Dr. Marcela Benítez studied a Bachelor's degree in Biology, a Master's degree in Biology, and a Ph.D. in Biological and Health Sciences at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM) and has been part of the Laboratory of Rotiferology and Molecular Biology of Plankton since 2002, which has allowed her to participate in the development of 10 projects: three for research, three for science dissemination and training, two for integrated diagnosis of shallow water bodies, one for the Optimization of Agricultural Production and Technology Transfer for Commercialization, and one for poverty reduction through the establishment of Stevia rebaudiana plant plots. These projects were financed by different institutions, including UAM, UNESCO, CONACyT, ECOS-Sud (France), the Government of the State of Veracruz, and the Private Initiative.

She made two research stays at the Mediterranean Institute of Oceanology (M.I.O. ) Marseille, France, in the framework of the collaboration agreement ECOS-Sud and CONACyT, Mexico-France with the project: Impact of anthropogenic disturbances on microbial communities in a shallow tropical ecosystem: "Laguna de Sontecomapan (Veracruz, Mexico) /Impact des perturbations anthropiques sur les communautés microbiennes dans un écosystème tropical peu profond: Lagune de Sontecomapan (État de Veracruz, Mexique)".

She has been a professor for a determined term at UAM Xochimilco Campus since 2012; she is currently a Visiting Professor and collaborates with the Research Area Development and Management of Aquatic Natural Resources and with the Academic Body Ecological Strategy for the Sustainable Development of Aquatic Ecosystems. She participates in the project "Rotíferos de México" approved by the Consejo Divisional de C.B.S. of the UAM Xochimilco Campus.

She conducts research in zooplankton ecology, particularly on the factors that regulate their distribution, feeding preferences, in situ filtration rate, and their importance in carbon transfer. In the last five years, she has co-authored 14 papers presented in specialized events, five refereed publications in high impact journals, and two chapters in the book Ecology of the Sontecomapan Lagoon, Veracruz. Co-edited by the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana and the IRD of France. She has also collaborated as a reviewer of 8 manuscripts for the journals: Revista de Biología Tropical/International Journal of Tropical Biology and Conservation of the University of Costa Rica; Oceanologia of Elsevier publishing house, and Frontiers of Earth Science of Springer publishing house.

She has participated as an advisor to a student of the Master in Agricultural Sciences and six social service projects, two of them were awarded by the National Association of Universities and Institutions of Higher Education (ANUIES), in their calls for the Award for the Best Experience in Social Service Dr. Ramon Villareal (2nd and 3rd place).

In 2020, to meet the teaching needs during the COVID-19 contingency, she participated with members of the laboratory in creating and programming LSM educational platforms and training teachers and researchers from UAM Xochimilco Campus and CICESE.