Juan de la Cierva (UdG)
Odei Garcia-Garin is currently a Juan de la Cierva postdoctoral researcher (2024-2026) at the Universitat de Girona under the supervision of Dra. Marta Muñoz. He obtained his PhD in Biodiversity from the Universitat de Barcelona in 2022, with a dissertation titled "Interdisciplinary Assessment of the Occurrence and Distribution of Marine Litter (Macro-Litter, Microplastics, and Plastic Additives) and its Impact on Marine Vertebrates."
Odei's research focuses on the occurrence, distribution, and impacts of marine pollution, with an emphasis on microplastics, metals and plastic additives affecting marine fauna. Using advanced tools, including drones and vessels, he monitors floating macro-litter and marine vertebrates, modelling the transfer of microplastics through food webs to assess anthropogenic impacts and inform conservation strategies. His work in the Fixed Line Transect (FLT) Mediterranean Monitoring Network includes overseeing the Barcelona-Tangier route, monitoring marine vertebrates, and assessing environmental threats. Teaching and mentorship are integral to his career, with over 500 hours dedicated to undergraduate and master’s level courses and co-supervision of multiple theses. He also led the communication team for OYSTER (Orienting Young Researchers Through EuRomarine), which has over 4000 followers on X, furthering his commitment to science outreach.
Selected articles:
- Garcia-Garin, O., Borrell, A., Colomer-Vidal, P., Vighi, M., Trilla-Prieto, N., Aguilar, A., Gazo, M., & Jiménez, B. (2023). Biomagnification and temporal trends (1990–2021) of perfluoroalkyl substances in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from the NW Mediterranean Sea. Environmental Pollution, 339, 122738.
- Garcia-Garin, O., Monleón-Getino, T., López-Brosa, P., Borrell, A., Aguilar, A., Borja-Robalino, R., Cardona, L., & Vighi, M (2021). Automatic detection and quantification of floating marine macro-litter in aerial images: Introducing a novel deep learning approach connected to a web application in R. Environmental Pollution, 273, 116490.
- Torresi, M., Giménez, J., Navarro, J., Coll, M., García-Barcelona, S., Macías, D., ... & Garcia-Garin, O. (2024). Microplastic characterization in the stomachs of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) from the western Mediterranean Sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 206, 116767.