Mar Benavides, IRD research fellow, assigned to MIO-CYBELE, received the CNRS Bronze Medal 2021, on Friday, December 02, 2021

The Bronze Medal was awarded by Nicolas Arnaud, Director of the INSU CNRS

Mar Benavides, a researcher in microbial oceanography, specialized in functional diversity and biogeochemistry at the Mediterranean Institute of Oceanology.

"Coming from a family of sailors, I have always been attracted by the sea. During my studies, I was fascinated by the way tiny marine microorganisms control biogeochemical cycles on a global scale. Since then, I have dedicated my research to the study of marine diazotrophs: microorganisms capable of transforming inert molecular nitrogen into bioavailable nitrogen that supports biological productivity in the oceans. From sea expeditions to laboratory experiments, I combine molecular biology, advanced microscopy, mass spectrometry and geochemistry. My goal: to build bridges between the spatiotemporal scales by which diazotrophs interact with their environment and shape biogeochemical cycles in the ocean. "

The MIO and its staff warmly congratulate Mar!