In memory of the distinguished biologist and science communicator, the Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC) and the research group MedRecover, with funding from National Geographic’s Pristine Seas program, have established the Kike Ballesteros Predoctoral Fellowship.
Dr. Enric ‘Kike’ Ballesteros (1958–2024) was a renowned biologist and ecologist, internationally recognized for his contributions to science—particularly in understanding marine ecosystems—as well as for his outreach work and strong advocacy for nature conservation.
He developed his scientific career at the Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), where, from 1986 until his final days, he led research projects focused on the knowledge and conservation of aquatic ecosystems, both marine and freshwater. From 1998 to 2002, he served as Director of the Centre and later headed the Benthic Ecosystem Functioning research group.
Dr. Ballesteros was a pioneer in the study of benthic communities in the Mediterranean. He was also widely known as a member of the Pristine Seas team of the National Geographic Society—a project aimed at protecting the most pristine marine areas on the planet. His research work in oceans and seas around the world, along with his role as a science communicator, including underwater photography, earned him numerous accolades, such as being named an honorary member of the Catalan Institution of Natural History in 2024, receiving the Bluewave Award in 2023, and the Environmental Prize from the Institute for Catalan Studies in 2016.
Now, in his memory and to help continue his work, the Kike Ballesteros Predoctoral Fellowship has been created. It is offered by CEAB-CSIC in collaboration with the MedRecover group and is funded by the Pristine Seas program.
The fellowship will support a doctoral thesis in Marine Ecology at CEAB-CSIC, aligned with the research lines promoted by Kike Ballesteros. The project should address the analysis of marine biodiversity patterns in the Mediterranean, exploring key ecological processes and the role of conservation in the face of various anthropogenic threats. It must focus on shallow-water habitats and include the study of biodiversity data series collected by Dr. Ballesteros and his collaborators—series that are unique for their taxonomic resolution and their broad temporal and spatial scales. The ultimate goal of the thesis must be to contribute to fundamental knowledge for the conservation of Mediterranean marine ecosystems.
The winner from among the applicants will be offered a predoctoral contract at CEAB-CSIC to conduct the thesis over a maximum period of four years. The research will be supervised by Drs. Emma Cebrian (CEAB-CSIC) and Joaquim Garrabou (ICM-CSIC), both members of the MedRecover Marine Conservation Group, and will be affiliated with the University of Girona (UdG).
The application period for this first call of the Kike Ballesteros Predoctoral Fellowship is open until July 31.
Importance for Scientific Research in the Mediterranean Region
This fellowship not only pays tribute to Dr. Ballesteros but also aims to inspire young researchers to continue his work and carry on his legacy.
It provides full financial and academic support to carry out high-level scientific research, as the selected candidate will be integrated into the CEAB-CSIC team and the MedRecover group, and through them, into the international marine conservation research network.
The initiative represents a unique opportunity to deepen our understanding of Mediterranean marine habitats, which are under threat from human pressures. Its results could help guide marine conservation strategies and management policies across the Mediterranean.
