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Early Career Researchers

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Qinge Ma

PhD Candidate

Ma graduated from Henan University of Technology, China, in 2020 with a BE in Food Quality and Safety. In 2021, he completed a Masters degree in Food Engineering at University College Dublin. He studied the bacteria levels in the anaerobic digestate and potential human exposure risks associated with land application of digestate. Ma joined UCD Algae Group in May 2022 to start his PhD studies. His research focuses on microalgal bioremediation, and its enhancement for PUFA-rich biomass production.

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qinge.ma@ucdconnect.ie
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Felix Joel Brooke

PhD Candidate

Felix graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2021, obtaining a first-class honors degree in biotechnology after completing his final year research project investigating synthetic biology approaches to recombinant protein production in microalgae. In AlgaeBrew, Felix is responsible for the development of wastewater pre-treatment to prepare for algal growth.

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felix.brooke@ucdconnect.ie
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Mohammadhosein Rahimi

PhD Candidate

Mohammadhosein is an engineer with a background in Industrial Biotechnology. In his Master's thesis, he focused on the cultivation of microalgae and enhancing the production of high-value carotenoid compounds. In Sep 2022, he joined the UCD Algae Group to commence his PhD in the AlgaeBrew project. During this project, his main focus is the development of a biorefinery process, which involves analyzing cell wall properties and various extraction methods to achieve the most sustainable process.

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mohammadhosein.rahimi@ucdconnect.ie
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Martina Coletta

PhD Candidate

Martina is a PhD student at the University of Camerino, she has gained expertise in the study of the effects of the use of fertilizers on soil biota and plants. Previously, she graduated from the University of Padova with a master's thesis focusing on the research of antibiotic resistance genes related to manure fertilization in soil. In WP4, she will assess the phytotoxicity of the novel algae-based fertilizers and will support the bioinformatics analysis of the rhizosphere microbiome.

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martina.coletta@unicam.it
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Natasha Waris

PhD Candidate

Natasha completed her Master’s degree in Biosciences from COMSATS University, Islamabad in 2020. During her MS research project, she explored transcript dynamics of salt stress-responsive genes in rice. In 2023, she joined the University of Camerino, Italy as a PhD candidate involved in the WP4 of the AlgaeBrew project. She will explore the suitability of microalgae biomass residues as fertilizer, and its effects on plant health and rhizosphere microbiome through metagenomics approaches.

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Dr. Ecem Muge Andoglu

Researcher

Dr. Andoglu is a chemical and process engineer working at Bilecik Seyh Edebali University as a lecturer who earned her MSc degree in Chemical Engineering at Istanbul Technical University in 2015. She got her PhD in Bilecik Seyh Edebali University-Eskisehir Technical University Joint Chemical Engineering PhD Program in 2022, including a 1-year visiting period at Politecnico di Milano. In 2023, she joined AlgaeBrew Project as a researcher, focusing on environmental and socio-economic assessment.

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muge.andoglu@bilecik.edu.tr
Profile photo of Jamila Yadini

Jamila Yadini

PhD Candidate

Jamila Yadini, a doctoral candidate at ENA Meknès and the University Mohamed 5 of Rabat, is exploring the potential synergy between green extraction methods and microalgae cultivation to enhance agri-food by-products in Morocco. The presence of polyphenols and bioactive compounds in specific by-products presents challenges for microalgae cultivation. In response, Jamila is developing a comprehensive approach that includes extracting bioactive compounds from agri-food by-products and valorizing them. The remaining effluents, free of polyphenols, will be repurposed for microalgae cultivation. Having earned her master's degree in food technologies with funding from the ENA Meknès and FMP Rabat team through the Algaebrew project, she is continuing her doctoral research with a scholarship received within the framework of this project.

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Walid Zenasni

PhD Candidate

Walid Zenasni, a PhD student at ENA Meknès and FMP Rabat, holds a master's degree in Food Sciences and Agri-Food Technologies. His thesis primarily focuses on evaluating the environmental impact of key agri-food sectors in Morocco, such as olive oil production, pumpkin, jam, and beer, through life cycle analysis and carbon footprint assessment. He proposes methods for valorizing by-products generated by these sectors, with a particular emphasis on optimizing and applying protein extraction and purification methods. As part of the Algaebrew project, Dr. Walid is concentrating on optimizing protein extraction methods from spent grains.

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Serap Döken

Master's Student

Serap graduated from Eskisehir Anadolu University, Turkiye, in 2013 with a degree in Environmental Engineering. Currently, she is a student at Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University, pursuing a Master's degree in Industrial Sustainability. In 2023, she became a member of WP5 in the AlgaeBrew, where she is involved with exploring environmental and socio-economic assessments of the project.

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Contact the AlgaeBrew

School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
T: +353 89 605 4447 | E: ronald.halim@ucd.ie |