Phd Student in Geosciences
Paris Saclay University and UVSQ
E-mail :
Research Topics
My PhD research focuses on estimating methane sources and sinks using an atmospheric inversion system by assimilating satellite and surface-based observations.
This work brings together the core areas I’m most passionate about:
(1) atmospheric dynamics and biogeochemical processes, with a particular focus on greenhouse gases,
(2) remote sensing, through the use and assimilation of satellite-based observations, and
(3) data analysis and integration, combining diverse datasets—including remote and ground-based data—to better understand greenhouse gas behavior.
These three pillars define my academic path and shape the approach I take to studying the atmosphere and climate-related processes.
Academic formation
Now-2023
2019-2021
Phd Student in Geosciences (Climate and Environmental Sciences Laboratory Université Paris Saclay and Université Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines). Subject: Estimation of methane sources and sinks by assimilation of satellite data in an atmospheric inversion system. Supervisors: Marielle Saunois and Antoine Berchet.
Master Sciences in Atmosphere – Climate – Continental Surfaces.
Université Grenoble Alpes. Grenoble, France.
Mars-July 2021
Master 2 internship (Center National d’Études Spatiales-CNES). Toulouse, France) . Subject: “Data acquisition and analysis for the validation of greenhouse gas satellite missions”
May-July 2020
Master 1 Internship. Institute of Environmental Geosciences (IGE). Grenoble, France. Subject: “Analyses (of the temporal variability of PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations in a rural site in France”
2015-2017
Master in Natural Resources, mention Climate Change. Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. Faculty of Agronomy and Forestry. Santiago, Chile.
2008-2014
Renewable Natural Resources Engineer. University of Chile – Faculty of Agronomy. Santiago, Chile
Professional experience
August – November 2019
Technical Analyst. Ministry of the Environment, Chile.
Editing the document “Chile’s Sixth National Report on Biodiversity for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)”.
October 2017 – April 2018
Technical Assistant, Ministry of the Environment, Chile.
Monitoring the implementation of the National Climate Change Action Plan for Biodiversity. Editing the document “National Biodiversity Strategy 2017–2030” in the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
September 2016 – September 2017
April – October 2015
October – December 2014
February 2014 – February 2015
Technical Assistant, National Forest Corporation (CONAF), Chile.
Coordinator of the GEF (Global Environment Facility) Project on Sustainable Land Management. Central-level coordination of the project’s five regional teams.
Research Assistant, University of Chile – Center for Climate and Resilience Research (CR2), Chile.Facilitator of workshops for the project: “Advancing Climate Change Adaptation: Current Practices in Chile, Their Usefulness, Implementation Barriers, and Opportunities for Improvement.”
Technical Assistant, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile. Assessment of the implementation of capacity-building actions under the National Climate Change Action Plan (PANCC) 2008–2012.
Project Engineer, Agroenergía, Santiago, Chile
Responsible for the planning and execution of Project 633-83-LP13:
“Carbon Capture through Management, Conservation, and Afforestation Techniques in Northern Chile.”
Scientific publications
Román-Figueroa, C., Montenegro, N., & Paneque, M. (2017). Bioenergy potential from crop residue biomass in Araucania Region of Chile. Renewable Energy, 102, 170-177.
Meneses, F., Montenegro, N., Schapheer, C., & Perez-Quezada, J. F. (2023). Historical changes in agricultural systems and the current greenhouse gas emissions in Southern Chile. Agronomy, 13(1), 240.
Participation in conferences/workshops/seminars
- 2025. IWGGS-21 International Workshop on Greenhouse Gas Measurements from Space , Japan. Topic: Quantifying the impact of observing systems on atmospheric methane flux estimates via OSSEs. Nicole Montenegro, Marielle Saunois, Antoine Berchet, Adrien Martinez, Philippe Bousquet.
- 2025. IWGGS-21 International Workshop on Greenhouse Gas Measurements from Space, Japan. Topic: Methane Budget of East, SouthEast and South Asia (2010-2021): An intercomparison for Asia (MICA). Authors: Wang Fenjuan, Shamil Maksyutov, Rajesh Janardanan, Dmitry A. Belikov, Prabir K. Patra, Ruosi Liang, Yuzhong Zhang, Ge Ren, Hong Lin, Nicole Montenegro, et al.
- 2025. IWGGS-21 International Workshop on Greenhouse Gas Measurements from Space , Japan. Topic: Evaluating the consistency of the emissions estimated from atmospheric inversión using three methane TROPOMI products at the regional and global scales. Auteurs : Adrien Martinez, Aurélien Sicsik-Paré, Nicole Montenegro, Alvin Opler, Eldho Elias, Marielle Saunois, Audrey Fortems-Cheiney, Isabelle Pison, Grégoire Broquet, Elise Potier and Antoine Berchet.
- 2025. IWGGS-21 International Workshop on Greenhouse Gas Measurements from Space, Japan. Topic: The Community Inversion Framework a Flexible and scalable data assimilation Framework for satellite Greenhouse gas Observations. Auteurs : Adrien Martinez, Alvin Opler, Audrey Fortems-Cheiney, Aurélien Sicsik-Paré, Élise Potier, Nicole Montenegro, et al.
- 2024. EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria. Topic: Estimating methane sources and sinks by assimilating satellite data in a global atmospheric inverse system.
Montenegro, N., Saunois, M., Berchet, A., Martinez, A., Bousquet, P., and Pison, I.
- 2024. Copernicus Seminar for Latin America and the Caribbean, University of Chile in Santiago, Chile. Topic: Estimation of methane sources and sinks by assimilation of satellite data in an atmospheric inversion system. Montenegro, N., Saunois, M., Berchet, A., Martinez, A., Bousquet, P., and Pison, I.
- 2022. Meneses F., Montenegro, N., and J. Perez-Quezada. Topic: Changes in agricultural practices in southern Chile and their effect on greenhouse gas emissions. 2nd International Symposium on Climate-Resilient Agri-Environmental Systems (ISCRAES Dublin, Ireland).
Teaching
- 2023. Assistant of the practical module of the course Functioning of the Earth system: phenomena and concepts. Master 1. Understanding climate change: from the past to the future. University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. Professor Philippe Bousquet. France.
- 2011-2013 Teaching assistant in several courses within the Renewable Natural Resources Engineering program at the University of Chile, including Land Management, Natural Resource Protection, General Statistics, and General Physics.
Scholarships awarded for academic excellence
- 2023-2026 Chilean state (ANID) academic excellence scholarship for a Phd’s degree abroad
- 2023-2025 Co-funding of the research by the National Centre for Space Studies (CNES)
- 2019-2021 Chilean state (ANID) academic excellence scholarship for pursuing a Master’s degree abroad
- 2008-2012 University of Chile Scholarship for Students with academic excellence
Funding
- 2023-2025 Co-funding of the research by the National Centre for Space Studies (CNES)