These are the colleagues I collaborate with most closely, across projects and shared research interests.
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Dr. Adriana Hegedus
Email: [email protected] I am a phytoplankton ecologist and taxonomist, with a particular interest in species dynamics in temperate lakes. My work explores the complexity of phytoplankton species, spanning morphology, ecology, and phylogeny. I have isolated hundreds of microalgal strains from diverse environments, now preserved in the Collection of Algae and Cyanobacteria at the Institute of Biological Research Cluj. I am especially interested in the integration of species concepts for unicellular photosynthetic eukaryotes - a challenging and debated field due to their vast diversity, complex life cycles, and the limitations of traditional taxonomic approaches. I also study the diversity of photosynthetic microorganisms in Romanian freshwaters and their potential as cell factories for secondary metabolite production. My research has also included several years of work on algal biofuels, particularly botryococcene production in the green alga Botryococcus braunii. |
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Dr. Edina Szekeres
Email: [email protected] I am a researcher specialized in environmental science and molecular biology, with broad interests spanning from freshwater biology to emerging contaminants. My research focuses on applied molecular biology, with a particular emphasis on microorganisms such as extremophiles, cyanobacteria, and algae with biotechnological potential. I investigate environmental challenges including antimicrobial resistance, pollution, and cyanotoxins, and I am particularly interested in the detection, quantification, and monitoring of antibiotic resistance genes, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and opportunistic pathogens in freshwater ecosystems. My expertise includes experimental approaches using batch cultures, as well as micro- and mesocosm setups, to study microbial interactions and their responses to environmental changes. I also examine how anthropogenic activities influence aquatic microbial communities, especially in terms of ecosystem structure, dynamics, and functional roles. |
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Dr. Adela Teban-Man
Email: [email protected] I am a microbiologist with expertise in molecular biology, environmental microbiology, and aquatic ecology. I am passionate about understanding the interactions, dynamics, and epidemiology of bacterial communities in various aquatic ecosystems, including rivers, lakes, and wastewater. My research focuses on studying the interactions between bacterial functional groups and exploring innovative methods for the surveillance and mitigation of antibiotic resistance in natural environments. |
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Maria Nicoară
Email: [email protected] PhD student passionate about molecular biology and data analysis/visualization, with a focus on aquatic environments. Particularly interested in microalgal compounds such as toxins and fatty acids. My expertise includes growing phytoplankton cultures and conducting mesocosm experiments in both freshwater and marine environments. I am also actively involved in science communication as the admin of the @instalgae Instagram account, and I enjoy mentoring undergraduate students in the lab. |
SCIENTIFIC NETWORK
Below are researchers with whom I have had the pleasure of collaborating on scientific projects, publications, and research visits - partnerships that continue today and that I plan to further strengthen in the future. The main areas of collaboration are briefly mentioned alongside each name.
Below are researchers with whom I have had the pleasure of collaborating on scientific projects, publications, and research visits - partnerships that continue today and that I plan to further strengthen in the future. The main areas of collaboration are briefly mentioned alongside each name.
- Dr. Ferenc Jordan – ICB Cluj (Romania)
Study of plankton communities, impact of invasive species - Dr. Maria Stockenreiter – LMU Munich (Germany)
Mesocosm experiments on phytoplankton adaptation and biodiversity - Dr. Jens Nejstgaard – IGB Berlin (Germany)
Partners in AQUACOSM Plus. Research on plankton ecology and mesocosms - Dr. Stella Berger – IGB Berlin (Germany)
Partners in AQUACOSM Plus. Research on plankton ecology and mesocosms - Prof. Linda Lawton – Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen (Scotland)
Cyanobacterial toxin analysis - Prof. Christine Edwards – Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen (Scotland)
Collaborative research on harmful algae - Dr. Charlotte Briddon – Gulbenkian Institute of Science (Portugal)
Former postdoc in my group; adaptive evolution studies in phytoplankton, modelling - Prof. Richard Bellerby – NIVA (Norway)
Partners in the ADVANCE Project. Adaptation of marine phytoplankton to climate change - Dr. Sam Dupont – University of Gothenburg (Sweden)
Impact of ocean acidification on marine diatoms - Prof. Herwig Stibor – LMU Munich (Germany)
Study of phytoplankton communities, mesocosm experiments - Dr. Michael Ross – SAMS (Scotland)
Impact of climate change on marine diatoms - Dr. Robyn Tuerena – SAMS (Scotland)
Impact of ocean acidification on marine diatoms, nutrient analyses - Dr. Kemal Ali Ger – ICB Cluj (Romania)
Impact of salinization on phytoplankton - Dr. Mridul Thomas – University of Geneva (Switzerland)
Adaptive evolution of phytoplankton, ecosystem modelling - Dr. Francesco Pomati – Eawag (Switzerland)
- Prof. Susanne Lackner – TU Darmstadt (Germany)