Developing R&D strategies for sourcing and processing algal biomass aimed at human consumption and alternative proteins. Collaborating with stakeholders in the algal protein supply chain and fostering partnerships with academia and industry.

As part of the French project RAFBIOALG, my doctoral thesis focuses on the growth of microalgae under HTL aqueous phase. HTL is a biomass conversion method used to produce biofuels that also produces a toxic effluent. With the aim of obtaining a biofuel, different strains were studied to identify an ideal candidate for lipid-based biofuels. This strain was tested for its tolerance to grow in the toxic effluent, and further strain optimization was performed through adaptive laboratory evolution.… Show more As part of the French project RAFBIOALG, my doctoral thesis focuses on the growth of microalgae under HTL aqueous phase. HTL is a biomass conversion method used to produce biofuels that also produces a toxic effluent. With the aim of obtaining a biofuel, different strains were studied to identify an ideal candidate for lipid-based biofuels. This strain was tested for its tolerance to grow in the toxic effluent, and further strain optimization was performed through adaptive laboratory evolution. This resulted in an adapted strain that was able to reuse a higher amount of the effluent while maintaining a lipid-rich composition for biofuels. Show less

Laboratory of Microbiology - Molecular Ecology+ Study the viability of sponge-associated microbial communities by molecular techniques+ Special interest in the detection and cell growth of poribacteria+ Molecular ecology, microbial cultures and laboratory practices+ Next generation sequencing, microbial diversity studies (16S rRNA gene sequencing)+ Handling and performing statistical (R software) and bioinformatics analyses of large datasets

In this project we aim to demonstrate and develop a process in which urine is treated and, at the same time, cyanophycin is produced with phototrophic cyanobacteria.+ Cyanobacterial growth under different nitrogen components found in urine + Accumulation of nitrogen-storage polymers+ Experience handling and monitoring photobioreactors+ Sampling for analytical measurements of the cell cultures

+ Project leader+ Supervisor of interns+ Scale-up systems+ Algae cultivation & isolation+ Nutrient analysis

+ pH-induced flocculation as an alternative method for cell harvesting+Microalgae cultures, monitoring and harvesting+ Remarkably, the results of this project were published as a scientific article in the International Journal of Environmental Research in 2016.

+ Analytical measurements HPLC + Plant Biochemistry+ Secondary metabolites + Hairy roots cultivation

Changes in the biochemical composition of hydroponic pepper crops after chemical elicitation. The objective of this study was to increase the nutraceutical value of the peppers, after stress stimuli. From this research internship, I became interested in secondary metabolites and the great potential of active compounds from biological organisms.