María F. Montero received her BSc in Biology (specialty in Marine Biology, 1987) and PhD in Marine Sciences (1994). She is currently Associated Lecturer of the Faculty of Marine Sciences - University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC). She has assumed different responsibilities as a research member of the Biological Oceanography Group (1988 to present) and the Marine Biotechnology Centre (July 2007 – December 2010). María has collaborated in 20 European, national and regional research projects, as well as has been Principal Investigator of a ULPGC-funded project. She is also contributing author of 23 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals and 30 communications to international congresses. She has participated in several oceanographic cruises around the Canary Islands, in the Gulf of California and in the Antarctic Ocean.