I joined the Galactic Morphology and Structure group at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), which I now coordinate, in January 1982 as a graduate student. Since then, my research in this field of semi-empirical studies on galactic structure, derived from infrared (IR) mapping, has involved a combination of advanced near-infrared (NIR) instrumentation development and the construction of models to interpret surveys of selected regions in the Galactic Plane and bulge.

Beginning with the single-channel photometer available at the Observatorio del Teide, our team developed the first 7-channel IR photometer. Using this instrument, we surveyed a significant portion of the Galactic Plane and bulge accessible from the Canarian observatories. This effort culminated in the Two Micron Galactic Survey (TMGS) catalog, which at the time represented the most sensitive NIR map of the inner Galaxy. One of the most notable results of the TMGS was the first detection of the stellar Galactic bar.

Over the years, this research line expanded to include participation in the DENIS project, a European counterpart to the all-sky survey 2MASS. We also developed the CAIN NIR camera, a common-user instrument for the Carlos Sánchez Telescope, which facilitated the creation of the TCS-CAIN catalog. Additionally, we conducted several spectroscopic follow-up studies of selected samples from both our own catalogs and other large-area NIR surveys. 

We were among the founding members of the Gaia Spanish Network and have been involved in GREAT (Gaia Research for European Astronomy Training) since its inception. GREAT is a pan-European research infrastructure that supports the full exploitation of the Gaia mission. Our current focus leverages Gaia's initial results, with particular emphasis on galactic kinematics and dynamics derived from measurements of radial velocities, parallaxes, and proper motions.

In 1988, I was appointed Principal Investigator (PI) for Spain’s participation in the ISO satellite mission, focusing on the design, construction, testing, and calibration of the cryogenically-cooled double-grating infrared spectrometer ISOPHOT S. This marked the first Spanish contribution to ESA astronomical missions. ISOPHOT S and the broader ISO mission were highly successful, significantly benefiting the Spanish astronomical community. Based on my recommendations, two IAC members were integrated into the team managing the PHOT instrument at ESA’s European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC).

In July 2000, I assumed the role of PI for the EMIR instrument, an ambitious macro-project designed to equip the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), a 10-meter-class telescope, with a NIR multi-object spectrograph and imager. EMIR achieved first light in 2016 and, following an extended commissioning phase, now serves as a workhorse instrument at the GTC. During the project's development, I supervised two PhD theses closely linked to EMIR’s design and scientific exploitation.

Since 2003, I have coordinated the IAC's participation in the Optical Infrared Coordination Network for Astronomy (OPTICON), contributing to several European projects funded under the FP6, FP7, and H2020 framework programs. Recently, we received a new EU grant for the Opticon-Radionet Pilot project, which unites the optical/infrared and radio astronomy communities to develop shared infrastructure and research agendas.

Since 2010, I coordinate the IAC's involvement in the MIRADAS instrument for the GTC (PI: Prof. S. Eikenberry, University of Florida). I also serve as co-PI of the MIRADAS science group. In 2024, I was appointed by the IAC director to lead the proposal for a new GTC instrument, a multi-band imager and spectrograph providing simultaneous coverage of optical and near-infrared spectra.

Summary Metrics:

• Publications: 234 papers indexed in ADS (126 refereed, 108 non-refereed); total citations: 3,987; H-index: 27.
• Doctoral Theses Supervised: 9.
• Research Accreditations: 6 sexenios (maximum allowed).
• Teaching Accreditations: 6 quinquenios (maximum allowed).
• Research Projects:
  • European (5);
  • National (22 as PI, 5 as researcher);
  • Regional (2 as PI).
• Memberships and Leadership Roles:
  • Member of the first Scientific Advisory Committee of GRANTECAN (1997–2000).
  • Scientific Advisory Committee of the Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (IEEC) (2003–2005).
  • Positions in GREAT-ITN (Supervisory Board, Executive Steering Committee, Training Committee).
  • Education and Research Commissions of the IAC.
  • Head of the Department of Astrophysics, Universidad de La Laguna.
  • Head of the Higher Education Division, IAC (2011–2013).
  • OPTICON Board of Directors and Executive Committee (2014–present).
• Notable Positions Held by Former Graduate Students:
  • Antonio Cabrera: GTC Head of Astronomy.
  • Carlos González: Senior Researcher, Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge.
  • Martín López-Corredoira: Senior Researcher (Investigador Titular), IAC.
  • Nieves Castro: GTC Support Astronomer.