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As an Associate Professor of Botany at Rey Juan Carlos University (URJC), my research lies at the intersection of ecology, evolution, and biodiversity conservation. I leverage advanced data analysis, ecological modelling, and bioinformatics to address critical challenges such as pollinator decline, invasive species management, and ecosystem resilience. By integrating fundamental processes with big data approaches, I aim to bridge the gap between theoretical insights and applied conservation. I also serve as Subject Editor for the leading peer-reviewed journals Plant Biology and Mediterranean Botany, and I lead research and knowledge-transfer initiatives within international collaborative networks.
I am strongly committed to sustainability and data-driven decision-making. I currently hold two key leadership roles at URJC: Principal Manager of the Biological Big Data Laboratory and Academic Coordinator for Environmental, Energy, and Social Sustainability. In these roles, I contribute to institutional strategies that promote biodiversity conservation, energy efficiency, and the use of open, reproducible analytical tools. My work also supports national efforts to conserve crop wild relatives and develop evidence-based environmental policies.
Drawing on my extensive teaching experience at undergraduate, master's, and specialized levels, I bridge the gap between theory and practice in ecology, evolutionary biology, and quantitative methods.I am particularly dedicated to fostering data literacy, offering training in statistics and programming in addition to fieldwork and laboratory activities. Throughout my career, I have supervised numerous undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral theses, encouraging students to engage in high-impact research and evidence-based conservation.
Research Profiles:
ORCID: 0000-0003-0962-0567
Google Scholar: Link to profile
Scopus Profile: 49863520300
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Fecha inicio: 01/09/22
Fecha fin: 28/02/27
Entidad financiadora: AGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
Referencia externa: PID2021-127841OA-I00
Referencia interna: M2819
Cuantía financiación: 176660 €Investigador/es principal/es:
Investigadores:
- Carlos Lara Romero
- Alfredo García Fernández
- José María Iriondo Alegría
- María Carmen Molina Cobos
- Natalia González Benítez
Investigadores o Técnicos:
Otros colaboradores:
- Francisco Javier Jiménez López
- Sandra Ozáez Armijos
- James Francis White
- Guillermo Jorge Gorines Cordero
- Johannes Federicus Scheepens
Fecha inicio: 01/01/24
Fecha fin: 31/12/28
Entidad financiadora: European commision
Referencia externa: 101135314
Referencia interna: M3266
Cuantía financiación: 675192,5 €Investigador/es principal/es:
Investigadores:
- José Felipe Ortega Soto
- Emilio López Cano
- María Jesús Algar Díaz
- José María Iriondo Alegría
- Javier Gómez Miguel
- Natalia González Benítez
- Rubén Milla Gutiérrez
- César Alfaro Gimeno
- Carlos Lara Romero
Investigadores o Técnicos:
Fecha inicio: 08/09/25
Fecha fin: 07/01/26
Entidad financiadora: MINISTERIO DE AGRICULTURA PESCA Y ALIMENTACION
Referencia externa:
Referencia interna: M3938
Cuantía financiación: 1633,05 €Investigador/es principal/es:
Investigadores:
Fecha inicio: 01/12/22
Fecha fin: 31/07/25
Entidad financiadora: AGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
Referencia externa: TED2021-132053B-I00
Referencia interna: M2896
Cuantía financiación: 255300 €Investigador/es principal/es:
Investigadores:
- Ana Isabel García-Cervigón Morales
- María Isabel Martínez Moreno
- Gregorio Aragón Rubio
- Ana María Sánchez Álvarez
- José María Iriondo Alegría
- Pilar Hurtado Aragüés
- Marcos Méndez Iglesias
- Ibai Olariaga Ibarguren
- David Gutiérrez García
- María Prieto Álvaro
- Adrián Escudero Alcántara
- Silvia Matesanz García
- Alfredo García Fernández
- Marcelino de la Cruz Rot
- Luis Merino Martín
- Carlos Lara Romero
- David Sánchez Pescador
Investigadores o Técnicos:
Otros colaboradores:
- Michael John Obrien
- Estrella Ninive Navas Golmar
- Elvira Caro Miralles
- MARIA AUXILIADORA GARCIA LOPEZ
- Manuel Rojo Valencia
- Noelia Fernández Prado
- Francisco Javier Jiménez López
Fecha inicio: 30/12/16
Fecha fin: 29/06/21
Entidad financiadora: MINISTERIO DE ASUNTOS ECONOMICOS Y TRANSFORMACION DIGITAL
Referencia externa: CGL2016-77377-R
Referencia interna: M1508
Cuantía financiación: 199650 €Investigador/es principal/es:
Investigadores:
Investigadores o Técnicos:
Otros colaboradores:
- Belén Moncalvillo González
- Alex Widmer
- Pablo Tabarés Sibille
- Sandra Sacristán Bajo
- Javier Morente López
- MARIA ELENA TORRES LAMAS
Fecha inicio: 01/11/17
Fecha fin: 31/07/21
Entidad financiadora: EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Referencia externa: 774271
Referencia interna: M1652
Cuantía financiación: 202050 €Investigador/es principal/es:
Investigadores:
Fecha inicio: 01/04/23
Fecha fin: 30/11/26
Entidad financiadora: MINISTERIO DE AGRICULTURA PESCA Y ALIMENTACION
Referencia externa:
Referencia interna: M3145
Cuantía financiación: 175618,33 €Investigador/es principal/es:
Investigadores:
- Carlos Lara Romero
- José María Iriondo Alegría
- María Dolores Cuadra Fernández
- Raúl García Valdés
- Alfredo García Fernández
Investigadores o Técnicos:
Otros colaboradores:
- Manuel Rojo Valencia
- MARIO RAMÍREZ DÍEZ
- MARIA ELENA TORRES LAMAS
- Francisco Javier Jiménez López
Fecha inicio: 31/03/22
Fecha fin: 31/12/25
Entidad financiadora: MINISTERIO DE CIENCIA E INNOVACION
Referencia externa: PCI2022-132977
Referencia interna: M2852
Cuantía financiación: 55999,96 €Investigador/es principal/es:
Investigadores:
Fecha inicio: 18/03/25
Fecha fin: 12/10/25
Entidad financiadora: TECNOLOGIAS Y SERVICIOS AGRARIOS SA S.M.E. M.P.
Referencia externa:
Referencia interna: M3823
Cuantía financiación: 4545,45 €Investigador/es principal/es:
Investigadores:
Otros colaboradores:
- Francisco Javier Jiménez López
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- Scopus: 49863520300
- Web of Science (WoS): E-5549-2012
- Google Scholar: DcKsIEMAAAAJ
- ORCID: 0000-0003-0962-0567
| Agencia | Nº documentos | Nº citas | Índice H | Q1 | D1 | IFNB | IFNESI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Web of Science |
45 | 702 | 17 | 24 | 7 | 0,85 | 0,71 |
Scopus |
40 | 705 | 17 | 30 | 18 | 0,90 | - |
Dialnet |
3 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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Most
relevant publications of the last 10 years. (* Corresponding
author)
- Sacristán-Bajo, S; Lara-Romero, C*; García-Fernández, A; Prieto-Benitez, S; Morente-López, J; Rubio Teso ML; Torres, E; Iriondo, JM. 2025. Assisted gene flow management to climate change in the annual legume Lupinus angustifolius L.: from phenotype to genotype. Evolutionary Applications, 18, e70087. JIF: 3.5 (13/54, Evolutionary Biology, Q2).
- Traveset, A; Lara-Romero, C*; Santamaría, S; Cousins, SAO (2/12) 2024. Effect of green infrastructure on restoration of pollination networks and plant performance in semi-natural dry grasslands across Europe. J. Appl. Ecol., 61: 1015¿1028 1. JIF: 5.7 (7/64, Biodiversity Conservation, Q1).
- Sacristán-Bajo, S; García-Fernández, A; Lara-Romero, C; Prieto-Benitez, S; Tabarés, P; Morente-López, J; Rubio Teso ML; Alameda-Martín, A; Torres, E; Iriondo, JM. 2023. Population origin determines the effectiveness of facilitated adaptation for the advancement of flowering onset in Lupinus angustifolius (Fabaceae). Evolutionary Applications, 16: 62-73. JIF: 4.929 (12/52, Evolutionary Biology, Q1).
- Lara-Romero, C*; Ruiz-Benito, P; Castro-Díez, P. 2022. Functional traits and propagule pressure explain changes in the distribution and demography of non-native trees in Spain. Journal of Vegetacion Science, 33: e13131. JIF: 3.389 (13/70, Forestry, Q1).
- Morente-López, J; Kass, J; Lara-Romero, C; Serra-Díaz, P; Soto-Correa, JC; Anderson, R; Iriondo, JM 2022. Linking ecological niche models and common garden experiments to predict phenotypic differentiation in stressful environments: assessing the adaptive value of marginal populations in an alpine plant. Global Change Biology, 28: 4143-4162. JIF: 13.211 (1/65, Biodiversity Conservation, D1; 5/173 Ecology, D1).
- Morente-López, J; Lara-Romero, C; Garcia-Fernádez, A; Rubio-Teso, ML; Prieto-Benítez, S; Iriondo, JM. 2021. Gene flow effects on populations inhabiting marginal areas: origin matters. Journal of Ecology, 109: 139-153. JIF: 6.38 (21/279, Plant Science, D1; 23/174, Ecology Q1).
- Morente-López, J; Scheepens, J.F; Lara-Romero, C; Ruiz-Checa, R; Tabarés, P; Iriondo JM. 2020. Past selection shaped phenological differentiation among populations at contrasting elevations in a Mediterranean alpine plant. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 170: 103894. JIF: 5.545 (20/235, Plant Science, D1).
- Lara-Romero, C *; Seguí, J; Pérez-Delgado, A; Nogales, M; Traveset, A. 2019. Beta diversity and specialization in plant-pollinator networks along an elevational gradient. Journal of Biogeography, 46: 1598-1610. JIF: 3.732 (35/168, Ecology, Q1).
- Lara-Romero, C*; García, C; Morente-López, J; Iriondo, J.M. 2016. Direct and indirect effects of shrub encroachment on alpine grasslands mediated by plant-pollinator interactions. Functional Ecology, 30: 1521¿1530. JIF: 5.63 (14/153, Ecology, D1).
- Lara-Romero, C*; de la Cruz, M; Escribano-Ávila, G; García-Fernández, A; Iriondo, JM. 2016. What causes conspecific plant aggregation? Disentangling the role of dispersal, habitat heterogeneity and plant¿plant interactions. Oikos, 125: 1304¿1313. JIF: 4.03 (32/153, Ecology, Q1).
Web of Science
Scopus
Dialnet