Welcome!

About me

My passion for geology began when I threw a rock into a water puddle and watched the waves ripple outward. That moment sparked my curiosity about the dynamic interaction between water, rocks, and chemistry—an interest that has grown into a lifelong journey.

Today, my research focuses on the hydrology and geochemistry of surface and groundwaters in the Chilean Andes. I started as a Postdoctoral fellow of the National Agency of Research and Development (ANID), and now carry on as a postdoctoral researcher in other ANID funded projects, as well as other public-private initiatives. My work explores how water and minerals interact, particularly in semiarid mountain catchments (although forested catchments are also one of my interests!). I am also interested in particular hydrological environments such as Andean salars, studying their hydrogeological dynamics using geochemical and isotopic tracers. For this reason, I define myself as a hydrologist and geochemist. However, I don't forget my past! I know rocks from deep inside, as I conducted my PhD in granite petrology.

Outside of my academic work, I’m a choir tenor, and music is my artistic passion. The harmony I find in music complements my scientific pursuits, offering a creative balance to my work. Would you like to check some performances out? Follow this link!

Throughout my career, I’ve published several academic papers and continue to explore the deep connections between geology, chemistry, and hydrology. I invite you to explore my research and reach out via email or social media for any questions or collaborations.

My CV

EDUCATION:

2019 - Ph. D. in Geologic Sciencies, National University of Córdoba, Argentina
2015 - Bachelor's degree in Geology, National University of La Plata, Argentina
2014 - Bachelor's degree in Geochemistry, National University of La Plata, Argentina

RESEARCH EXPERIENCES:

2025: Anillo ATE220029 Project (ANID). Postdoctoral Researcher. University of Chile. Main Researcher: Dra. Linda Daniele. Chile

2022 - 2025: Senior Postdoctoral Reasercher. Reseach and Development National Agency and Univesity of Chile. Chile

2022: Postdoctoral fellow. National Center of Scientific Research & Technological Transfer (CRILAR - CONICET), La Rioja. Argentina

2021: Postdoctoral internship. Dipartamento di Scienza e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali (DAGRI). Università Degli Studi Firenze. Main Reasercher: Dr. Daniele Penna. Italia

Full CV PDF version

H-index: 10

My Publications

Miranda, V., Scervino, J. M., Macchioli Grande, M., Barros, J., Rodriguez, M. A., Fracchia, S. (2025). Exploring volcanic material as a carrier substrate for the formulation of low-cost fungal bioinoculants. Arid Land Research and Management, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/15324982.2025.2589514

Macchioli-Grande, M., Uran, G., Larrovere, M., Echegoyen, C., Poca, M. Streamflow spatio-temporal variability of water stable isotopes and hydrochemical properties in a semiarid mountain catchment in northwestern Argentina. Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 165, 105717 (2025)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsames.2025.105717

Kaffas, K., Murgia, I., Menapace, A., Macchioli Grande, M., Verdone, M., Dani, A., Manca di Villahermosa, F.S., Preti, F., Segura, C., C., Massari, C., Klaus, J., Borga, M., Penna., D. (2025). Controls on preferential flow and its role on streamflow generation in a Mediterranean forested catchment. Journal of Hydrology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133469

Macchioli Grande, M., Soto Maas, A., Pfeiffer, M., Covarrubias, J.I., Peña-Echeverría, A., Perez-Fodich, A. (2025). Solute generation and transport in semiarid mountain catchments of the Central Chilean Andes. Earth Systems and Environment. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41748-025-00642-x

Macchioli Grande, M., Kaffas, K., Verdone, M., Borga, M., Cocozza, C., Dani, A., Errico, A., Fabiani, G., Gourdol, L., Klaus, J., Manca di Villahermosa, F., Massari, C., Murgia, I., Pfister, L., Preti, F., Tailliez, C., Trucchi, P., Zuecco, G., Penna, D. (2024). Seasonal meteorological forcing controls runoff generation in a Mediterranean forested mountain catchment. Journal of Hydrology, 131642, doi: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.131642

Gonzalez-Cariqueo, J., Pfeiffer, M., Peña, M., Macchioli Grande, M., Pérez-Fodich, A. (2024). Strontium Isotopic Composition of the Mesozoic Sedimentary Formations of the Southern Central Andes (33°–34°S) and its Paleogeographic Implications. Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 142, 104984, doi: 10.1016/j.jsames.2024.104984

FULL LIST OF PUBLICATIONS HERE

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Field Campaigns, News & Seminars

Exciting news! Since March 1st, 2026, I am an Associate Professor at the University of O'Higgins (ICA3). I am ready to collaborate with fellow Earth Science researchers to tackle the environmental challenges of the future. Let’s get to work! To check out my official profile, please click HERE!

Congratulations, Francisco! I'm thrilled to share that my student, Francisco Perez-Muñiz has successfully presented his undergraduate thesis that I guided to an evaluation committee that included Dr. Alida Perez as co-advisor and Dr. Matías Taucare as a committee member. We agreed on grade his work with the highest score. His thesis was an integral part of my FONDECYT-postdoctoral grant. Welcome to the geological community!

GREAT NEWS! My research about solutes in mountain rivers catched El Ciudadano's atention and published a complete note about it. These note explain in simple words my latest reaserch. It's really satisfactory to see scientific knowledge share by a traditional comunication media for the community! If you want to read the complete interview, just click HERE.

More and more exciting fieldwork! During October and November, I visited two salars, one in my home land Argentina (Salar de Pocitos), and the other one in Northern Chile (Salar de Ascotán). Both field trips were part of an International collaboration project funded by the Chilean National Agency of International Cooperation for Development (AGCID).

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Our recent research concerning the impact of human activity on water resources was presented at the inaugural Chilean Hydrology Congress. This forum allowed for a productive exchange of thoughts and experiences with fellow researchers and industry representatives, as the study aims to elucidate the effects of human actions on the environment.

I joined MSc Alfonso Mohor from the Geology Department, in the framework of the Anillo Project ATE220029 (ANID), in a fieldtrip in the Island of Rapa Nui, to perform sample of groundwater, with the aim of understanding the circulation of groundwater within the volcanic rocks that form the island.