Antonio
Aguilar Garrido

I earned my PhD in Earth Sciences (2024) from the University of Granada (Spain), specialising in soil science, with a focus on soil and water pollution/remediation. My doctoral studies, supported by the competitive FPU research contract from the Spanish Government, were conducted in the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry under the supervision of Professor F.J. Martín Peinado. My research focused on developing constructed Technosols - engineered soils made from urban, agricultural and mining wastes - to remediate water and soils polluted by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) (e.g., As, Cu, Pb, Zn). I employed an integrated approach, combining soil properties analyses, soil enzymatic activity measurements and toxicological bioassays to evaluate PTEs-induced toxicity, advancing nature-based solutions for soil remediation and improving environmental and public health. Recently, I have joined the Technical University of Cartagena (Spain) as a postdoctoral researcher on the EU project SOILPROM. This project aims to deliver upgraded and integrated models for the transport and fate of pollutants (metals, pesticides, microplastics, PFAS, nutrients) to assess the impact of soil pollution on soil functions and ecosystem services, as well as to support local stakeholders in developing sustainable land management strategies and policies for healthy soils. International collaboration is a cornerstone of my career. I highlight my 3-month research stay at LEAF Research Centre of the School of Agriculture of the University of Lisbon (Portugal), funded by the FPU mobility grant. Under the guidance of Professor M.M. Abreu, this experience enhanced my expertise in soil remediation and food production in marginal lands. I continue my collaboration with LEAF researchers, building on the connections established during this stay. To date, I have published 12 SCI papers in prestigious journals within my field such as Toxics and Plants, and multidisciplinary journals like Scientific Reports. I have also authored 6 book chapters and presented my work at prominent national and international conferences such as the meetings of the European Geosciences Union (EGU), Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) and Spanish Soil Science Society (SECS). My scientific production has garnered, for the moment, over 50/70 citations (Scopus/Google Scholar), directly contributing to remediation strategies for contaminated soils in industrial and mining settings. In addition, as regular reviewer for high-impact JCR journals, such as Science of the Total Environment (Q1), Plant and Soil (Q1), Environmental Geochemistry and Health (Q2), Environmental Monitoring and Assessment (Q3), and International Journal of Environmental Research (Q3), I help to ensure the quality and rigor of published research, furthering advancements in environmental science. I have also contributed to organising scientific events, including leading sessions at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly (SSS7.4 in 2022 and SSS7.7 in 2023) and assisting in the preparation of the XXXII Spanish National Meeting of Soils (RENS2019). I have actively contributed to the training and mentoring of students and young researchers. I have participated in the teaching of subjects in the Biology and Environmental Sciences degree programs of the University of Granada (e.g., Soil Science, The Physical Environment, Methods for the Study of the Natural Environment, and Soil Evaluation, Management, Conservation and Recovery Techniques; 18 ECTS in total-180 hours). Additionally, I have mentored some final-degree and master’s projects (3 BSc, 6 MSc), guiding students through the complexities of soil science and environmental research (experimental design, data analysis, and scientific writing).