Dr. Xabier is a dedicated Plant Physiologist currently working as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Pallavi Singh Lab at the University of Essex. He contributes to the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship (FLF) project. His core research focuses on enhancing water use efficiency in rice without compromising yield, achieving this through the integration of molecular and physiological approaches. As part of this innovative research, he is exploring sustainable solutions for crop improvement, including strategies like monocot grafting. As a plant physiologist, Xabier’s broader research has centered on understanding how crops respond to the combined impact of abiotic stresses associated with future climate scenarios. These stresses include elevated CO2, high temperatures and extreme drought. He has conducted experiments both in controlled environments and in the field, with a particular interest in cereals and pseudocereals. His work explores the contrasting responses of C3 and C4 species to these stresses, with the ultimate aim of identifying resilient alternative crops for future agricultural systems. Xabier earned his PhD in Environmental Agrobiology from the University of the Basque Country in 2024. His doctoral focus was the comparative performance of alternative crops, buckwheat and sorghum, versus the conventional crops wheat and maize under future climatic conditions.