Joleah Lamb received at La Moncloa as part of the ATRAE program

The event, organized by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities together with the State Research Agency, brought together researchers awarded under the latest call of the ATRAE national program to share their insights and the main research lines of their high-social-impact projects.

Dr. Joleah Lamb is an internationally renowned scientist specializing in the interaction between human health and marine ecosystem conservation. Previously at the University of California, Irvine, where she serves as a professor and leads the Healthy Oceans and People Laboratory, she has a solid track record spanning dozens of scientific publications and collaborations with institutions worldwide. Her research has demonstrated the capacity of seagrass meadows to reduce pathogen pollution in coastal communities, as well as the impact of marine plastic as a vector for disease transmission.

Dr. Lamb will lead the four-year GREENMARINE project, focused on removing antibiotic-resistant pathogens using nature-based solutions in built marine environments. This research addresses the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance by analyzing the use of seagrass meadows as natural filters capable of curbing the spread of resistant bacteria. The initiative is particularly relevant in Spain, where over 80% of the population resides in coastal areas, and reinforces ICTA-UAB’s standing as an international benchmark center in environmental science.

This appointment is part of the ATRAE program, an initiative promoted by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities through the State Research Agency, which allocates 38.9 million euros to attract 37 international scientific leaders. Designed to enhance the competitiveness of Spain’s R&D&I system, the program facilitates the arrival of top-tier researchers from abroad and includes a commitment from host institutions to offer long-term position stabilization upon completion of the grants.