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This section is including the news related to the BIOREM project, such as press releases and newsletter.
Secondment interview
Secondment interview
Sara Ortega (Kepler, Spain) spent one month in Ljubljana (JSI, Slovenia)
SARA'S EXPERIENCE
What’s your name and where are you from?
My name is Sara Ortega Ruiz and I’m from Almería; a city located in the south-east of Spain. Nevertheless, nowadays I’m living in the north, in Burgos.
2. Which organization do you work for, and where did you do your secondment?
I work as Environmental Technician for KEPLER Ingeniería & Ecogestión, an engineering company specialized in the environmental and renewable energy sector.
I’ve done my secondment at Jožef Stefan Institute, the leading Slovenian scientific research institute, located at Ljubljana.
About your experience:
3. What motivated you to take part in this exchange?
I was motivated by the idea of being able to exchange knowledge and experiences between a basic and applied research centre and a company like KEPLER, connecting both worlds and contributing to progress in hydrocarbon soil decontamination from different perspectives.
Participating in a project that links academia with industry allowed me to explore innovative solutions and bring back knowledge directly applicable to ongoing work in my company.
4. How would you describe your secondment experience in one sentence?
A highly enriching and motivating experience that bridged science and practical innovation.
5. What project or task did you enjoy the most during your stay? // Did you learn anything new or unexpected? What was it?
I enjoyed learning how to synthesize vaterite, using it to encapsulate contaminants, and being able to follow the entire process under the microscope. // Yes! I didn't know before going that I would have the opportunity to learn how to make biocarriers, and it was fascinating. I had also never worked with the flow cytometer, and it was very interesting to discover how it works and the many things you can measure.
6. What surprised you most about working in a different country or with a new team?
I was most surprised and grateful for the team’s genuine willingness to teach me everything with patience and enthusiasm. Their kindness, openness, and constant support created a truly welcoming environment that made learning both effective and enjoyable from the beginning.
Life outside work:
7. What did you like the most about the place where you stayed?
I truly appreciated the peaceful environment and the balance between city life and access to nature. It was easy to feel focused and inspired both during and outside of working hours.
Looking ahead:
8. How do you think this experience will help you in your work or career?
This experience will undoubtedly help me in the future, both personally and professionally. First, it will help me find solutions when things aren't going well in the lab. It has undoubtedly helped me reflect deeply on various issues and focus on the ongoing pursuit of optimizing the processes I carry out. In addition, I also feel more confident proposing innovative techniques in my company thanks to what I’ve learned. Finally, it will help me adapt quickly to new challenges and work environments, as I have experienced during this secondment.
9. What advice would you give to someone about to do a similar exchange?
Be open, curious and ready to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to propose ideas, even small contributions can spark meaningful discussions. And most importantly, take the time to learn not only from the project, but from the people around you.
BIOREM project co-organises the European event MicrobeTech2025
BIOREM project coorganised the the European event MicrobeTech 2025, taking place from May 27 to 29 at the Jožef Stefan Institute (JSI) in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The event was jointly coordinated with the BIOSYSMO project thanks to the project partners effort: the Jozef Stefan Insitute (JSI), which hosted the event, the University of Burgos (Spain), the Spanish company IDENER, and the Greek firm Exelisis.
This international gathering, which registered over 120 participants, consisted of three days full of experts talks on microbial biotechnology, sustainability, and advanced technologies. The successful goal was to discuss the latest developments in bioremediation methodologies, as well as the challenges and future outlook of this research field. The event was hybrid, allowing for both in-person and online participation.
The scientific committee in charge of creating the event programme was formed by Ales Lapanje (JSI), Rocío Barros (UBU), Sara Gil (IDENER) and Tomaz Rijavec (JSI). Their contribution was key in shaping the event into one of outstanding scientific quality. Furthermore, the organising committee was composed of the scientific committee supported by the communication managers of the two European projects Ioanna Katsavou (Exelisis) and Beatriz Lapuente (UBU).
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
The opening day featured an international workshop with a total of 17 presentations delivered by professionals from universities, technology centers, and companies across Europe. The presentations are organized into the following thematic blocks:
Block 1: Bridging the Lab-Field Gap in Bioremediation
Effectively transferring laboratory results to real-world application environments.Block 2: Microbial Deployment Strategies
Innovative methodologies for introducing and managing microorganisms in contaminated environments.Block 3: Expanding Applications Beyond Bioremediation
Emerging applications of microbial biotechnology in agriculture, mining, energy, and other sectors.Block 4: Challenges, Regulation and Future Directions
Current challenges, regulatory frameworks, and future research directions.
Speakers came from prestigious institutions such as IRNAS - Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the University of Pisa, the University of Bologna, the University of Milan, the University of Surrey, the University of Applied Sciences of Switzerland, and the Imperial College London (ICL). Representatives from Spanish companies like Kepler (Burgos) and Leitat (Barcelona) also participated. See the speakers here.
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
A summer school was offered for young researchers, particularly PhD students, with specialized training provided by six international professionals. A field trip was also organized to Idrija, a UNESCO World Heritage town home to the world’s second-largest mercury mine. See the lecturers here.
Thursday, May 29, 2025
A networking and technical meeting day focuses on fostering collaboration between teams from the BIOREM and BIOSYSMO projects, and on advancing their shared goals.
Throughout all three days, scientific poster sessions are held, where researchers from various disciplines present their latest findings. See the posters list.
MicrobeTech 2025 stands out as a key event for knowledge exchange, promoting synergies between European projects, and accelerating sustainable solutions based on microbial biotechnology.
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