Researcher: Sergio Balzano Project Name: POllution-TOlerant MIcroalgae as a tool for bioremediation and water treatment

Home institution: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) - France Host institution: Umeå Marine Science Center (UMSC)

Why did you choose the service/institution you chose?

I chose the Station Biologique de Roscoff because it is a renowned marine biology research institution. The Roscoff Culture Collection (RCC), in particular, is one of the world's largest microalgal collections and is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for microalgal isolation, cultivation and analysis.

How did this access experience support your research?

The RCC staff were very friendly and highly professional in their support of my research. As my research topic is related to the use of microalgae in biotechnological applications, including wastewater treatment, I am particularly interested in culturing microalgae adapted to aquatic environments affected by long-term pollution in order to test their potential for wastewater treatment. I therefore sent samples here to the Station Biologique de Roscoff to establish novel microalgal isolates using Flow Cytometry Sorting. The RCC staff were very professional in assisting me, and we obtained approximately 1,000 isolated single cells in pre-filled individual wells containing culturing media. Some of these cells are likely to grow and will become novel monoclonal cultures to be added to the RCC collection. These cultures will also be beneficial for my research, as some of them may be suitable bioremediation candidates.

How does your project benefit society, industry, or policy?

Microbes, and microalgae in particular, encompass huge genetic, metabolic and chemical diversity, some of which remains unknown since most microbes are currently uncultured. For this purpose, establishing novel microalgal isolates can be highly beneficial to biotechnological research, as it provides a foundation of potentially useful new strains.

How did this experience mark your scientific career?

Isolating novel strains and establishing novel cultures from polluted aquatic environments in the Gulf of Naples will provide me with more opportunities for future research. In addition, I envisage future collaborations.

Please share some words of encouragement to future users.

I strongly encourage students and research to apply to Station Biologique de Roscoff for transnational access. SBR is provided with state-of-art equpment for microalgal isolation, cultuvation, and analyses and several renowned international experts work here. I thus believe that a transnational access at SBR can be a great career opportunity for young scientists.