Laura MITREA, PhD, Researcher
Project leader
Laura Mitrea is a scientific researcher at the Life Science Institute within UASMV-CN. She received her Ph.D. in Biotechnology in October 2019 under the supervision of Prof. dr. Dan C. Vodnar. During the Ph.D. stage, she acted as a research assistant in the ProGlyCom project (P_37_637, 2016-2020) at UASVM-CN. The project leader was involved as a team member in research projects related to food waste valorization through biotechnological ways, and in the utilization of nanoparticles for the controlled release of bioactive compounds. Within the Ph.D., Laura Mitrea focused on the microbial conversion of renewable biomass (waste cooking oil, biodiesel-derived glycerol) into valuable compounds such as diols and organic acids, which could be further applied in the food sector. Throughout this period, she gained substantial experience in the alkali-catalyzed transesterification of lipids for biodiesel and crude glycerol production. Moreover, Laura Mitrea performed multiple bioreactor fermentation processes by cultivating yeasts and bacterial strains under specific conditions, for targeted metabolites biosynthesis.
Francisc V. DULF, PhD, Professor
Mentor
Francisc V. Dulf is habilitated Professor at the Faculty of Agriculture, UASMV-CN, and mentor in the SuccinYst project. He has wide expertise in analytical chemistry, Gas-Chromatography (GC), High Performace Liquid Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS), Fourier Transformed Infra-Red (FT-IR), UV, Vis, and fluorescence spectrometry. He has also vast experience in aerobic fermentation with a research interest in microbial biochemistry. He was involved in over 16 national projects as a team member and, and run 4 national projects as Director.
Prof. Dulf is a reviewer at international scientific journals with impact in the field of food technology and biotechnology: Food Chemistry, Journal of Food Engineering; Acta Physiologiae Plantarum, Journal of Food Quality, Chemistry Central Journal, and Molecules. He is also a guest editor at Microorganisms journal.