Born in Madrid in 1964. Studied Biological Sciences at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM, 1987), where he also obtained his PhD (1991; Molecular Biology and Biochemistry), in the field of plant molecular virology. Postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Dr. Elliot Meyerowitz, at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), studying Arabidopsis flower development. Joined a start-up company in the field of plant functional genomics (Mendel Biotechnology, Hayward, CA), in 1998, studying Arabidopsis transcription factors. In 2002, joined Caltech as Director of the Millard and Muriel Jacobs Genetics and Genomics Laboratory, continuing studies on genome-wide analyses of gene expression, gene expression in Arabidopsis flower development, microRNAs, and microarray technology. Since 2007, ICREA Research Professor at the Center for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), Barcelona. Director of CRAG from 2013 until 2022.
Research interests
We study transcriptional regulation and development, using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model system. In particular, studies on flower development, genomic analyses of transcription factors, and global gene expression analyses. Our current main aim area of activity is to combine genomic, proteomic, and peptidomic technologies to study flower development and processes. During the past year, we have studied the chronology of protein expression throughout early Arabidopsis flower development and its correlation to unbiased transcript expression data; identified novel direct targets of the floral master regulator AP1; and conducted the initial definition and characterization of the Arabidopsis floral 'non-conventional' peptidome (sORFs and hidden coding sequences in the Arabidopsis genome) and of the possible roles of these microproteins in flower development. We have also expanded this peptidogenomics line of research to a legume crop (pea).
Selected research activities
Member of the Board of Directors of the European Technology Platform 'Plants for the Future? (Plant ETP).