, SAMS

Understanding compatible and incompatible host-pathogen interactions in brown algae 

Brown seaweeds are infected with several pathogens, including oomycetes, these being considered ecological drivers shaping community structure in the marine environment. It has been studied that brown seaweed exhibit different levels of innate immunity against oomycetes pathogens; some species are susceptible whereas some are resistant. However, there are no studies showing how they build their resistance. 

My study aims to provide more answers within this field by investigating the distinct defence mechanisms of susceptible and resistant E. siliculosus strains against oomycete infection, by establishing pathosystems and monitoring the disease; also, to investigate the chemical signals involved in compatible and incompatible interactions, by analysing metabolites and lipid data; and lastly, to investigate whether host-associated microbiome has any significant role in ascertaining susceptibility or resistance to oomycetes infection in brown algae 

 

Supervisors:

Puja Kumari (DoS; SAMS-UHI) 

David Green (SAMS-UHI) 

Cecilia Rad Menendez (SAMS-UHI) 

 

Start date: October 2024