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May 2025 – CyanoAction meeting
I attended the latest meeting of the COST Action CyanoAction, held in Chania, Crete. The aim was to connect researchers and stakeholders across Europe to address the growing impact of toxic cyanobacterial blooms. During the meeting, we discussed possible strategies to better understand, prevent, and manage these phenomena. 👉 Read more about CyanoAction |
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April 2025 – PredAqua experiment
We carried out the core experiment of the PedAqua project - an intensive mesocosm study involving seven 1000-liter tanks and 231 parallel tests using dialysis bags. Despite challenging weather conditions, including rain, snow, and strong winds, we completed the 10-day experiment as planned. The study focused on how the introduction of invasive species of bacteria, microalgae, and zooplankton affects the biodiversity and stability of aquatic ecosystems. We were fortunate to have the support of Dr. Maria Stockenreiter (LMU Munich) and several dedicated students from UBB Cluj, whose help was invaluable. |
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March 2025 – Interview with PressOne on water scarcity and climate change
I was featured in an in-depth interview with PressOne on the global freshwater crisis and the looming consequences of climate change. I spoke about how, without urgent action, major cities around the world could face daily water shortages. I also addressed the situation in Romania, where drought and outdated infrastructure are already leading to significant water losses and increasing vulnerability in regions such as Dobrogea and southern Oltenia. |
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January 2025 – Honorary advisor to the Ministry of Education and Research
I was honored to be invited by Prof. Daniel David, the newly appointed Minister of Education and Research, to serve as an honorary advisor in his cabinet. I gladly accepted this opportunity to contribute to the advancement of science in Romania. In this role, I aim to actively support the development of research policy and promote a stronger scientific culture nationwide. |
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November 2024 - Mesocosm experiment at SAMS, Oban
Together with my colleagues Maria Nicoară, Maria Mirabela Pop, and Andreea Tripon, I carried out a research visit at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) in Oban, Scotland. During our stay, we conducted a mesocosm experiment - an outdoor simulation of natural marine environments—using strains of the marine diatom Skeletonema marinoi that we had previously grown and adapted in the lab under different temperature and CO₂ conditions. At SAMS, we introduced these lab-adapted strains into natural seawater communities, where we could carefully control both temperature and CO₂ levels to mimic future ocean acidification scenarios. Our goal was twofold: first, to understand how this key microalgal species can adapt to long-term climate change conditions, and second, to see whether it can still thrive and compete in complex natural communities under those same future conditions. |
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October 2024 - Research visit to Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen
Together with my colleague Maria Nicoară, I visited Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen (Scotland) for a research stay in the labs of Prof. Linda Lawton and Prof. Christine Edwards. The aim of our visit was to perform toxicity analyses on selected cyanobacterial samples. We believe this collaboration will lead to a joint scientific publication, and we are hopeful it may also lay the groundwork for a future project proposal. |
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August 2024 - Invited speaker at ISME19, Cape Town
I had the pleasure of attending ISME19 in Cape Town as an invited speaker. This flagship global conference in microbial ecology brought together over 1,500 researchers to explore cutting-edge advances across environmental, medical, and biotechnological fields. |
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