Biology and infectious diseases of algae. Ecotoxicology; relations between heavy metals, especially copper, and macroalgae; characterization of the levels of tolerance to metals and the associated mechanisms.

Supervisor of more than 20 graduate (M. Sc, Ph. D) students
Training supervisor of seven academic postdoctoral researchers

A) APPOINTMENTS IN CHILE:
- MEMBER of the Technical Advisory Pannel at FONDAP, on behalf of the P. Universidad Católica de Chile (1997 to 2000).
- MEMBER of the Advisory Committee on Marine Sciences. CONICYT. 1995-1997.
- MEMBER of the Chilean Scientific Committee for ECOS (French-Chilean Scientific Exchange and Collaboration Program) CONICYT. 1994-2001.
- PRESIDENT of the Chilean Scientific Committee for ECOS. CONICYT. October 2001-March 2005.
- PANNEL COORDINATOR (Biology 1 Study Group), FONDECYT (1996 to 2002). At the P. Universidad Católica de Chile
- CHAIRMAN, Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, P. Universidad Católica de Chile (March 1997-July 2006).
- DEPUTY DIRECTOR. FONDAP Center for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biodiversity. 2001-
- LOCAL DIRECTOR OF THE L.I.A. International Associated Laboratory (PUCCh-Paris VI University-CNRS). 2004-
- DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AND GRADUATE STUDIES, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, P. Universidad Católica de Chile (August 2006-December 2008).
- DEAN, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, P. Universidad Católica de Chile (2010- 2012; 2013-2016). Outside the P. Universidad Católica de Chile (in Chile)
- MEMBER of the Advisory Committee for International Cooperation. CONICYT. 1994-
- MEMBER of the Consejo Superior de Ciencia. FONDECYT. 2005-2008
B) APPOINTMENTS ABROAD:
- MEMBER of the Executive Council, International Seaweed Association Committee, ISAC (1997-2001). ISAC is the world's largest scientific organization concerned with basic and applied research on seaweeds.
- PRESIDENT, International Seaweed Association Committee. 2001-2004.
SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES, FELLOWSHIPS, REVIEWER AND EDITORIAL BOARDS, AND OTHERS
A) SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES
* Sociedad de Biología de Chile
* Asociación Latinoamericana de Acuicultura
* Northeast Algal Society
* Sociedad de Ciencias del Mar
* Phycological Society of America
* British Phycological Society
* Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
B) REVIEWER AND EDITORIAL BOARD
Reviewer for:
- European Journal of Phycology
- Phycologia
- Journal of Phycology
- Marine Ecology Progress Series
- Revista Chilena de Historia Natural
- Gayana
- Nova Hedwigia
- Marine Environmental Research
- Journal of applied Phycology
- Marine Pollution Bulletin
Editorial Board:
- European Journal of Phycology (1992- )
- Revista Chilena de Historia Natural (1997-2003)