Julia María Chacón Labella

I am a plant ecologist and assistant professor in the Biodiversity and Conservation Area at Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. I hold a PhD in Natural Resources Conservation, an MSc in Ecosystem Restoration and a degree in Biology.

My research focuses on plant biodiversity, functional ecology and ecosystem functioning under global change. I combine ecological theory, quantitative approaches and data analysis to study the spatial and temporal dynamics of plant communities. I am particularly interested in the integration and analysis of complex ecological datasets.

Throughout my career, I have worked at several international research institutions, including ETH Zurich, the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and the University of Arizona.

I am deeply curious and strongly motivated by learning, connecting ideas and exploring new ways of understanding the world. Alongside research, I am passionate about teaching and about developing autonomous and peer-to-peer learning approaches that encourage critical thinking, creativity and student independence.