Clara Portilla Rodríguez

My Master’s thesis focuses on studying the impact of female condition and physiological state on eggshell thickness and pigmentation in the red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) as an indicator of the physiological state of females, embryonic viability, and environmental conditions. I believe that this opportunity will not only improve my academic career but also provide me with skills to deal with emerging or existing ecological impacts.

I was born in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Cádiz, and I studied Biology at the University of Extremadura. I chose this degree because it provides both the origin and explanation for all phenomena that happen as a result of life, which motivated me to seek solutions to the consequences and challenges it faces, guiding me through various paths. In Badajoz, I did an internship at an environmental consultancy, where I worked on wildlife and plant conservation plans, reforestation projects, and bird and bat censuses. Due to my interest in vector-borne diseases, my undergraduate thesis was about identifying target genes in mosquitoes exposed to insecticides. Later, my desire to learn about the biodiversity of other countries and contribute to its conservation led me to undertake an Erasmus+ internship in the Azores, working for an ecotourism company focused on cetacean watching and environmental education. As a result of these experiences, I have developed a strong passion for zoology and ecology, which is why I am currently studying a Master’s Degree in Basic and Applied Research in Game Resources at the Institute for Game and Wildlife Research (IREC).