SupervisoryTeam
Luis Gonzaga SANTESTEBAN GARCÍA
Supervisor Details
Email: gonzaga.santesteban@unavarra.es
Organization Type: University
Organization Name: Public University of Navarra (UPNA)
Short Biography: Dr. Santesteban is a Full Professor at the Public University of Navarra, specializing in Viticulture. His passion for viticultural research began at the outset of his career when he obtained a research grant to study water management in grapevines, earning the highest distinction. Dr. Santesteban has been dedicated to teaching since 2000, progressively advancing from University Assistant to Full Professor. He has extensive experience in mentoring PhD and master’s students. He currently leads the "Advanced Fruit and Viticulture" Research Group. He is the coordinator for “Agriculture and Forestry” in the National Agency of Research. His extensive scientific contributions include over 80 articles in indexed journals, more than 100 presentations at national and international conferences, and two utility models. He is also committed to science transfer, through many conferences and courses, twitter and “La Filoxera” podcast.
Bárbara SEBASTIÁN CAUMEL
Co-Supervisor Details
Email: barbara@viticulturaviva.es
Organization Type: Non-academic institution
Organization Name: Viticultura Viva
Short Biography: Barbara Sebastián, Engineer in Agronomy (1999), holds a Ph.D. from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, earned in 2015 while employed in the private sector. Her career has been firmly rooted in the grape-growing sector, having held prominent positions as head of viticulture in leading companies. She extends her expertise to academia, collaborating with various Master programs in Madrid, La Rioja, and Navarra. Barbara has guided numerous master's students and mentored interns during their practical training. Presently, she serves as the Technical Head at Viticultura Viva, a respected consultancy firm specializing in viticulture sustainability. In this role, she provides invaluable guidance to grape growers and wineries committed to environmentally responsible practices.
Added Value: Dr. Bárbara Sebastián will greatly enhance bidirectional exchange between the research institution and the private sector. Her roles in applied research opens opportunities for bridging knowledge transfer to market. Through mentorship and collaboration, she will also boost employability of the PhD fellow.
Cassandra COLLINS
Other Co-Supervisor
Email: cassandra.collins@adelaide.edu.au
Organization Type: University
Organization Name: University of Adelaide (Australia)
Short Biography: Cassandra Collins, an Associate Professor in Viticulture, holds a Ph.D. in Horticulture from the University of Adelaide, complemented by a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education. Her career transitioned from hands-on roles in the wine industry to academia, where she now specializes in grapevine reproduction, organic and biodynamic vineyard management. Dr. Collins is also actively engaged in mentoring and guiding Ph.D. candidates in various viticulture research projects, contributing significantly to the academic and wine industry communities. In fact, she has supervised or co-supervised 11 PhD candidates, and she is currently supervising or co-supervising 5 more.
Added Value: Enrolling Cassandra Collins as a co-supervisor adds immense value to the PhD fellow's research. Her expertise in viticulture and experience in guiding numerous students enriches the research line. Additionally, being in the Southern Hemisphere provides a unique opportunity to study seasonal variations in viticulture twice a year, capitalizing on the 6-month displacement between hemispheres. This invaluable perspective will enhance the depth and breadth of the research, as at least, one research stage is planned for the PhD fellow in Dr. Collins’ lab.
ResearchGroup
Description: The Advanced Fruit and Viticulture Group, led by Dr. Santesteban, includes of four PhD researchers, one honorary full professor, three field and laboratory project assistants and three research trainees. The group maintains a highly active network of research collaborations both nationally and internationally, fostering strong partnerships with private enterprises. This dynamic engagement is reflected in the significant number of research articles, where international or national collaborators frequently co-author, and in the group's track record of over 30 research contracts signed with companies over the past decade, dedicated to research implementation and knowledge transfer. Additional information on the activity of the group can be found in https://cutt.ly/bwEXW0CC
ResearchLine
Description: The research line proposed will focus on Sustainable Viticulture, with particular emphasis on how soil and crop management operations affect vineyard performance with an approach that not only optimizes grape production and wine quality but also contributes to the environment. Through a collaborative approach, the PhD fellow investigate soil management techniques (cover crops vs. tillage vs. herbicide) and their implications in soil health, microbial activity, and vineyard biodiversity. In addition, the PhD fellow will explore how sustainable crop management strategies may to optimize grapevine yield and fruit quality while minimizing environmental impacts. Thus, the research line will contribute to better understand the implications of changing vineyard management philosophy, to promoting sustainability, environmental health, and the wine industry's future.
Others
Description: Sustainable agriculture and soil health are within the topics where more feedback to policymakers is needed within the Green Deal strategy, as reported in the Deliverable 3.11 of the MSCA-NET policy-brief on the European Green Deal. Considering the relevance of viticulture at the European level, a PhD thesis dealing with sustainability within viticulture will contribute to this regard, and fully aligns with MSCA Green Charter objectives by promoting environmentally responsible practices. Sustainable viticulture reduces pesticide use, conserves water, and manages waste efficiently. It enhances biodiversity through eco- friendly vineyard management and minimizes the carbon footprint by adopting sustainable energy and low-emission transport. Additionally, this PhD research will foster innovation in viticultural areas, raising environmental awareness and engaging communities. In regard of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agreed by the UN member states to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all, this PhD will contribute towards the 2, 6 and 13 SDGs
CareerDevelopment
Objectives
- Future postdoc employment at the University
- Increased employability in the non-academic sector
- International mobility
- Building collaborative networks
- Trainings to enhance career opportunities
- Application of postdoctoral grants (MSCA, Juan de la Cierva, etc.)
- Application for projects and funding (Horizon Europe, national plans, etc.)
- Involvement in teaching, supervision, or mentoring
Other Objectives: Science transfer to the productive sector
Expected Outputs
- PhD defense
- Application of grants (MSCA, Juan de la Cierva, etc.)
- Publication of articles
- Developing new products, solutions, or services
- Attendance to international conferences
Other Outputs: co-supervision and mentoring of degree and master students. Min no. 2.
Training Skills
- Project Management
- Time Management
- Grant Writing
- Communication to the civil society and public engagement
- Open Science
- Gender and diversity dimension of research
- Ethics and Research Integrity
- Teaching
- Supervision
- Policy making, such as Green Deal and sustainable practices
- Intellectual Property
- Research Valorization
- Entrepreneurship
- Leadership
- Training for job interviews, CV writing
- Advanced Digital Skills
- Responsible use of Artificial Intelligence
- Spanish