Microorganisms offer model systems with a great versatility to generate proteins with new functionalities. As an outcome of our previous studies on the DNA replication initiator protein RepA (from plasmid pPS10), we are developing, through bottom-up Synthetic Biology approaches, novel modules derived from Winged-Helix domains (WH) that allow to control the assembly of proteins as amyloids under quasi-physiological conditions.

The posttranslational modification of proteins is a key mechanism for the regulation of their activity by biological mediators, including lipids and reactive species, drugs and toxins.

The Environmental Economics line of research focuses on problems related with methodological advance on integrated national environmental accounting and non-market services economic valuation on the issues of forest management, agroforestry and silvopastoral systems, renewable energies, climate change, biodiversity, water resources and other ecosystems and natural resources subject to increasing scarcity, and which provide essential public and private goods to sustain the economic wellbeing reached in industrialised societies and the improvement of the quality of life in current societies whos

Research across (and into) processes of change in rural areas from a geographical perspective, with special attention to the interactions between the social, cultural and environmental dimensions of rural change. Besides present interest the theory and history of rural geography and policy-related research. Traditionally rural areas are spaces of change, recently characterized by their intensity and persistence in all dimensions. The contemporary processes of rural change cover all dimensions of rural life.

Research on Social Policies and Welfare State from a comparative perspective. Analyses concerning reforms in this area of policies, as well as their impact on the social citizenship of post-industrial democratic societies. The comparative analysis of European Welfare regimes and their reforms pays special attention to the articulation of responsibilities (regulation, financing and provision) between State, market and civil society in the articulation of the productive and reproductive spheres.

The group is focused on archaeometric research and integral conservation of historic materials. One of the scientific lines of Archaeometry is the application of chemical-physical characterization techniques to study Cultural Heritage materials.

The research group focuses on cultural landscapes as the basis for understanding social formations in Ancient Hispania. Landscape is understood as synthesis of social relations and their environment. Our Landscape Archaeology approach enables an integral analysis of all types of information, including archaeological and written data.The group is also involved in the development of innovative research methodologies and techniques that guarantee both the comprehensive treatment of the record and an adequate research strategy.

Plant biomass is a renewable source of chemical compounds and materials. In nature, fungi play a key role in its transformation and degradation through the action of complex enzymatic machineries. The Group of Biotechnology for Lignocellulosic Biomass at CIB aims to understand the enzymatic mechanisms involved in this process, and especially those responsible for lignin transformation in the plant cell wall.

We investigate the synthesis, structure, biological activity and technological properties of peptides, heterocycles and aromatic compounds; using experimental and computational approaches. We study the toxicity and pharmacological potential (antimalarials, antivirals, protease inhibitors, neuroprotectors, etc.). We investigate the technological properties of ionic and eutectic liquids, especially for applications such as ionic liquid electrolytes and nanostructured materials applications.