Dr. Celia Blanco
Theoretical Physicist & Astrobiologist
Ramón y Cajal Fellow · Centro de Astrobiología (CAB, CSIC-INTA)
I study the origins and evolution of life in the universe — from prebiotic chemistry and molecular evolution to the long-term trajectory of technological civilizations.
About
Welcome to my corner of the web! I'm a theoretical physicist fascinated by the big questions in astrobiology. If it has to do with the origins or evolution of life in the universe, I'm all in.
After more than a decade of research in the U.S., I've come full circle — back at the Centro de Astrobiología (CAB, CSIC-INTA), where it all started. I'm joining CAB as a Ramón y Cajal Fellow, after years of working with inspiring colleagues at UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, and the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science.
My research sits at the intersection of biophysics and biomolecular evolution. I use theoretical and computational approaches to study the mechanisms that drive the emergence and evolution of complex biological systems. If any of this sparks an idea or you'd like to chat about potential collaborations, don't hesitate to reach out!
Research areas
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Origins of Life & Prebiotic Chemistry
How chemistry transitions from rule-taking to rule-making as complexity grows.
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Molecular Evolution & the Genetic Code
Fitness landscapes, sequence-function maps, and the early shape of the genetic code.
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Chirality & Mirror Symmetry Breaking
Theoretical models for the onset and amplification of molecular handedness.
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Computational & Mathematical Biology
Open-source tools, ML on biological sequences, models of biological dynamics.
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Astrobiology & Space Exploration
Civilization trajectories, technosphere dynamics, and the search for life.