Contact details

Prof. Dr. Miren P. Cajaraville
Consolidated Research Group “Cell Biology in Environmental Toxicology CBET”
Department of Zoology and Animal Cell Biology
Faculty of Science and Technology
University of the Basque Country (EHU)
Sarriena Auzoa z/g, E-48940 Leioa, Basque Country (Spain)

Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology
Plentzia Marine Station PiE-EHU,
Areatza z/g, E-48620 Plentzia, Basque Country (Spain)

Web of Science Researcher ID: I-4757-2015
ORCID code: 0000-0001-6527-6137
Research gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Miren-Cajaraville
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miren-p-cajaraville-ba2770a8/
Bluesky: @Mirencajaraville.bsky.social, @Plastimpact.bsky.social 
Research Group: https://www.ehu.eus/web/cellbiologyinenvironmentaltoxicology
PhD programme CTA/ECT: https://www.ehu.eus/en/web/doktoregoa/doctorate-environmental-contamination-toxicology
Plentzia Marine Station PiE-EHU: https://www.ehu.es/PIE

Short biography

Miren P. Cajaraville is Professor of Cell Biology since 2002 and has more than 30 years experience in Environmental Toxicology. Her research focuses on development and application of cellular and molecular biomarkers of pollution and Adverse Outcome Pathways in aquatic sentinel and model organisms to understand mechanisms of action of pollutants (particularly oil hydrocarbons, endocrine disruptors, nanomaterials and micro and nanoplastics) and also on the use of alternative in vitro and in vivo approaches for environmental and human risk assessment. Particularly interested in omics and histopathological responses. Member of the steering Committee (2007-2009) and Executive board (since 2009) of the European Society for Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry ESCPB and president of ESCPB in the period 2011-2012. Director of Postgraduate Studies and Life Long Learning (2010-2011) and Director of the first Masters and Doctoral School (2012) of the University of the Basque Country. Founding member of the Marine Station of Plentzia PiE (2012). Director of the Unit of Formation and Research UFI “Protection of Ecosystem Health” in the period 2012-2016. Director of the Department of Zoology and Animal Cell Biology in the period 2013-2017. Director of the consolidated research group “Cell Biology in Environmental Toxicology” 2001-2021 and currently head of the research line Toxicology of nanomaterials, micro and nanoplastics and other emerging pollutants. Expert for the EC JRC CAS project on nanoplastics. Currently PI of projects FIERA, MIKRONANORISK, the AquEus LTC Laboratory for Transborder Cooperation and the ENLIGHT thematic network PLASTIMPACT. Coordinator of the PhD programme in Environmental Contamination and Toxicology ECT since 2012 and lecturer at Erasmus Mundus masters ECT+; MER+ and IMBRSea. Has supervised 17 Licenciature Thesis, 4 End of Degree Projects, 22 Master Thesis and 17 PhD Thesis of which 13 were European or International Thesis. Basque Government and Ikerbasque Advanced Award (2021). According to WoS (April 2025) has 205 publications, cited 8.226 times; 5.109 citing articles, h-index: 52. World´s top 2% scientist according to Ranking of the World Scientists, University of Stanford (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025).

List of selected ongoing projects

• “Fate and Impact of Environmentally ReAlistic nanoplastics and of novel bioplastics in the aquatic environment (FIERA)”.
  MCIU, Proyectos de Investigación orientada de la convocatoria 2021, en el marco del Programa Estatal para Impulsar la Investigación Científico-Técnica y su Transferencia, del Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica, Técnica y de Innovación 2021-2023. Referencia: PID2021-128600OB-I00.
  Principal researcher
  Duration: 01-01-2022/31-12-2026

• “Towards a joint Aquitania-Euskadi research and higher education alliance to tackle potential risks posed by environmental and bio-based microplastics and nanoplastics in the Gulf of Biscay (LTC AquEus)”.
  Laboratorio Transfronterizo de Cooperación LTC, Euskampus Fundazioa y LTC Sarea del Gobierno Vasco. Referencia: AquEus.
  Principal researcher
  Duration: 01-01-2024/31-12-2027

• “Risk assessment of environmental micro and nanoplastics for human consumption (MIKRONANORISK)”.
  Proyectos de Investigación Focalizada en Agricultura, pesca y alimentación, ELIKA, Gobierno Vasco. Referencia: PA24/04.
  Principal researcher
  Duration: 01-01-2025/31-12-2027

• “Fate and Impact of Plastics - from Macro to Nano - on Planetary Health (PLASTIMPACT)”.
  ENLIGHT Thematic Network ETN, European University Alliance, European Commission´s Education and Audiovisual Executive Agency. Referencia: INT-ERASMUS+23/07
  Principal researcher
  Duration: 01-11-2024/31-10-2027