Javier del Campo recognized with the Hutner Award
The award was presented by the International Society of Protistologists during the meeting held from June 22 to 27 at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, Korea. This quadrennial meeting brings together leading researchers in the field of protistology to discuss the latest advances in the biology, evolution, ecology, and diversity of protists.
The Hutner Award, established in memory of pioneering protistologist Dr. Seymour H. Hutner, is one of the highest honors granted by ISOP. It recognizes exceptional contributions to the field by early-career researchers, specifically, Society members within 15 years of earning their PhD (or equivalent terminal degree). In addition to a cash prize, recipients are invited to give a special lecture at the annual ISOP meeting.
“It means a lot to be recognized by your peers, and receiving the Hutner Award at the ICOP meeting in Seoul, surrounded by so many colleagues, was a truly special moment. I’m especially grateful to my mentors for their guidance and to my students for their constant support. This award is as much theirs as it is mine”, comments del Campo.
Javier del Campo receiving the Hutner Award at the ICOP/ISOP 2025
About Javier del Campo
Javier del Campo is a microbial ecologist and currently serves as a Principal Investigator at the IBE, where he leads the Microbial Ecology and Evolution Lab.
He earned his BSc in Biology from the University of Barcelona in 2003, where he also completed his PhD in Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology. His doctoral research was conducted at the Institute of Marine Sciences of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). Following his PhD, he carried out postdoctoral research at the University of Barcelona, the University of British Columbia (Vancouver), and again at the Institute of Marine Sciences.
In February 2019, he joined the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science at the University of Miami as an Assistant Professor, where he is currently an Adjunct Associate Professor. In February 2021, he became part of the IBE.
In 2024, he was appointed Co-Chair of the Catalan Initiative for the Earth Biogenome Project.
His research has focused on the ecology and evolution of microbial symbionts and the effects of global warming on the microbiota of benthic and planktonic marine animals. His work examines how global warming-driven environmental changes alter the composition and function of symbiotic microbial communities in key marine organisms, including corals, mollusks, and fish, and how these shifts affect host health. His goal is to advance our understanding of microbial interactions in marine ecosystems and their role in shaping the resilience of marine organisms to climate change.