Education

 

Aix – Marseille University, France

    Ph.D (2007) - Environmental geosciences

 

Dissertation title: Co-composting of sewage sludge and green wastes: new methodology to assess organic matter transformations

 

Nancy University, France

 

    M.Sc. (2002) - Water microbiology and chemistry

    B.Sc , (2001) - Biochemistry

 

Positions

 

Researcher (2011-present) - UNIL - Soil Organic Matter Dynamics

Researcher (2010-2011) - INERIS (French National Instiute for Industrial Environment and Risks)

CityChlor (Europeen Projet): a transnational cooperation project that aims to improve the quality and minimize the pollution of soil and groundwater by developing an integrated approach to tackle the threats caused by contamination with chlorinated solvents in urban areas.

Research program: Attenuation of vinyl chloride (VC) & dichloro-ethylene (DCE) in the vadose zone. Microcosms and columns experiments (Switzerland, CHYN, Neuchatel) during 8 months by compound-specific isotope ratios, a promising new tool to gain insight into the origin and fate of chlorinated solvents in aquifers

Researcher (2008-present) - LIMOS (Soil Microorganisms-Minerals-Organic Matter Interactions Laboratory, Nancy University, France

Research program: Biogeophysics: changes in the Spectral Induced Polarization (SIP) caused by PHAs microbial bioremediation

The investigation of the earth’s surface is of general interests in many area of socio economic or environmental relevance. The contamination of the subsurface soil from anthropogenic sources (waste, chemicals, fuel, etc.) represents a serious problem endangering both humans health and the environment. Geochemical and microbiological studies demonstrate that indigenous microorganisms and microbial activity play a role in altering the physicochemical properties of hydrocarbon-contaminated sediments in different ways. Then, the problem of soil contamination by hydrocarbon has spawned interest in the ability of microorganisms to facilitate remediation. Several studies have demonstrated the utility of geophysical methods for the investigation of microbial-induced changes in porous geologic media. Literature contains numerous studies on geophysical signatures changes corresponded with microbial-induced, although previous studies improved our understanding of microbial-induced changes on the geophysical response, the direct contribution of microbial growth and biofilm formation on the geophysical response remains unclear.

 

Our objectives are (i) to conduct a study of microbial growth (cells densities, quantification of bacterial populations capable of degrading polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by Real-Time PCR…) in hydrocarbon-contaminated media (PAH) by a non-invasive geophysical investigation techniques: spectral induced polarization (SIP), (ii) to determinate if the geophysical responses are sensitive to biofilm formation and (iii) to validate our interpretation of the geophysical responses using Scanning Confocal Laser Microscopy (SCLM) in the aim to elaborate an accurate correlation between geophysical responses and biofilm formation.

 

The development of monitoring by SIP allows studying directly on the field, and by a non-destructive method, the dynamics of organic contaminants and microbial activity in soils. Spectral induced polarization measurements should also monitor changes in these activities in response, for example, intake of nutrient or electron acceptor (biostimulation).

 

Researcher (2007-2008) - Pöyry Environment S.A, Aix-en-Provence, France

Research programs: New solid waste treatment technologies – patent n°0309381 - July 30, 2003

 

Researcher (2003-2007) – IMEP (Mediterranean Institute of Ecology and Paleoecology), Aix Marseille University, France

Co-composting of sewage sludge and green wastes: new methodology to assess organic matter transformations

Growing concerns relating to land degradation, threat to eco-systems from over and inappropriate use of inorganic fertilizers, atmospheric pollution, soil health, soil biodiversity and sanitation have rekindled the global interest in organic recycling practices like composting. The potential of composting to turn on-farm waste materials into a farm resource makes it an attractive proposition. Composting offers several benefits such as enhanced soil fertility and soil health – thereby increased agricultural productivity, improved soil biodiversity, reduced ecological risks and a better environment. However the techniques used today are still primitive (windrow) and assessment of quality of organic matter produced remain difficult and restrict the usages of composting.

My work focused on 4 points:

- Better understanding of biological and chemical transformation during organic matter humification.

- Optimize an innovative composting patented system, which improve quality of organic matter and reduce time of composting.

- Rapid and reliable assessment of the maturity of organic matter of compost by Near InfraRed Spectroscopy (NIRS), a rapid, cheap and non-destructive method.

- Calibration of several chemical and biological parameters (enzymatic activity, organic matter humification and maturity...) from a single measurement of a few seconds by NIRS.