Dr. Carlos Garbisu is the current Scientific Director of NEIKER-BRTA (The Basque Institute of Agricultural Research and Development, Spain) where he established the Soil Microbial Ecology Group in the early 2000s…
He has: (i) a Bachelor of Science in Biology (University of the Basque Country, 1984), (ii) a Master of Science in Timber Engineering and Wood Protection (Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, 1987), (iii) a Diploma of Imperial College (London, 1987), (iv) a Master Degree in Environmental Consultancy and Verification (Institute of Ecological Research, 1998) and (v) a PhD in Biology (King’s College London, 1992). He carried out postdoctoral studies in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the University of the Basque Country (1992-1993 and 1996-1997) and in the Department of Plant Biology of the University of California at Berkeley (1993-1996).
He has published more than 90 SCI papers, participated in (and led) numerous research projects, and taught a great deal of courses at the University level (Masters, PhD courses). He has participated in many scientific committees (UNESCO Chair, AENOR Committees, EU Soil Thematic Strategy, etc.), acted as project evaluator for many organizations (ANEV, INIA, European Commission, BARD, Czech Science Foundation, Austrian Science Fund, etc.) and as referee for many international journals.
He has focused his career on the fields of environmental biotechnology and microbiology, mainly regarding the utilization of microorganisms and plants to clean-up contaminated soils and water. At the moment, he is most interested in the field of soil microbial ecology and, in particular, in the utilization of microbial indicators of soil quality and health (e.g., structural and functional diversity of microbial communities, microbial activities-processes, biomass) within the context of the phytoremediation/bioremediation of polluted soils. His research projects deal with the impact of contamination on soil functioning, the biomonitoring of bio- and phytoremediation procedures, and the effects of agricultural practices on soil health.
Finally, he is a member, with a leading role, of the BERRILUR Consortium, a group of more than 100 scientists working on soil remediation in the Basque Country, northern Spain.
