avier is a research scientist at the Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), a research institute of the Spanish National Research Center (CSIC). He is also a professor of Earth Science and Oceanography at the University of Saint Louis (Madrid campus). Previously, Javier has worked for more than 20 years as a research geologist at the Spanish Geological Survey (IGME), where he conducted research in the field of environmental and aqueous geochemistry, leading numerous projects focused on the mobility of metals in the environment, especially streams and lakes affected by acid mine drainage, geomicrobiology of extreme environments, microbial controls on metal mobility and biomineralization. At present, he is working with microbiologists, chemists and other scientists in different projects related to the mineralogy and habitability of Mars and extreme environments on Earth as Mars analogs, where he usually conducts geochemical modelling, experimental studies of water/rock interaction and mineralogical characterization by high-resolution techniques. On this occasion he will contribute his experience as a geochemist and mineral scientist on this interesting exploratory cruise of the seabed.
Javier obtained his degree in Applied Geology at the University of the Basque Country in 1995 and then his PhD in Geochemistry at the same university in 2000.
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