Born in Vigo in 1956.

Doctor of Biology from the University of Santiago de Compostela in 1986, he began his teaching career at the University College of A Coruña in 1985. In 1986 he taught at the USC Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Lugo. Full professor of Microbiology at the University of Santiago de Compostela (1988-1991) and at the University of A Coruña, at the Faculty of Sciences (1991-2010). In 2011 he obtained the position of university professor at the UDC. His research focuses on the study of microalgae, mass production and use in aquaculture, the physiological response to the presence of contaminants, such as heavy metals and pesticides in the environment etc. He is the author of more than 85 research articles, 61 of them published in international reference journals, 1 patent, 5 books, 11 book chapters and directed 8 doctoral theses, with an h index of 30. Participated in 30 competitive research projects, 18 as Principal Investigator.

In 2016 he won the elections to the rectorship of the University of A Coruña (UDC), being rector of this university until 2024.

In addition to being rector of the University of A Coruña, he held various university management functions in departments of the University of Santiago de Compostela and the University of A Coruña. He was director of the Agency for the Quality of the University System of Galicia (ACSUG) (2005–2009) and vice-rector of Degrees, Quality and New Technologies of the UDC (2012-2016). He was President of the Sectoral Commission of the Conference of Rectors of the Spanish Universities CRUE-Gerencias (2017-2024), President of the CIXUG and President of FEUGA.

He also carried out university quality assessment functions at the University of Extremadura, the University of Granada, ANECA and UNIBASQ of the Basque Country.

He was elected a deputy in the Parliament of Galicia in the XII Legislature, a position he held until his appointment as a subdelegate.