Dr María Jesús Sánchez has been a scientific researcher at CSIC since 1996, and is highly experienced in water relations and the ecophysiological behaviour of Mediterranean plants. She acquired a PhD in Biological Sciences in 1988 and is currently head of the irrigation department of CSIC. She has participated in more than 35 national and international research projects, has published around 102 articles in SCI journals and has directed 11 doctoral theses. Since 2005, she has been an associate editor of the Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology.