College of Science & Engineering

Research vision

I am currently a Research Fellow at the ReliB project (The Faraday Institution) investigating the biorecovery of metals from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and the production of metal-based nanoparticles using bacteria. To recycle critical metals such Co and Ni is a must in order to minimize the risks in the supply chain of electric vehicles and other numerous portable electronic devices such as mobile phones and laptops. Metal bio-recovery methods complement chemical and physical recycling methods as they are considered more environmentally friendly than conventional ones; no hazardous solvents are used and biological processes take place at relatively low temperatures.

I fully believe that we need to move towards a circular economy in order to ensure that our planet remains habitable for current and future generations. This is one of the main reasons why I am so passionate about taking part in projects tackling issues related to environmental pollution and the valorisation of waste streams.

My versatile profile in terms of academic background (MEng Agricultural Engineering. MSc Marine Biodiversity and Biotechnology, PhD Microbiology and Biotechnology) and working experience in industry and academia have contributed greatly to my chosen career path. The research projects I am involved with are intrinsically multidisciplinary (Chemistry, Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, Synthetic Biology) and often require working closely with experts from other academic and industrial fields, and I believe interdisciplinary cooperation is the key to project success and problem solving. 

Expectations from collaboration

I am interested in establishing R&D links with industrial partners, universities and research institutions to take part in projects related to bioremediation (e.g. metal decontamination of plant biomass, metal contaminated water) and valorisation of waste streams or industrial co-products (e.g. lignin) using Biotechnology. I can offer experience in the area of Microbiology/Biotechnology and I work closely with research groups with great expertise in Synthetic Biology and chemical analysis of complex mixtures.

Another of my areas of expertise is Nanotechnology, specifically metallic nanoparticles. In my current project biogenic metallic nanoparticles are being produced during the recovery process of metals from LIBs (e.g. Co/Ni/Mn-based nanoparticles). The synthesis of NPs with useful applications will add value to the recovery process, thus I look forward to hearing from potential collaborators interested in this area of research.

Key Skills

• Nanotechnology (nanoparticle characterization (DLS, microscopy, spectroscopy), toxicity testing, redox reactions)
• Microbiology (PCR, qPCR, fluorescence in-situ hybridisation (FISH), flow cytometry)
• Analytical chemistry (FT IR spectroscopy, FT-ICR-MS, ICP-OES) and electronic microscopy
• Very good analytical and computational skills
• Problem solving oriented