News – Page 2 – EUAlgae

EuAlgae meeting in Ljubljana

24th February 2017 Radoslava Metodieva

Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical technology of Ljubljana in Slovenia will from 1^st to 3^rd March host the biggest EuAlgae meeting held up to now! The meeting will focus especially on collaborations between academia and industry working in the field of utilization of microalgae biomass for sustainable fuels and fine chemical products.

In addition to presentations and lively discussions, a talk will be held on the first day of the meeting by prof. Christiane Funk from Sweden, who is coordinating a project MicroBiorefine. This study investigates the basic properties of algae and cyanobacteria isolated from northern environments and their optimal growth on municipal and industrial waste water and combustion gases. Additionally, work integrates purification processes, cultivation of photosynthetic microorganisms and the production of sustainable energy production or valuable products.

On the second day, a trip is organised in the suburbs of Ljubljana to AlgaeBioGas demo centre, where a short explanation and demonstration of the facility (algal treatment of biogas production plant digestate) will be held.

Together with MC members of 23 EU members, 10 industries will be joining this three-day meeting.

Welcome to Ljubljana!

First training School “Microalgae based processes: upstream and downstream”

28th November 2016 Radoslava Metodieva

The first training School “Microalgae based processes: upstream and downstream” was held in Lisbon (Portugal) from 9^th to 11^th of November 2016. It was organized by the Bioenergy Unit of LNEG – National Laboratory of Energy and Geology.

The course was attended by 19 PhD students from 15 countries (Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey), and the specialized lectures were given by 9 senior researchers from 8 different institutions, on the following topics: biotechnology of microalgae, including all the production steps, from cultivation (for high-value products and energy), harvesting and dewatering the biomass, high value compounds from microalgae, microalgae use in food and feed, as well as in bioenergy production; the concept of biorefinery, life cycle assessment and the economics of the process were also addressed.

Moreover, students had the opportunity to participate in a technical visit to the Algae for Fuel – A4F Experimental Unit (Lisbon, Portugal).

4th CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR SHORT TERM SCIENTIFIC MISSIONS (STSM) IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE COST ACTION ES1408 EUALGAE.

14th November 2016 Radoslava Metodieva

A STSM grant is a fixed contribution based on the budget requested by the applicant and the evaluation of the application by the selection committee (a maximum of EUR 2.500; EUR 3.500 for ECI). This grant will not necessarily cover all expenses; it is intended only as a contribution to the travel and subsistence costs of the participant.

STSM applicants should be graduate students (must be engaged in an official research programme as a PhD student) or postdoctoral fellows (including Early Career Investigators), and must either be employed by or affiliated to an institution or legal entity which has within its remit a clear association with performing research.

Deadline for applications: 4^th December 2016.
STSMs must be completed by 20th April 2017.
The report has to be sent to the STSM coordinator within 30 days after the completion of the STSM and in any case by 20th April 2017.
Check here the call text with the requirements.

For further information on STSMs contact the EUAlgae STSM Coordinator Dr Dominik Refardt.

Apply for Training School 2016: “Microalgae based processes: upstream and downstream”

30th September 2016 Radoslava Metodieva

Event-Date: Thursday, November 9^th, 2016 to Friday, November 11^th, 2016

The first training school of the EUALGAE Action will be held in Lisbon (Portugal) from 9^th to 11^th November 2016, coordinated by the Laboratory of Energy and Geology (LNEG), Lisbon (Portugal) as part of the EUALGAE ES1408 COST Action. COST is supported by the EU Framework Programme Horizon 2020.

This short, intensive and specialized course is focusing on biotechnology of microalgae, including all the production steps, from cultivation (for high-value products and energy), harvesting and dewatering the biomass, high value compounds from microalgae, microalgae use in food and feed, as well as in bioenergy production. The concept of biorefinery, life cycle assessment and the economics of the process will be also addressed.

The course is mainly oriented towards PhD students or equivalent experience students in microbiology, biology or biological/ biochemical engineering, chemistry and biochemistry. The course is also intended to give those working in the industry an opportunity to upgrade their knowledge in microalgae biotechnology.

EUALGAE offers 15 grants of 550 € for international students from the participating in the COST Action countries and 5 grants of 300 € for Portuguese students (for students from Lisbon – 75 €). There is no registration fee for the course, the students have the opportunity to apply for these grants to partially cover their travel expenses, accommodation and meals.

Application:

Applicants should send an email to info@eualgae.eu and attach in one single document:

A cover letter with a statement of interest of up to one page, including a description of your research topic
Short Cv including contact data and a list of publications, if any

Keydates:

Registration closed.

Selection and announcement of participants: 13th of October 2016.

Programme:

Find here the schedule as well as the application procedure.

Researcher in training at IMDEA Energy to work on Microbial Biotechnology – Anaerobic Digestion

15th September 2016 Radoslava Metodieva

Required Qualification:

Being in possession of an official B.Sc. degree in Biology, Chemistry, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering or equivalent.
Having no more than 5 years in possession of this official degree.
Being in possession or being currently studying an official Master Degree in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry or equivalent is highly recommended.
Experience in environmental bioprocesses is required.
Hand-on expertise working with anaerobic digesters will be highly appreciated.
Expertise in analytical methods (mainly chromatography) will be valued.
Fluent oral and written communication skills in English.

Location: Mostoles, Madrid, Spain.

Remuneration: Depending upon qualification and expertise of the candidate.

Duration: One year appointment with annual renewals depending on performance.

Reference: 16.21.BT4 PRE

Applicants should send their Curriculum Vitae, covering letter and student records with the average marks obtained not later than the 30 Sept at 15:00h to the following address:

email: contacto.energia@imdea.org

Subject: 16.21.BT4 PRE

For further information: Open position at IMDEA Energy, Spain

Join the For Women in Science Manifesto

29th August 2016 Radoslava Metodieva

Since “For Women in Science movement” was launch, 18 years ago, more than 2,500 women scientists have been granted a fellowship in more than 110 countries.

Despite this, representation of women in science continues to remain disproportionately low. Only 28% of researchers are women and only 3% of winners of the Nobel Prize in the sciences are women.

For these reasons, on the occasion of the 18^th edition of L’Oréal Foundation Awards, it was launched, in conjunction with UNESCO, the Manifesto For Women in Science. The ambition is to take a committed approach to the general public in raising awareness of the issues preventing women from pursuing life-long scientific careers and to instigate actions that will make a difference.

You can sign the Manifesto, and encourage the people around you to do the same at www.forwomeninscience.com.

EUALGAE participation in the Dissertation committee of PhD thesis entitled “Innovative algal-bacterial processes for wastewater treatment: a further step towards full scale implementation”

20th July 2016 Radoslava Metodieva

On July 4th, Esther Posadas defended her PhD thesis entitled “Innovative algal-bacterial processes for wastewater treatment: a further step towards full scale implementation” at Universidad de Valladolid (Spain). Koenraad Muylaert, Luisa Gouveia, Francisco Gabriel Acien and Cristina Gonzalez, all members of EUAlgae Action, participated in the Dissertation committee.

3rd call for applications for Short Term Scientific Missions (STSM) in the framework of the COST Action ES1408 EUALGAE.

24th June 2016 Radoslava Metodieva

Deadline for applications: 22nd July 2016.
STSMs must be completed by 20th April 2017.
The report has to be sent to the STSM coordinator within 30 days after the completion of the STSM and in any case by 20th April 2017.
Check here the call text with the requirements.

For further information on STSMs contact the EUAlgae STSM Coordinator Dr Dominik Refardt.

Newsletter #2 Now available

27th May 2016 Radoslava Metodieva

The Second Newslettrer of the EUALGAE Cost Action is now available here.

Meeting of the TREBOUXIA-WORKING group

6th May 2016 Radoslava Metodieva

As lichenologists, phycologists, and anyone else interested in improving our understanding diversity in the lichenised green algal genus Trebouxia, you are very welcome to join the first Workshop of the TREBOUXIA-WORKING group. This meeting is dedicated to discussing and clarifying molecular phylogenetic and morphological approaches to better understand and delimit the diversity of this important lichen photobiont genus.
The workshop will be held in the city of Trieste, NE Italy, close to Venice, on 26-28 September 2016. There will be no congress fee.

You can find additional information here.