Isabel Sanmartín

Isabel Sanmartín is a Senior Research Scientist at the Royal Botanical Garden (CSIC, Spain), with a career spanning academia and research leadership since 1994. Her work focuses on biogeography, evolutionary biology, and systematics, pioneering mathematical methods for biodiversity analysis. She has held key roles, including Director of Science and Collections (2023–present), Director of Communication and Education (2018–2022), and Assistant Professor at Uppsala University (2003–2006).

• PhD in Biology (1998) from University Complutense of Madrid.
• Postdoctoral Researcher and Marie Curie Fellow at Uppsala University (1999–2003).

Her research integrates genomics, biogeographic models, fossils, and paleoclimate data using Bayesian inference and deep learning to study climate change impacts on biodiversity. She has published over 100 articles in top journals like Systematic Biology and Nature Communications, with 11,700+ citations, and her work is featured in textbooks and popular science literature.

• Marie Sklodowska Curie Fellowship (2001).
• Ramón y Cajal Fellowship (2007).
• First European female Editor-in-Chief of Systematic Biology (2022).

She mentors emerging scientists, including ERC awardees, and advises public/private research programs. A member of the Spanish Association for Women in Science, she contributes to graduate education and interdisciplinary collaboration.