EDUCATION
2015-2019. PhD in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Institute for Game and Wildlife Research (IREC-UCLM-CSIC), Ciudad Real, Spain
2011-2012. MSc in Basic and Applied Research on Game Resources, Institute for Game and Wildlife Research (IREC-UCLM-CSIC), Ciudad Real, Spain
2011. BSc in Forest Engineering, University of LLeida, Lleida, Spain
ACADEMIC EMPLOYMENT
Institution: Institute for Game and Wildlife Research (IREC-CSIC)
Position: Postdoctoral Researcher Fellow (UCLM)
Period: Aug. 2025 – present
Institution: University of Córdoba (UCO)
Position: Postdoctoral Researcher Fellow (UCO)
Period: Feb. 2025 – Jul. 2025
Institution: The Leatherback Trust (TLT, Costa Rica)
Position: Postdoctoral Researcher
Period: Nov. 2024 – Feb. 2025
Institution: Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (CIBIO-InBIO/Universidade do Porto, Portugal)
Position: Postdoctoral Researcher
Period: Jan. 2024 – Nov. 2024
Institution: University of Córdoba (UCO)
Position: Postdoctoral Researcher (PAIDI Fellow, Andalusian Government)
Period: May. 2022 – Dec. 2023
Institution: Mixed Biodiversity Research Institute (IMIB)
Position: Postdoctoral Researcher (Margarita Salas Fellow)
Period: Jan. – May. 2022
Institution: Institute for Game and Wildlife Research (IREC-CSIC)
Position: Postdoctoral Researcher
Period: Mar. 2020 – Dec. 2021
Institution: University of Castilla-La Mancha (IREC)
Position: Pre-doctoral Researcher (FPI Fellow)
Period: Apr. 2015 – Dec. 2019
Competitive Research Projects
As a PI
2025-2026. Development of behaviour-based tools to reduce damage caused by rabbits to agriculture
2024-2025. Development and application of behavior-based tools to reduce the predation of sea turtle nests with Pilar Santidrian-Tomillo (The Leatherback Trust)
2024~ Uncovering the use of bird scent for prey detection by carnivorous predators
2022-2024. Testing new deterrent and damage-prevention techniques to reduce wolf attacks on livestock in extensive farming systems (CAP 3.5)
As a Co-PI
2025~ Conditioned food aversion and wild boar management applications
with Yifu Wang (The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzen) and Cécile Sarabian (University of Toulouse)
2022-2024. Application of innovative tools to reduce the damage caused by wolf on the livestock of Castilla-La Mancha with Pablo Ferreras and Rafael Mateo (Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC, UCLM-CSIC-JCCM))
As a Co-I
2025-2028. Once bitten, twice shy: teaching foxes not to eat turtle eggs with Liggia Pizzato (La Trobe University, Australia)
2025-2028. Led by the nose – Chemical Camouflage as a non-lethal method to prevent predation in ground-nesting birds with Nandine Shubert (German Association for Landscape Conservation, DVL)
2024-2027. Determining the role that carrion plays in rural abandonment scenarios (passive rewilding) in biodiversity conservation from a One Health perspective with José Jiménez (Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC) and Antoni Margalida (Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología, IPE)
2024-2026. The role of wild ungulates and predictable food sources in the use of space and feeding of carrion birds: a multidisciplinary approach with Antoni Margalida (Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología, IPE)
2024-2026. Design of a scientific infrastructure to monitor the biodiversity of Sierra Morena forests at different spatial scales with José Luis Quero and Diego Nieto (University of Córdoba)
2023-2025. Using Conditioned Food Aversion (CFA) to mitigate human-brown bear conflict in Yushu Prefecture, Qinghai Province with Lingyun Xiao (Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University), Yifu Wang (University of Hong Kong) and Cécile Sarabian (University of Toulouse)
2023-2026. Protecting endangered prey by deceiving predators: from predator behavior to predator–prey population dynamics with Vesa Selonen (University of Turku), Toni Laaksonen (University of Turku) and Andreas Lindén (Natural Resources Institute Finland, Luke)
2020-2021. To remove or to deceive – how to reduce alien predation in wetlands? with Toni Laaksonen and Vesa Selonen (University of Turku)
2020-2023. Ecological and social implications of hunting for scavengers birds with Antoni Margalida (Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología, IPE) and Joaquim Nadal (University of Lleida)
2019-2022. Effect of changes in the extensive livestock practices in scavengers birds in the Pyrenees with Antoni Margalida (Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC)
2015-2019. Developing strategies against the poisoning of wildlife by controlling predation by conditioned chemical aversion with Rafael Mateo and Pablo Ferreras (Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC)
2011-2014. Factors for the coexistence of mesocarnivores in National Parks of Mediterranean climate with Pablo Ferreras and Francisco Díaz-Ruiz (Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC)
Technology/Knowledge transfer contracts
As a PI
2025-2026. Evaluation of the effectiveness of aversive and repellent substances to reduce damage caused to agriculture by the wild rabbit
2023-2024. Experimental study on chemical camouflage to reduce the predation rate of protected species
2023-2024. Development of chemical camouflage as a tool to reduce predation of the Cantabrian capercaillie
2022. Design of innovative non-lethal tools to reduce predation of the Pyrenean capercaillie
As a Co-PI
2025-2026. Assessment trials on the effects of recreational activities and the use of technological devices on the avifauna of natural areas with Antoni Margalida (Intituto Pirenaico de Ecología, IPE)
2023-2025. Application of innovative techniques tending to reduce damages caused by the wolf in extensive livestock of La Rioja with Pablo Ferreras and Rafael Mateo (Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC)
2024. Bases for the compatibility of aeronautical operations and biodiversity conservation: Evaluation of the effects of motorless flight in protected areas with Antoni Margalida (Intituto Pirenaico de Ecología, IPE)
2021-2022. Preliminary work for the application of innovative techniques aimed at reducing the damage caused by wolves in extensive livestock farming in La Rioja with Pablo Ferreras and Rafael Mateo (Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC)
2020-2021. Guidance for restrictions on aeronautical operations in protected areas with Antoni Margalida (Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC)
Stays in public R&D centers
Entity: The Leatherback Trust. City of entity: Tamarindo (Costa Rica). Start-End date: November 2024 – February 2025 (3 months). Funding entity: Spanish Ministry of Universities. Name of program: Postdoctoral mobility Grants José Castillejo 2023. Responsible researcher: Frank Paladino (Perdue University) and Pilar Santidrián-Tomillo (Instituto Español de Oceanografía).
Entity: Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (CIBIO-InBIO/Universidade do Porto). City of entity: Vairão (Portugal). Start-End date: January – November 2024 (10 months). Funding entity: Spanish Ministry of Universities. Responsible researcher: Nuno Santos
Entity: Landcare Research. City of entity: Alexandra (New Zealand). Start-End date: September – December 2018 . Funding entity: Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness. Name of program: Doctoral mobility grants for the realization of short stays in Research centers 2017. Responsible researcher: Grant Norbury.
Entity: Research Unit of Biodiversity (UMIB). City of entity: Mieres (Spain). Start-End date: September – December 2017. Funding entity: Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness. Name of program: Predoctoral mobility grants for the realization of short stays in Research centers 2016. Responsible researcher: José Vicente López-Bao.
Entity: Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo. City of entity: Pachuca de Soto (Mexico). Start-End date: June 2014 – December 2014. Funding entity: Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT). Name of program: CONACYT postgraduate grants program. Responsible researcher: Gerardo Sanchez-Rojas
Entity: Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo (UAEH). City of entity: Tulancingo de Bravo (Mexico). Start-End date: January 2011 – June 2011. Funding entity: Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo. Name of program: UAEH international mobility program. Responsible researcher: José Justo Mateo-Sánchez
Entity: Hedmark University College. City of entity: Evenstad (Norway). Start-End date: January 2010 – July 2010. Funding entity: Agencia de Gestión de Ayudas Universitarias y de Investigación (AGAUR). Name of program: International mobility program. Responsible researcher: Barbara Zimmerman.
Scientific reviewer
Reviewer for: Journal of Ornithology (2), European Journal of Wildlife Research (7), Chronica Naturae (1), Population Ecology (1), Behavioural Processes (2), International Journal of Psychological Research (1), Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (1), Ecologia Austral (1), Galemys-Spanish Journal of Mammalogy (3), Wildlife Research (2), Mammal Research (1), Biological Conservation (3), Mammalian Biology (2), Animal Conservation (2), Conservation Science and Practice (1), STOTEN (3), Journal of Wildlife Management (1), Frontiers in Conservation Science (4), Applied Animal Behaviour Science (2), Royal Society Open Science (1), Journal of Applied Ecology (1), PlosOne (2), Food Webs (1), Journal for Nature Conservation (1), Basic and Applied Ecology (1), Conservation (2), Scientific Reports (4), Biology Letters (1), Birds (1), People and Nature (1), Bird Conservation International (2), Animals (4), Discover Animals (1), Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution (1), Ecosistemas (1), PEERJ (2), Animal Cognition (1), Urban Ecosystems (1), Integrative Zoology (1), Landscape Ecology (1), Journal of African Ecology (1), Animal (1), Human Settlements and Sustainability (1).
Journal Editorial board member
2024-present. Associate Editor of Human-Wildlife Interactions (IF: 0.9).
2024-present. Associate Editor in the Human-Wildlife Interactions section of Frontiers in Conservation Science (IF: 1.9). Link
2023-present. Editor-in-Chief of Wild Animals, Malque Publishing. Link
2023-present. Member of the Editorial Board of Discover Animals, Springer Nature. Link
2023-present. Associate Editor at Online Journal of Ecology & Environment Sciences (OJEES). Link
2021-2023. Associate Editor at Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
2021-2024. Review Editor (Editorial Board of Animal Conservation) at Frontiers in Conservation Science.
Scientific advice
Reviewer and Project Evaluator
- 2023-present. Project reviewer for the Review College of the British Ecological Society (BES).
- External reviewer for the European Biodiversity Partnership (May 2025) for the evaluation and review of competitive projects for funding under the European Biodiversa+ 2024 call.
- External reviewer for the National Science Center (Poland, March 2025) for the evaluation and review of competitive projects for funding.
- External technical reviewer for the IUCN World Congress 2025 (Abu Dhabi, March 2025) for the evaluation and review of proposals for acceptance at the congress.
- External reviewer for the Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) (Canada, November 2024) for the evaluation and review of competitive funding projects.
- External reviewer for the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Research (KFAS) (Kuwait, February & October 2020, May 2022) for the evaluation and review of competitive funding projects.
Committee Advisory Memberships
- 2025-present. Member of the Pyrenean Capercaillie Research Network (RUP).
- 2025 – present. Coordinator for the IUCN review of the conservation status of the stone marten and pine marten.
- 2025 – present. Coordinator for the creation of the Atlas and Red Book of Terrestrial Mammals (stone marten and pine marten species).
- 2023-present. Member of the Spanish Species Specialist Group (CSSG) of the IUCN.
- 2023-present. Member of the Working Group for the Conservation of the Pyrenean Capercaillie.
- 2020-2021. Advisor for the Working Group of the Spanish Aviation Safety Agency (AESA), the Ministry for the Ecological Transition, and Regional Governments to establish new aviation regulations in protected areas. Member of the State Commission for Natural Heritage and Biodiversity. Regulation document.
- 2019. Advice and collaboration in the Group of Experts for the development of intervention protocols with bears in the Pyrenees. Ministry for the Ecological Transition.
MENTORING & SUPERVISION
PhD students
2022-2025. University of Castilla-La Mancha. Lucía del Río Pérez. Development of conditioned aversion to reduce livestock damages caused by large carnivores. Supervisors: Jorge Tobajas, Pablo Ferreras y Rafael Mateo.
2024-2027. University of Zaragoza. Mara López Zuloaga. The role of hunting and predictable food sources in the foraging ecology of scavenging birds: a multidisciplinary approach under a One Health perspective. Supervisors: Antoni Margalida y Jorge Tobajas.
Master students
2025-2026. University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM). María Galán. Factors affecting the consumption of small carrion in Mediterranean environments. Supervisors: Jorge Tobajas
2025-2026. University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM). Alba Bernal. Unveiling the individual role of foxes in seed dispersal by combining traditional and genetic techniques. Supervisors: Jorge Tobajas and Pablo Ferreras.
2025-2026. Technical University of Munich. Felix Löflath. Movement ecology of adults Cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus) from reintroduced population. Supervisors: Ralph Kühn and Jorge Tobajas.
2025-2026. University of Granada (UGR). Victor Llanos. Factors affecting the nest predation of capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) in the Pyrenees. Supervisors: Jorge Tobajas and Fabián Casas.
2025-2026. University of Cordoba (UCO). Irene Arribas. Application of ecological niche models, satellite remote sensing, and spatiotemporal analysis to identify key areas for European vultures in the Pyrenees (Spain). Supervisors: Jorge Tobajas and Salvador Arenas-Castro.
2023-2024. University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM). Abraham Guerrero. Unveiling the use of bird scent for prey detection by carnivorous predators. Supervisors: Jorge Tobajas and Pablo Ferreras.
2022-2023. University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM). Alba Bernal. Influence of lunar phase and seasonality on the activity of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Supervisors: Jorge Tobajas and Pablo Ferreras.
Undergraduate students
2024-2025. University of Cordoba (UCO). Alba Bernal. Assessment of the interaction between predators and avifauna in the La Mancha Húmeda Biosphere Reserve. Supervisors: Jorge Tobajas and Antonio J. Carpio.
2023-2024. University of Cordoba (UCO). Ana Albandoz. Factors affecting the nest predation of capercaillie (Tetrao Urogallus) in the Iberian Peninsula. Supervisors: Jorge Tobajas.
2023-2024. University of Cordoba (UCO). María Barbudo. Effects of magpie population control on red-legged partridge nest predation. Supervisors: Jorge Tobajas.
2022-2023. University of Cordoba (UCO). Abraham Gerrero. Differences in the effectiveness of three types of ear tags in the individual identification of foxes. Supervisors: Jorge Tobajas.
2022-2023. University of Cordoba (UCO). Marina Carmona. Ecology of the garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus) in agricultural environments. Supervisors: Jorge Tobajas.
Thesis and Dissertation Committees
Chair of the Thesis Committee (PhD). «Study of Anthropogenic Effects on the Migration and Population Dynamics of the Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix) in Europe During the 20th-21st Centuries» by PhD candidate David Sáez Ros at the University of Lleida (UdL). Supervisors: Jesús Nadal García (UdL).
Year: 2024.
External Advisor for the PhD Thesis «Rethinking Aversion Conditioning to Reduce Conflicts of Interest Between Pastoralism and Wolf Conservation» by PhD candidate Matthieu Chastel at the University of Antwerp. Supervisors: Prof. Herwig Leirs (EVECO, University of Antwerp) and Prof. Joachim Mergeay (RIOC). Year: 2023-2025.
External Reviewer of the PhD Thesis «Situation of the Egyptian Mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) in Castilla-La Mancha, Effects on Its Prey and Social Perception» by PhD candidate Esther Descalzo Sánchez at the University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM). Supervisors: Pablo Ferreras de Andrés (IREC-CSIC) and Miguel Delibes-Mateos (IESA-CSIC).
Year: 2023.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Leactures at University
2025-2026 Teaching Ecology and Wildlife Management at the Master’s Degree in Basic and Applied Research in Wildlife (MUIBAF) at the University of Castilla-La Mancha (>10h).
2022-2025 Teaching Ecology at the Biology Degree at the University of Cordoba (>170 h).
2015-2025 Teaching Ecology and Wildlife Management at the Master’s Degree in Basic and Applied Research in Game Resources (MUIBARC) at the University of Castilla-La Mancha (>60h).