I am currently interested in using experimental approaches to elucidate how sponges interact with microbes, focusing specially on immune activity. My aim is to characterize celullar responses and link these with expression patterns of immune genes in sponges.

If you are interested in more information about the International Max Planck Research School for Evolutionary Biology (IMPRS-EB) please click: www.evolbio.mpg.de/imprs

Furthermore I would like to share this IMPRS retreat video 2020 with you via this link:

https://www.facebook.com/100037833091315/videos/334965454441222/

2019     MSc. Biological Sciences in Freshwater and Marine Biology, The University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

2015     BSc. Biology Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Cali, Colombia

Publications

Marulanda-Gómez A., López-Victoria M., Zea S. Long-term coral colonization by an excavating Caribbean sponge. Bulletin of Marine and Coastal Research (accepted)

Lizcano-Sandoval L., Marulanda-Gómez A., López-Victoria M., Rodríguez-Ramírez A. (2019). Climate change and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation as drivers of recent declines in coral growth rates in the Southwestern Caribbean. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6, 38. 

Marulanda-Gómez A., López-Victoria M., Zea S. (2017). Current status of coral takeover by an encrusting excavating sponge in a Caribbean reef. Marine Ecology 38, Online e12379, 1-8.

Presentations

2018         3^rd AcroporaNet Symposium, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands: Are Benthic Cyanobacterial Mats (BCMs) harmful to Caribbean corals and coral larvae? (Talk)

2017         10^th Sponge World Conference, Galway, Ireland: Continued storm-mediated coral colonization by an excavating Caribbean sponge (Poster)

2016     13^th International Coral Reef Symposium, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA: Coral takeover by the encrusting excavating Caribbean sponge Cliona tenuis has reached a standstill in Colombian coral reefs (Poster)

2015     XVI Latin-American Marine Sciences Congress (COLACMAR) and Science and Ocean Technologies National Seminar (SENALMAR), Santa Marta, Colombia: Voracious Young, Fading Old: 13 years history of the sponge-coral interaction in Islas del Rosario, Colombian Caribbean (Talk)

2014     IV Colombian Zoology Congress, Cartagena, Colombia: Interaction dynamics between stony corals and excavating sponges on a coral reef of Islas del Rosario, Colombian Caribbean (Video presentation)

Work & research experience

2017     Research Assistant. Project: Evaluation of the potential of four coral species to restore reefs in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Cali, Colombia.

2016     Field Assistant. Project: 19^th monitoring of coral reefs of Gorgona National Natural Park (SIMAC). Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.

2016     Field Assistant. Project: RAPID – Coral robustness: lessons from an “improbable” reef. Penn State University in collaboration with Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Cali, Colombia.

2016     Teaching Assistant in: Seminar on Conservation of Coral Reefs. Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Cali, Colombia.

2016     Research Assistant. Project: Evaluation of the effect of the Canal del Dique on coral reefs of Cartagena bay and the archipelagos of Rosario and San Bernardo. Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Cali, Colombia.

2016     Research Assistant. Project: Relative effects of competition and wind-driven wave exposure on sponge communities along the Belize Barrier Reef. Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali in partnership with The University of Queensland.

2015     Research Assistant. Program: Scientific Services Coordination (CSC), Benthos Division.Marine and Coastal Research Institute (INVEMAR), Santa Marta, Colombia.

Grants & awards

2017     Student Travel Grant, Amsterdam University Fund, The University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

2017     Amsterdam Merit Scholarship, The University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

2016     Fellowship: “Taxonomy and Ecology of Caribbean Sponges 2016”, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Bocas del Toro, Panamá.

2016     Young Researchers Program, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali, Colombia.

2010     Magis Scholarship, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali, Colombia.