Rate My Professor Rafael Robaina Romero

Robaina Romero's research focuses on plant physiology, algology, and molecular biology of plants, particularly the physiology and biotechnology of marine macroalgae. His work explores molecular and physiological mechanisms of reproductive processes such as carposporogenesis in red algae like Grateloupia imbricata, the roles of jasmonates, ethylene, and polyamines in floridoside and carrageenan synthesis, transcriptomic analysis, and biotechnological approaches for seaweed cultivation and marine restoration. He has directed nine doctoral theses between 1994 and 2017 and led prominent projects, including the EU COST Action PHYCOMORPH "Advancing knowledge on seaweed growth and development" (2015-2019) and I3-4-Seaweed (2024-2027). Selected publications include "Jasmonates and Ethylene Shape Floridoside Synthesis during Carposporogenesis in the Red Seaweed Grateloupia imbricata" (Marine Drugs, 2024), "Jasmonates disrupt carrageenan synthesis during carposporogenesis in the red seaweed Grateloupia imbricata" (Frontiers in Marine Science, 2023), "S-Assimilation Influences in Carrageenan Biosynthesis Genes during Ethylene-Induced Carposporogenesis in Red Seaweed Grateloupia imbricata" (Marine Drugs, 2022), and "Furthering knowledge of seaweed growth and development to facilitate sustainable aquaculture" (New Phytologist, 2017). He co-invented two patents on in vitro propagation of marine phanerogams, including Posidonia oceanica (2011, 2012), and reviews for journals like Journal of Phycology and Marine Drugs. His Google Scholar h-index is 20.