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Current Projects
Adsorption based biotechnology to integrate methane emission mitigation and valorisation
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a critical component of global climate change prevention strategies. However, costs associated with technology operation can outweigh societal benefit, and prevent thier uptake by industry.
This fellowship aims to develop a new technology that will use methane to produce high valuable compounds.
Principal Investigator, 2022-2027
Funded by a Royal Society Science Foundation Ireland University Research Fellowship 2022, Grant number URF/R1/221528
UNIVERSWATER: Universal interoperate sustainable agri-water management system
Water quality and quantity are under arising pressure from agricultural activities that may cause overexploitation of natural waters and pollutants runoffs (e.g., nutrients, pesticides). These stresses are also compounded by climate change effects. To address the complex challenges of agri-water management, the UNIVERSWATER consortium will adopt a ‘system of systems’ approach by developing and improving technologies designed to optimise water resources uses in a fully integrated way. A dedicated interdisciplinary and intersectoral consortium of 15 partners from six European countries will: a) develop innovative portable and in- situ sensors for a number of parameters and pollutants (salinity, nutrients, CEC, microbiological indicators) and b) couple them with earth observation imaging and advanced explainable and robust artificial intelligence techniques, as well as c) develop cost-effective, sustainable methods based on nature-based and technology-based solutions for water remediation at the point of need and d) promote the adoption of the developed methods through pricing incentive provision. These technologies will be integrated into decision support systems (DSSs) that will be tested at three case studies tackling on-farm treatment of dairy soiled water, mitigation of soil salination through water reuse, and optimisation of fertiliser/pesticide application for freshwater preservation. Going beyond, UNIVERSWATER will upscale these local DSSs into a common platform where a suite of DSS tools can be adapted to different situations after being tailored to the local factors, thereby developing a modular, extensible and holistic universal DSS.
Project partner, 2024-2028
AMITY: Accelerating MIcrobial Technologies for a sustainable circular economY through a biennial challenge-based program in environmental (bio)technology
The AMITY network launches a challenge-based education program in environmental (bio)technologies, coordinated and led by early-career researchers. Through the program, interdisciplinary student teams will address real-world sustainability challenges such as wastewater valorization, greenhouse gas emissions and resource recovery, in close collaboration with academic mentors and external stakeholders.
The program integrates applied research with science communication and entrepreneurship training, preparing students for careers at the intersection of microbiology, engineering, and environmental innovation. Each edition culminates in the AMITY Summit, a public-facing event where students present results to academic, industry, and policy audiences.
The network brings together 11 research groups from 10 European universities, including five ENLIGHT partners, with complementary expertise in microbial ecology, modelling, biotechnology, and process design. AMITY is grounded in inclusive, cross-generational collaboration, with early-career researchers coordinating activities and senior scholars contributing with guidance and institutional support.
AMITY also launches AMITY+, a long-term mentorship and alumni platform connecting students, researchers, and stakeholders. The initiative will be sustained through Erasmus+ mobility, in-kind institutional support, and stakeholder engagement, creating a durable, ENLIGHT-wide framework for student-led innovation in environmental microbial technologies.
Completed Projects
PESTMAN: Pesticide Remediation for better water quality
The overarchaing aim of PESTMAN is to use a multidisciplinary approach merging soil processes, molecular biology, engineering, and quantitaive risk assessment methodologies to: (1) understand the drivers and pressures for the use of pesticides in the environment, (2) examine their fate and persistence, (3) evaluate any potential impact and risks to the environment and human health, (4) develop a low-cowst, passive, in-situ method to remediate pesticides in the environment, and (5) disseminate knowledge and engage stakeholders and the general public with the project.
Co-coordinator, 2020-2023
Funded by the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Grant number 2019-HW-LS-3
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