María de Toro Hernando

Bioinformatician | ONT | Genomic epidemiology | One Health | Food Safety | Microbiome | Head of the Genomics & Bioinformatics Core Facility (CIBIR) | Spanish Society of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology

Logroño, Autonomía de La Rioja, Spain

About

I am a chemist with a PhD in biochemistry and a specialization in bioinformatics and clinical genetics. My professional journey began at the University of Cantabria, where I joined the European project PLASWIRES, immersing myself in bioinformatics and specializing in genomic and metagenomic analysis of bacterial communities. Since 2016, I have been leading the Genomics and Bioinformatics Platform at CIBIR, where I combine my expertise in bioinformatics, machine learning, and clinical genomics with managing a core facility. I currently serve as a board member (vocal) of the Clinical Bioinformatics Working Group within the Spanish Society of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (SEBiBC). Throughout my career, I have participated in more than 20 national and international projects, focusing on the role of mobile genetic elements in antibiotic resistance, pathogen monitoring using NGS, and the application of sequencing techniques to viticulture and food safety. I am currently involved in projects such as Eco2Wine (developing sustainable winemaking practices), CRINGENES (improving neonatal screening for rare diseases), and RELECOV 2.0 (a network for monitoring respiratory pathogens using whole-genome sequencing). During the COVID-19 pandemic, I led SARS-CoV-2 sequencing efforts in La Rioja, transforming our platform into a regional reference node for pathogen sequencing. Beyond research, I have taught as a professor in the Bioinformatics Master’s program at VIU and supervised master’s theses. I am also passionate about science communication, taking part in initiatives like Pint of Science and organizing workshops to share my enthusiasm for genomics and bioinformatics with broader audiences. I am always eager to collaborate on projects that drive innovation and sustainability through genomics and bioinformatics. Let’s connect!

Experience

  • Vocalía Bioinformática Clínica SEBiBC at Sociedad Española de Bioinformática y Biología Computacional (SEBiBC)
    Jan 2026 - Present · 7 mos

  • Plataforma de Genómica y Bioinformática at Center for Biomedical Research of La Rioja (CIBIR)
    Jan 2016 - Present · 10 yrs 7 mos

  • Profesional de la enseñanza at VIU - Universidad Internacional de Valencia
    Oct 2021 - Jun 2024 · 2 yrs 9 mos

    Máster en bioinformática

  • Investigación postdoctoral at Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria (IBBTEC)
    Jun 2013 - Dec 2015 · 2 yrs 7 mos

  • Research (Antimicrobial resistance in clinical Salmonella enterica isolates) at Universidad de La Rioja
    Sep 2008 - Apr 2013 · 4 yrs 8 mos

    Microbiología Molecular; Resistencia a antimicrobianos en Salmonella enterica (virulencia, resistencia, análisis clonal)