The Biogas Research Team is upgrading to BioResources and Technology (From BRT to BRT)

We are pleased to announce our Biogas Research Team (BRT) rebranding to the BioResources and Technology (BRT) Division. Simply from BRT to BRT. This evolution marks a milestone in our journey, reflecting the broadening scope and increasing complexity of our research and development activities. While biogas remains at the heart of our work, our rebranding to BioResources and Technology better covers the diversity of our research, the projects and our commitment to sustainable solutions for a rapidly changing world.

BRT Senior Researcher, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yelizaveta Chernysh recently had the opportunity to attend a training in Huelva, Spain to learn modern methods of phosphogypsum analysis with Prof. Jose Miguel Nieto Linán’s team, the Environmental Mineralogy and Geochemistry Unit, at the University of Huelva. The teams main research activities are aimed at investigating the sources and pathways of industrial and mining pollution in terrestrial, riverine and estuarine systems. The team is consistent of an interdisciplinary team with expertise in mineralogy, geochemistry, ore deposits, hydrogeology and ecotoxicology. They have many years of experience in studying the environmental impacts associated with the exploitation of massive sulfide deposits in the Iberian pyrite belt (found in Southern Spain). Recent projects in this area have focused on the development of laboratory tests and pilot field plants for the treatment of mining waste, the recovery of essential raw materials from mining waste, and regional studies on the dispersion and attenuation of pollutants in river and estuarine systems (Tinto, Odiel and Guadiana River basins). They are also studying the elemental composition of phosphogypsum.

The training, which was partly motivated by the environmental contamination in Huelva, where waste infiltrates local water systems, gave Dr. Chernysh the opportunity to broaden her expertise in addressing such environmental issues. Specifically, she conducted sample preparation of Ukrainian phosphogypsum. In addition, she familiarized herself with the inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis protocol—a powerful technique used for detecting and measuring the concentration of metals and non-metals in samples. Moreover, Dr. Chernysh participated in actual sample analysis during the training, contributing to data that will inform future research. This data will play a vital role in the preparation of a scientific article, showcasing her growing expertise in this field and her contribution to important environmental research.

Thank you to Prof. Jose Miguel Nieto Linán and his research team for providing support and equipment for the training and we look forward to future collaboration!

This cooperation is based on the joint ERA-MIN3 action project - Phosphogypsum Processing to Critical Raw Materials (PG2CRM), which received funding from the European Union within the Horizon 2020 program. This training exists within the framework of the project "Phosphogypsum as a mineral resource for bioprocesses". Dr. Chernysh also acknowledges the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA-PF) with funding from the European Union under the MSCA4Ukraine framework.

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 Anaerobic digestion is an important renewable energy technology that has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to the development of a sustainable energy system. However, as in many research fields, the research is extensive and fragmented, making it difficult to gain a comprehensive understanding of the technology and hindering progress.

Therefore, we concluded a large scoping review of the entire technology, from pretreatment to gas utilization, using a systematic PRISMA protocol, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview of the anaerobic digestion process. In addition, this research serves to highlight issues in the current research environment, to identify limitations. This information can serve as the basis for future standardization of work to increase the efficiency of biogas research.

In this paper, we highlighted multiple issues. For one, the field suffers from a lack of standardization in reporting and no clear definitions for certain terms. This leads to confusion and issues classifying information. This problem is only exacerbated by an exponential growth in published research which indicates a larger issue in science.

Overall, there is an urgent need to harmonize work and facilitate knowledge transfer to go beyond the traditional paper system. We need to transition to a more updatable and modular workflow using modern technologies for the increase in the standards for accessibility and visibility of work. By using open science and working with modern scalable database systems, science could benefit by reducing the burden on researchers and facilitating progress.

Citation:  Bercy, A.; Roubík, H. A call for modernisation of science, the case of anaerobic digestion: A scoping review. Energy Conversion and Management. 2024. 316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2024.118816.

BRT Authors: Ing. Antoine Bercy and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hynek Roubík

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To broaden and develop our teams’ collaborative skills while offering visiting students the chance to expand their scientific networks and gain cultural experiences, BRT encourages students to join our team for internship opportunities. These internships aim to facilitate idea exchange, foster professional growth, and create opportunities for collaboration.

Meet our fall intern joining our team from the United States, Helen Traczyk!

Hi there, my name is Helen Traczyk. I recently graduated with a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. I grew up in Chicago, Illinois and currently live in Portland. I have a particular interest in using urban planning and sustainable public transportation to make cities great places to live!

My undergraduate program was an interdisciplinary approach to environmentalism, mostly based in humanities. I learned about environmental theory, policy, and research. For my senior thesis, I researched public transportation at my college and the reason behind why it was so difficult to reduce the number of students who came by car. I am particularly interested in the socioeconomic reasons behind environmental problems and believe that the environment includes people too! Understanding how and why people interact with the world around them is crucial in creating a sustainable and healthy world.

Outside of school and work, I am absolutely brimming with interests and hobbies. Right now, I do arts and crafts like sewing, knitting, drawing, and painting. Like other Portlanders, I spend a lot of time outdoors hiking, camping, and gardening. I also sing in my college’s community choir and have played classical piano for fifteen years. In the evenings, I love to read and watch rom coms.

I am very excited to be a part of the BioResources and Technology Division (BRT) this fall. I am especially looking forward to digging into each team members specific research. As an environmentalist, I am amazed at the many ways people from all over the world are working to create a more sustainable future. One of my goals as an intern here is to learn where I want to go next in my career, so being able to learn from all the members of the team is a fantastic opportunity.

During my time as an intern, I will primarily be assisting the Communications team while also shadowing various team members to see how the research group functions as a whole. I’m looking forward to learning a lot!

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Dr. Viktoriia Chubur earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Protection Technology under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yelizaveta Chernysh (Sumy State University (Ukraine)) and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hynek Roubik (Czech University of Life Sciences Prague). Her research focused on waste utilization technologies, biogas technologies, anaerobic fermentation, and mitigating environmental impact. Her research topic was ‘Environmentally safe utilisation of waste for energy purposes in environmental protection technologies’.

Dr Chubur has coauthored 10 scientific publications, participated actively at international conferences, and participated in 4 internships during the 3 years of her doctoral studies. She has been a member of the BRT at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague and the Head of the TeSET Faculty Scientific Association at Sumy State University (Ukraine) since the first year of her studies.

To get more insights into Dr. Chubur‘s academic journey, our BRT Communications team conducted an interview to capture her thoughts and share her story.

ENJOY THE INTERVIEW!

Question 1: How does it feel to have successfully defended your doctoral dissertation? 

Dr. Chubur: It brings a sense of freedom and confidence in the next steps in my research career. The defence is a milestone that summarises the set of skills I’ve acquired as a young scientist.

Question 2: Can you share pivotal moments from your academic journey that you believe were crucial in successfully defending your doctoral dissertation? 

Dr. Chubur: The internships I completed were a valuable experience that allowed me to work and train in laboratories across Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Ukraine. Building skills and gaining diverse experience bolstered my abilities as a successful researcher. Maintaining good connection and cooperation with my supervisors was also crucial for guidance and in supporting my research throughout my PhD studies.

Question 3: Reflecting on the process, what were the significant challenges you encountered while writing your dissertation and defence phases, and how did you navigate through them?

Dr. Chubur: My personal challenge was time management during the final manuscript writing and defence preparation stages. Time is always scarce, but it also forces efficiency in writing and structuring work. Planning and support from colleagues in organizing the initial stages helped me meet all the deadlines.

Question 4: Balancing academic commitments, personal life, and other responsibilities can be demanding. How have you managed to strike that balance while working on your dissertation? 

Dr. Chubur: I struggled with this during my PhD, as I usually put off personal matters until a later time due to being extremely focused with the tasks relating to my studies. However, it was important for me to realize that there is no limit to perfection and to start rationally evaluating my tasks. With the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of my home country, Ukraine, in February 2022, I was presented with the reality of focusing all my attention on the safety of my loved ones. Everything changed at this point, and I was forced into needing to distinguish between work and my primary priorities.

Question 5: What valuable advice would you offer for fellow doctoral candidates preparing for their dissertation defence? 

Dr. Chubur: Focus on presenting achievements that have already been critically evaluated and hold value (because they were presented and reviewed a few times before). Pay attention to the personal experience gained throughout your Ph.D., as it is invaluable, and do not put yourself down in comparison to others.

Question 6: Do you have any recommendations for current and future BRT students?

Dr. Chubur: I recommend pursuing internship opportunities as much as possible. Since your research is still in progress, you can get insights and evaluations from specialists in your field. It can shape the direction of your research or provide interesting ideas to expand your scope.

Question 7: Now that you have reached this momentous achievement - What are your plans for the future?

Dr. Chubur: My focus for the future is on applying my expertise in more practical ways through projects with tangible outcomes. Additionally, I'm committed to further developing my skills with the aim of sharing my experiences with others through mentorship or teaching. I currently work at BRT as a postdoctoral researcher, where I see myself working for the foreseeable future.

We thank Dr. Chubur for sharing insights into her academic journey and wish her success, new discoveries, and a continued sense of fulfilment in his future endeavours!

Viktoriia is now the BRT lab coordinator and a post-doctoral researcher! With her extensive knowledge, dedication, and passion for advancing scientific innovation, she has already proven to be an invaluable asset to our team. We are confident that her leadership and expertise will drive our lab’s research forward in exciting new directions. A huge thank you to Viktoriia for her unwavering hard work!

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