Fellows

ESR 1 Antonia Hadjimicael

Name: Antonia
Surname: Hadjimichael
Nationality: Cyprus
Current e-mail: antonia.hadjimichael @ lequia.udg.edu
Host institution: University of Girona
Department: Lequia
Name of supervisor: Dr. Joaquim Comas

• I obtained my first degree in Mathematics at the University of Leicester and my desire to channel my mathematical skills into more practical, real-world problem solving led me to the completion of an MSc in Environmental Modelling at University College London.

My motivation to join SANITAS

• The SANITAS project combines two things that I have always been very interested in: doing something beneficial for both the society and the environment and gaining diverse experiences from different cultures and parts of the world. This project gives me the opportunity to do both, firstly, working in the sustainable management of UWS and collaborating and networking with international scientists and professionals.

ESR 2 Michele Stefani

Name: Michele
Surname: Stefani
Nationality: Italian
Current e-mail: michele.stefani @ lequia.udg.cat
Host institution: Universitat de Girona (UdG)
Department: LEQUIA (Labotatori d’Enginyeria Quimica i Ambiental)
Name of supervisor: Dr. Joaquim Comas i Matas / Dr. Ignasi Rodriguez-Roda

• During 2010 I have been developing the master thesis (title: Biodegradation of toluene in batch and soil column experiments) in Wageningen University (NL) and Deltares research institute (Utrecht, NL). I graduated in MSc of Environmental Engineering in 2011 in Università dgli Studi di Padova (IT). From June 2011 to May 2012 I have been working in The Netherlands for a private company as project engineer in the field of water treatment for industrial processes and drinking water production.

My motivation to join SANITAS

• This project represents a great opportunity to implement my knowledge in the field of scientific research applied to water treatment, addressed to a sustainable management of water resources. International mobility, together with many chances for networking, makes this experience very promising also in terms of personal development and future career perspectives.

ESR 3 Lara Paulo

Name: Lara
Surname: Paulo
Nationality: Portuguese
Current e-mail: Lara.paulo @ wur.nl
Host institution: Wageningen University
Department: Agrotechnology & Food Sciences Group
Name of supervisor: Prof. Dr. Fons Stams

• Integrated Master in Biological Engineering by Instituto Superior Técnico.
• Fellow Researcher from 01/2009 to 03/2012 at the Metalloproteins and Bioenergetics Unit  at Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica
• Fellow Researcher from 04/2012 to 08/2012 at the Protein and Nucleic Acids Interactions Group at Instituto Gulbenkian para a Ciência

My motivation to join SANITAS

SANITAS project gave me the opportunity to work again in an area that I love, bioremediation, and associated with my engineering background. It also opened the door for an international career and to meet new places, new people, new cultures, different ways of doing science. I hope that the competences that I will obtain would allow me to pursue successfully a career, either academic or industry focused  as a water professional.

ESR 4 Fanlin Meng

Name: Fanlin Meng
Surname: Meng
Nationality: Chinese
Current e-mail: F.Meng @ exeter.ac.uk
Host institution: University of Exeter
Department: College of Engineering
Name of supervisor: Prof. David Butler, Dr. Guangtao Fu

• 2009-2012: Tsinghua University, Master of Engineering, Environmental Engineering
• 2005-2009: Shandong University, Bachelor of Engineering, Environmental Engineering

My motivation to join SANITAS

Water quality is a key environmental issue throughout the world. A good consenting policy, which effectively regulates the discharge of sewage, could help improve the water environment. So the research topic of exploring innovative consenting approach in SANITAS interests me greatly. Besides, the European-wide training in the technical and complementary skills will assist my research.

ESR 5a Benjamin Ricken

Name: Benjamin
Surname: Ricken
Nationality: German
Current e-mail: benjamin.ricken @ fhnw.ch
Host institution: ICRA

• MSc in Biotechnology (University of Münster, Germany)
• Focus: Bioengineering and expression systems for heterologous proteins / Project management

My motivation to join SANITAS

The concept of the SANITAS network is of special interest for me as it gives me the opportunity to get insights into new topics which are connected to my work as an environmental biotechnologist. Moreover, I’m looking forward to meet all of you during the international training weeks.

ESR 5b Joana Batista

Name: Joana
Surname: Batista
Nationality: Portuguese
Current e-mail: Joana.batista @ gmail.com
Host institution: ICRA
Department: Technology and Evaluation
Name of supervisor: Dr. Oriol Gutierrez

• My background is Biological Engineering. I completed my studies in Lisbon, my home town. I divided my Master studies between IST Lisbon, Portugal and TU Delft, Holland. When I finished I started working in a water treatment company.

My motivation to join SANITAS

• When I found out about SANITAS projects I thought it was good opportunity to deepen and broaden my knowledge in water treatment. It was a holistic project in wastewater treatment management and at the same time I could meet and work with different people and professionals from other cultures and backgrounds.

ESR 6 Usman Rehman

Name: Usman
Surname: Rehman
Nationality: Pakistani
Current e-mail: usman.rehman @ ugent.be
Host institution: Gent University
Department: Department of Bio-Science Engineering
Name of supervisor: Prof. Ingmar Nopens

• I have completed my MSc. in Innovative and Sustainable Chemical Engineering from Chalmers University of technology, Sweden. Before this, I did my Bachelors in Chemical Engineering in Pakistan.

My motivation to join SANITAS

• SANITAS offers all the opportunities for personal development and be part of a truly International project. My IRP includes implementing advance techniques and tools for the good of environment and that has been my major motivation. Moreover, UGent along with my secondments (ACCIONA & UdG) provide platform to nourish my skills.

ESR 7 Ramesh Saagi

Name: Ramesh
Surname: Saagi
Nationality: Indian
Current e-mail: ramesh.saagi @ iea.lth.se
Host institution: Lund University
Department: MIE
Name of supervisor: Dr. Ulf Jeppsson

• I come from a coastal city called Vizag in the southern part of India.  I did my bachelors in Biotechnology and later moved to the exciting field of Environmental Engineering. I always wanted to enjoy my work. This made me choose research as a career. I watch movies (a lot) and also love food.

My previous training

• I obtained my Master’s degree from Universität Stuttgart in Environmental Engineering (Year 2012).

My motivation to join SANITAS

• International exposure, opportunity to work in a very interesting field (modelling of wastewater treatment plants) and also to get that Dr. tag before my nam.

ESR 8 Kimberly Solon

Name: Kimberly
Surname: Solon
Nationality: Filipino
Current e-mail: kimberly.solon @ iea.lth.se
Host institution: Lund University
Department: Department of Measurement Technology and Industrial Electrical Engineering (MIE)
Name of supervisor: Dr. Ulf Jeppsson

• I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of the Philippines, and my Master’s degree in Environmental Sanitation from Ghent University in Belgium.

My motivation to join SANITAS

• The research project I am now working with fits perfectly with my interest: modelling and control of wastewater treatment systems. In addition to doing research on a very interesting topic, I also have the opportunities to pursue a PhD degree, have mobility to other research institutions, take part in specialized trainings, and network and collaborate with leading experts in the same field.

ESR 9 Laura Snip

Name: Laura
Surname: Snip
Nationality: Dutch
Current e-mail: lasn @ kt.dtu.dk
Host institution: DTU
Department: Process, Chemical Engineering
Name of supervisor: Prof. Krist Gernaey

• I obtained my Bachelors and my Masters degree in Environmental Technology at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. I included a minor in Systems and Control in my Master degree. For this minor I had an thesis at Laval Université under the supervision of Peter Vanrolleghem. It was about modelling greenhouse gas emissions of wastewater treatment plants.

My motivation to join SANITAS

• The project of SANITAS in which I’m currently involved is an extension of the work I did in the thesis project at Laval Université. The project combines practical work with modelling of systems, which I found attractive. Also I liked the idea that the results of the PhD, evaluation tools for a wastewater treatment plant, are applicable in the ‘real’ world.

ESR 10 Celia María Castro Barros

Name: Celia María
Surname: Castro Barros
Nationality: Spanish
Current e-mail: celiamaria.castrobarros @ ugent.be
Host institution: Ghent University
Department: Biosystems Engineering
Name of supervisor: Eveline Volcke

• I completed a Higher Degree in Chemical Engineering at the university of Santiago de Compostela (Spain) in 2010. The year after I enrolled in a Master Degree in Chemical and Environmental Process Engineering at the same university.

My motivation to join SANITAS

• SANITAS meant doing what I was looking for: researching on a topic related to environmental technology and bioprocesses at the same time with an applied point of view (professional); and the opportunity to live an experience abroad knowing new cultures and people, something that I always wanted to live (personal).

ER 1 José Porro

Name: José
Surname: Porro
Nationality: USA
Current e-mail: jose.porro @ lequia.udg.cat
Host institution: University of Girona
Department: Laboratory of Chemical and Environmental Engineering (Lequia)
Name of supervisor: Dr. Joaquim Comas

• I received my Master´s degree in environmental engineering from Manhattan College, am currently pursuing a PhD from Ghent University (BIOMATH), and have 13 years of consultancy experience in water/wastewater design, modelling, planning, and operations.

My motivation to join Sanitas

• As a sector, we urgently need to retrain ourselves and apply current and new knowledge for sustainable and integrated water management.  I am very passionate about accomplishing this on a personal level but also helping to achieve this for the Water Sector as a whole.  SANITAS could not provide a better platform.

ER 2 Marina Arnaldos

Name: Marina
Surname: Arnaldos
Nationality: Spanish
Current e-mail: marina.arnaldos.orts @ acciona.com
Host institution: Acciona Agua
Department: I+D+i
Name of supervisor: Teresa de la Torre

• I completed an undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering at the Polytechnical University of Valencia (Spain). I also hold a Master of Science and PhD degree in Environmental Engineering by the Illinois Institute of Technology (Chicago, US).

My motivation to join SANITAS

• My motivation to join Sanitas was the incredibly complete package that it offered; an opportunity to apply my knowledge on wastewater processes in an industrial research setting together with continued and specialized training in the diverse topics related to the (arguably) most important and critical resource in the World: WATER!

ER 3 Bertrand Vallet

Name: Bertrand
Surname: Vallet
Nationality: French
Current e-mail: bertrand.vallet @ aquafin.be
Host institution: Aquafin NV
Department: Research and development
Name of supervisor: Marjoleine Weemaes

• I obtained my PhD in September 2011 at Université Laval in civil engineering under the supervision of Paul Lessard and Peter A. Vanrolleghem. My research was focused on the development of a water quality model for stormwater basin with the objective of integrated modelling.

My motivation to join SANITAS

• During my studies, I developed an expertise on both urban water systems, like sewers or wastewater treatment plants, and modelling. With both SANITAS and Aquafin, I have the opportunity to work on integrated modelling and to develop tools for decision makers. The fact that Aquafin is a private company allows me to really do applied research and create tools that are focused on the needs of the water sector. Through SANITAS, I finally have the opportunity to work with different research groups throughout Europe.

ER 4 Xavier Garcia Acosta

Name: Xavier
Surname: Garcia Acosta
Nationality: Spanish
Current e-mail: xavier.garciaacosta @ udg.edu / x.garciaacosta @ gmail.com
Host institution: Yarqon River Authority
Name of supervisor: David Pargament

• My name is Xavier Garcia Acosta. I’m from Catalonia (Spain) and I’m 27 years old. Apart from doing research my hobbies are very diverse. I like to go out with friends, read classical novels, or watching movies. I like to do sports like football or mountain biking too. I’m a nice and ease-going person passionate about my work and life.

My previous training

• I’ve recently got the PhD degree in Environmental Science at the University of Girona. My thesis, entitled “New urban processes and domestic water consumption: An exploration of relations in the Girona area” aimed to expand knowledge about the management of domestic water consumption in urban and social dynamic territories.

My motivation to join SANITAS

• My first and foremost motivation to apply for a research position within the SANITAS project is to be able to keep expanding my knowledge and understanding of water management strategies at the basin scale in a Mediterranean context. The fact that the ER4 position implies mobility to Israel, one of the countries with a longer tradition and background regarding the topic of water conservation and sustainable water management, adds to the attractiveness that the vacant poses for me.