Beatriz
Baselga-Cervera
Assistant Professor
Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior
Dr. Baselga-Cervera’s research merges microbial experimental evolution and bioprospecting as powerful approaches that simultaneously evaluate causal factors and integrate across ecology, evolution, and genetics disciplines. Research topics include: 1) bioprospection of microalgae and bacteria from extreme environments to address questions from adaptation to biotechnology, 2) study of the evolution of complexity in the context of phenotype, genotype, and environment (GxPxE) interactions across the transition towards multicellularity, and 3) integration of experimental evolution and bioprospection to address diversity and ecological questions of freshwater microbial communities (i.e., cyanobacteria and magnetotactic bacteria). Dr. Baselga-Cervera's research tests the nature of microbial interactions, the emergence of complexity, adaptation to extreme environments, how global change steers evolution, and the discovery of new functions, to mention a few. Dr. Baselga-Cervera's research is inherently multi-disciplinarity, often giving rise to biotechnological applications and research knowledge that can help stakeholders and policymakers.
Dr. Beatriz Baselga-Cervera has 10+ years of experience performing community-centered outreach and communication, mainly targeting Spanish-speaking communities. Focus on building positive mentoring-outreach programs and interventions through multi-disciplinary laboratory and field research.
Research statement
I focus on experimental evolution and broadly in the origin of life and complexity questions. I have been honored with the Alfonso Martin Escudero Fellowships to study the origin of multicellularity and, as a fellow of the Philosophy of Science Department at UMN. I am currently contributing to the understanding of the origin and maintenance of multicellularity that will translate into insights from an evolutionary perspective in the problems related to multicellular lifestyle (e.g. immune system or developmental processes).
Additionally, I have the privilege to attend the Biology Interest Group (BIG) discussions about a mutual interest in the history and philosophy of biology.
I am an advocate for bringing science closer to society through several outreach activities, projects, and volunteering initiatives (e. g., contributing in bridging science to non-English speakers (estornuda.me project) or teaching science to children). As a scientist, I am fully committed to contributing to my community through volunteering with the UMN's Postdoctoral Association and involve myself with initiatives about diversity, equity, and inclusion in academia.
Selected publications
Paloma Martínez-Alesón García, Camino García-Balboa, Victoria López-dodas, Eduardo Costas and Beatriz Baselga-Cervera* (2024). Settling selection of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii for samarium uptake. Journal of Phycology. DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13461
Beatriz Baselga-Cervera*, Kristin A. Jacobsen, R. Ford Denison & Michael Travisano (2023). Experimental evolution in the cyanobacterium Trichormus variabilis: increases in size and morphological diversity. Evolution. qpad037. DOI: 10.1093/evolut/qpad037
Beatriz Baselga-Cervera*, Noah Gettle and Michael Travisano (2022). Discordance between genotype and phenotype during a multicellular transition. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2722.19.
Camino García-Balboa, Paloma Martínez-Alesón García, Victoria López-Rodas, Eduardo Costas and Beatriz Baselga-Cervera (2022). Microbial Biominers: Sequential bioleaching and biouptake of metals from electronic scraps. MicrobiologyOpen. DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.1265.
Paloma Martínez-Alesón García, Camino García-Balboa, Julia Romero-López, Victoria López-Rodas, Eduardo Costas and Beatriz Baselga-Cervera* (2021). Fluctuation analysis to select for Samarium bio-uptaking microalgae clones the repurposing of a classical evolution experiment. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 215:1121134. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112134.
Beatriz Baselga-Cervera*, Camino Garcia-Balboa, Marta Fernandez Diaz, Victoria Lopez-Rodas and Eduardo Costas (2019). Evidence of microalgal isotopic fractionation through enrichment of depleted uranium. Sci Rep 9, 1973. DOI:10.1038/s41598-019-38740-2.
Beatriz Baselga-Cervera*, Julia Romero-Lopez, Camino Garcia-Balboa, Eduardo Costas and Victoria Lopez-Rodas (2018). Improvement of the Uranium Sequestration Ability of a Chlamydomonas sp. (ChlSP Strain) Isolated From Extreme Uranium Mine Tailings Through Selection for Potential Bioremediation Application. Front. Microbiol. 9:523. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00523.
C. Garcia-Balboa, B. Baselga-Cervera*, A. Garcia-Sanchez, J.M. Igual, V. Lopez-Rodas and E.Costas (2013). Rapid adaptation of microalgae to bodies of water with extreme pollution from uranium mining: An explanation of how mesophilic organisms can rapidly colonise extremely toxic environments. Aquatic Toxicology, 144– 145: 116– 123. DOI:10.1016/j.aquatox.2013.10.003.​