Previous studies indicate that the insect protein is a valuable protein, the amino acid composition of which is closest to fish proteins. According to the UN report, insect consumption can be helpful in the fight against hunger for an ever-growing population of people in the world. Insects can provide a sustainable and environmentally friendly production of both feed and food. Livestock production is one of the main causes of environmental problems in the world – contributing significantly to greenhouse gas production, global warming, soil degradation, air and water pollution and reducing biodiversity. Oceans and seas are being overexploited due to the ever-increasing production of fishmeal. With a view to protecting the environment and increasing the need for animal protein in recent years, the implementation of innovative systems of insect farming has begun in many countries around the world. In the industrial production of insects, various by-products arising at all stages of the food industry may be used. One way of using these products is anaerobic fermentation carried out in agricultural biogas plants. The raw materials used in biogas plants such as plant biomass and food-by-products may also be intended for insect breeding as a downstream link in processing to obtain a valuable animal protein. Waste from insect farming can be further used in biogas plants This gives you the opportunity to innovate in the production of animal proteins from insects, to obtain energy and after fermentation of the fertilizer mass. In biogas plants, electric energy and heat are produced continuously and are used in many ways. One of them may be the use of surplus heat in the farm insect culture. In climatic conditions, Polish energy and heat are the most expensive elements of insects farming. The combination of biogas plants as a renewable energy source with insect farming for forage purposes is an innovative, ecological and economically efficient solution. After obtaining a protein from an innovative insect farming, an assessment of its nutritional value and potential sources of risk (heavy metals, hormones, pesticides, dioxins, mycotoxins, xenobiotics) will be carried out.

         The disertation will present results regarding the use of gumi as a species that creates opportunities for the management of inferior soils, while enriching them with nitrogen, thanks to the interaction with papillary bacteria that bind this element from the air. In cooperation with the copromotor, the microbiological composition of the soil and the possibilities of using microorganisms will be determined, which will additionally contribute to the improvement of the quality of the crop, as well as their impact on the rooting of the cuttings taken from the plants grown on the site. Detailed analyzes of the chemical composition of the fruit and leaves of gumi and specific possibilities of their use in processing will also be carried out.

        As a result of rapid development associating with technological progress a demand for the biomaterials with unique properties is increasing. Biopolymers are divided into three categories: chemically synthesized polymers, starch-based biodegradable plastics and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). Among them, PHAs are the most known, being recognized as completely biosynthetic and biodegradable with zero toxic waste, and completely recyclable into organic waste. For the reason that PHAs have useful properties such as: biodegradability, thermoplasticity, biocompatibility, non-toxicity, they are considered a replacement for petrochemical polymers. PHAs introduction to the world-wide market is currently limited due to their increased production cost compared to their synthetic alternatives. Therefore, there is a growing need for the development of novel microbial processes using inexpensive carbon sources. The promising feedstocks for PHAs production are volatile fatty acids (VFAs) produced from biomass and biowaste.
         Earlier work indicated that VFAs could be used as carbon sources for PHAs production but there is a lack of information on how VFAs of different composition influence the structure and properties of PHAs during microbial fermentation. Therefore, the main goal of the PhD thesis is to investigate the effect of volatile fatty acids obtained during biological routes on the PHAs synthesis process using pure bacteria cultures. The fermentation studies using different feeding strategies will be conducted in the bioreactors. The PHAs will be extracted, then the composition and physical properties of them will be determined. Furthermore, the impact of different VFAs on the molecular level will be carried out.
          The proposed subject of the PhD thesis is interdisciplinary because it links environmental engineering with biotechnology to obtain innovative bioplastics and to make their cost-effective production more feasible.

           Problems related to the negative influence of petrochemical-derived plastic on the global environment has resulted in the emergence of a wide range of biodegradable polymer materials. Among the biomass-derived plastics, there is a growing interest in the group of polymers known as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). PHAs are polyesters synthesized by many microorganisms as a storage material. Despite the highly satisfactory properties of PHAs, their production on a large scale is currently limited due to their high production costs compared with their synthetic alternatives. Therefore, there is a growing need for the development of novel microbial processes using inexpensive carbon sources. Such substrates could be wastes generated by the agro-food industry. They create problems with waste management and water pollution. Furthermore, they can be successfully used as carbon sources for the production of valuable microbial polymers.
          The main goal of the proposed PhD study is to investigate the ability of pure bacteria cultures to produce PHAs during growth on waste substrates from agro-food industry such as cheese whey, mother liquor as cheap feedstocks. The fermentation studies using different feeding strategies will be conducted in the bioreactors. The PHAs will be extracted, then the composition and physical properties of them will be determined. Furthermore, the impact of the carbon sources on the molecular level will be carried out.
          The proposed subject of the PhD thesis is interdisciplinary because  it links food and nutrition industry with biotechnology to obtain environmental-friendly bioplastics. Better understanding of the interaction between substrate type, culture conditions and PHAs producer will help to develop industrially feasible biopolymers production from waste streams. 

         The technology of aerobic granular sludge is an economically and environmentally attractive alternative for wastewater treatment systems using activated sludge or biofilm. Granular biomass has very good settling properties, a long sludge age, and in the structure of the granules, nutrients can be simultaneously removed. The high efficiency of wastewater treatment at low operational costs indicates that aerobic granule technology will gradually displace of activated sludge. Despite the advantages of the technology, there is no data about the possible use of excessive granular sludge as a source of valuable products and energy. The research in the doctorate will be focused on determining of the potential of excess granular sludge for the recovery of value-added products. The possibilities of industrial use of the recovered product will also be assessed. Interdisciplinary approach will result from the fact that technological results will be conjuncted with multidirectional molecular analysis that allow determination of the mechanisms and indicate the key groups of microorganisms that are important for the synthesis of bioproducts. The results obtained in the dissertation concerned with a recovery of value-added products from aerobic granular sludge and their subsequent viable reuse are applicable to the main goal of a modern bioeconomy: the improvement of strategies for organic recycling, including recycling of waste substances.

          The use of lignocellulosic biomass is important for the national bioeconomy. On agricultural land, mainly marginal, the number of plantations used for industrial and energy purposes increases. It is interesting how it will affect the biodiversity of rural areas and the entire landscape.
          Are there any effects on biodiversity within the plantations of perennial industrial crops ,including short rotation coppice (eg. willow, poplar) and other plants using to a production of lignocellulosic biomass (miscanthus, sida) and in their close surroundings? Preliminary research of biodiversity in and around willow plantations in Łężany and Samławki (a lakeland landscape) indicated that no negative effects on biodiversity within the plantations and in theirs surroundings. The preliminary researches was carried out in 2011-2013 (short period) and covered  mammals, birds, amphibians and some group of aquatic insects. For some invertebrates willow plantations cane serve as a temporary shelter.
          The planned research will use the island ecology model and the metapopulation model. Poisons (e.g. butterflies) and aquatic invertebrates will be investigated as indicator’s species. The field research will be carried out on the experiments owned by the Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Production, Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture. The laboratory research (identification of species) and statistical analysis  will be carried out on the Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology.

          Milk products are not only a good source for proteins of high nutritional value but also for a multitude of biologically active peptides generated either by fermentation processes during i.e. yogurt- or cheese-manufacturing or by gastrointestinal digestion after consumption. A full understanding of the relationship between dairy proteins for technological functionality, matrix stability  and health benefits are extremely important for its potential use in diverse products to optimise health benefits. The key research questions is: can the process-related possibilities be optimized for human health benefits? The aim of the study is to gain an understanding on matrix-related determinants of dairy based products governing the digestion and to translate the knowledge into the development of the healthiest and commercially promising dairy-based foods. In the past, the analytical tools for such complex questions were not sensitive or selective enough, or were even completely lacking. These might be some of the reasons that in vitro and vivo studies evaluating the effects of biologically active peptides in cell or animal  subjects are still rare and sometimes produce controversial results. Transport mechanisms and the bioavailability of bioactive peptides are often studied with identified and isolated peptides or in cell culture models. However, if and how many of the ingested peptides are absorbed is a subject of current research. Another words this is the interdisciplinary (technological and biological) aspect of the research.

          One of the main threats to water quality that have been currently observed is the uncontrolled growth of phytoplankton, particularly of the invasive Cyanobacteria. Cyanotoxins associated with some harmful blooms of cyanobacteria (CyanoHABs) species pose serious health risks for humans and animals. Recent studies indicate that climate changes may significantly create the structure and biomass of phytoplankton. Thus, the objective of the PhD dissertation will be the analysis of the correlation between the climatic and limnological factors and activity of phytoplankton. The comprehensive analysis of the results allows for calibration the model of biological activity of phytoplankton. It would give potential ability of introducing an early warning system on „harmful cyanobacterial blooms”. This is very important for the effective management of water quality, especially in bathing areas and conducting the active protection and restoration measures of water reservoirs. The study will be conducted in the Olsztyńska part of Lake Ukiel during recreational season (July- August). Simultaneously, biotic and abiotic structures will be analyzed to provide viable, cost-effective and flexible solutions to water protection in bathing areas. The range of research is not only focused on the expansion of knowledge about phytoplankton activity  under conditions of climate changes but also on direct using of the obtained results in practice. Comparison of knowledge about environmental processes with engineering solution to control harmful cyanobacterial blooms makes the subject of the dissertation interdisciplinary and important for the circular economy concept.

          Genome engineering techniques like androgenesis and gynogenesis are useful research techniques but with limited applications on commercial production due to the complicated protocols, low survival rates and increased inbreeding. Genome manipulations should be verified by the ploidy level investigation (cytogenetical verification) and unipaternal inheritance confirmation (molecular verification). In recent years, precise methods based on microsatellite DNA analysis (2-3 polymprphic loci) have been applied to monitor unipaternal inheritance after meiotic gynogenesis on some sturgeon species, including: shortnose sturgeon, bester, sterlet and Siberian sturgeon. The cytogenetical verification is important in identification of ploidy level in genome manipulated fish and can be analysed using several mathods; for example: identification of chromosome number, flow cytometry, measurement the erythrocyte nuclei.
          The proposed subject of the dissertation includes the experimental induction of androgenesis (development in which the embryo contains only paternal chromosomes due to failure of the egg nucleus to participate in fertilization) with cytogenetical and molecular verification of androgenetic p[ogeny. An important objective of androgenesis is to use the technique for conservation of fish genome by preserving the milt of the desired species/ strain, and restoring it using genome-inactivated eggs of a suitable fish species.
          The proposed subject of the dissertation has an interdiscyplinary character which cross the boundaries between different fields of research, including: genome manipulation fish, experimantal fish breeding, experimental rearing and study of fish embryology, application a new genetic tools in aquaculture, cytogenetics, molecular genetics and biological study of sturgeons that are important in conservation and aquaculture.

          The proposed subject of dissertation is focused on morphology and genetics of fish from family Bramidae together with the identification of specific parasites. Data about species diversity of Bramidae in Southeast Pacific Basinis scarce. There is only a little information about the bathymetric occurrence of Brama  australis and research data on age, growth and mortality B. australis  in the southeastern Pacific Ocean. The fish individuals from Family Bramidae caught in the southeastern Pacific Ocean near Chile were classified as Brama australis, but within caught fish the three different morphological forms were noticed. Probably there are three different species or some hybrids.
          Currently the most fish populations are endangered (some are extincted) and misidentification or false species identification is a serious failure that have a negative impact and decrease the fish biodiversity. In this situation, the detailed fish species identification based on morphological traits, molecular markers and identification of specific parasites should be conducted. The application of proposed analyses allows the precise species or hybrids identification and gain the detailed information about biodiversity of Bramidae in studied geographical region.
          The proposed subject of the dissertation has an interdisciplinary character which cross the boundaries between different fields of research, including:ichthyology, fisheries, fish species identification, morphology, parasitology, application a new genetic tools in fisheries, molecular genetics and biological study of Bramidae that are important in fish biodiversity.

         Transcriptome analysis on high-throughput RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) data has been performed to identify sperm transcripts associated with the freezability of boar semen. It is envisaged that such approach will allow the use of a wide range of bioinformatics tools to explore candidate genes that contribute to sperm cryo-survival. In addition, a validation scheme (qRT-PCR, Western blotting) will be employed to reaffirm the biological roles of several different differentially expressed (DE) genes in sperm function following semen cryopreservation. It is likely that the utilization of transcriptome profiling of spermatozoa, in conjunction with advanced bioinformatics screening, will aid in the improvement in boar semen cryopreservation. The subject matter of the doctoral thesis intersects in the study of various disciplines and will fill in critical gaps in the knowledge of sperm-associated gene transcripts in semen freezability.

     The main concern for the release of antibiotics into the environment is related to the development of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and bacteria (ARB), which reduce the therapeutic potential against human and animal pathogens. Antibiotic resistance is determined by genes located on the bacterial chromosome or mobile elements, such as plasmids, transposons and integrons, which are efficient vectors for the spread of these genes between bacteria. Transfer of genetic information between individuals is achieved by two mechanisms: vertical, from parent to siblings, and horizontal (HGT) between individuals of the same or different species. Whereas the former ensures the maintenance of the identity of species, the latter is a driving force that strongly participates in evolutionary and adaptive processes. HGT plays a key role in the spread of multiple genetic traits, more importantly the resistance to antibiotics, and participates actively in the successful adaptation of bacteria to new niches. In the bacterial kingdom, HGT is mainly mediated by different types of mobile genetic elements (MGE) that constitute the mobilome. Among the MGE, bacterial plasmids represent up to 20% of the commonly shared bacterial genes (the so-called plasmidome) that move through HGT processes.Among the ecological compartments which may be considered as important for the transfer of antibiotic resistance two environments with varied sources of antibiotic pollution were chosen to study:

• environment polluted by human medicine: untreated and treated mixed municipal and hospital wastewater, water bodies which are receivers of WWTPs,
• environment polluted by veterinary medicine: manure from the poultry, dairy and swine farms, soil from fields fertilized with manure from the farms, groundwater and crops from the same fields.

The aim of this study will be to isolate and characterize resistance plasmids in aforementioned samples. Moreover, the study will determine if there is a correlation between concentration of antibiotics, their transformation products (TPs) and the presence of resistance plasmids in analyzed environmants.

In 2015 the World Health Organization has adopted a global antimicrobial action plan, which underlines the need for an effective implementation of the "ONE HEALTH" approach. The "One Health" concept recognizes that human health and animal health are interdependent and bound to the health of the ecosystem in which they (co)exist. In fact, this interconnection favors the transmission of bacteria and other infectious agents, as well as the flow of genetic elements containing antibiotic resistance genes. Therefore, understanding the characteristics and behavior of microorganisms from the most diverse environmental niches is important to take actions in order to attenuate the emergence and dissemination of resistance. The “One Health” approach involves coordination among numerous international sectors and entities, including human and veterinary medicine, agriculture, environment, food and consumer. In order to meet these needs and integrating these efforts, this study will include establishing the link between the various elements of the environment which are under pressure of human activities and the food produced as well as human health in this environment. The main concern for the release of antibiotics into the environment is related to the development of antibiotic resistance genes and bacteria, which reduce the therapeutic potential against human and animal pathogens. A number of reservoir and habitats may be sites for emergence and maintenance of resistant microorganisms. These include hospitals, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), farms, aquaculture and habitats to which feces and urine from humans and animals are excreted. Among the ecological compartments which may be considered as important for the transfer of antibiotic resistance we chose to study two different groups of environmental samples:

• the environment where antibiotics originated from human treatment: untreated and treated mixed hospital and municipal wastewater, water bodies which are receivers of WWTPs effluents, WWTPs’workers,
• the environment where antibiotics originated from animals treatment: manure from the poultry, dairy and swine farms, soil from fields fertilized with manure from the farms, groundwater and crops from the same fields, farms’ workers.

The aim of this study will be estimation of the relationship between concentration of the most used beta-lactams antibiotics, their TPs and antibiotic resistance genes and antibiotic resistant bacteria in aforementioned samples. Moreover, the sequencing analysis will enable us to determine changes in types of microorganisms presented in studied microbiome associated with the presence of drugs and their TPs. Additionally, antibiotic resistance of the bacterial population inhabiting the upper respiratory tract of WWTPs' and farms' workers will be estimated. The final results will allow us to determine the degree of environmental pollution by drugs, ARGs, ARB and the risk to humans related to the presence of these micropollutants in the environment.

ARGs are often associated with mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and thus horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a major concern in understanding the spread of antibiotic resistance and developing strategies for mitigation. The identification of hotspots of ARGs dissemination should rely on the detection of the common genetic structures hosting the ARGs (typically, mobile genetic elements) rather than the ARGs themselves. There are different types of mobile genetic elements, namely plasmids, transposons, bacteriophages, integrons. Integrons are of particular interest because: (i) are the simply elements involved in the mobility of gene cassettes, (ii) all have a common structure, (iii) can be associated to other mobile genetic elements and (iv) are particularly efficient in trapping ARGs.Among the ecological compartments which may be considered as important for the transfer of antibiotic resistance two environments with varied sources of antibiotic pollution will be chosen to study:

• environment polluted by human medicine: untreated and treated mixed hospital and municipal wastewater, water bodies which are receivers of WWTPs,
• environment polluted by veterinary medicine: manure from the poultry, dairy and swine farms, soil from fields fertilized with manure from the farms, groundwater and crops from the same fields.

 The aim of this study will be estimation of the relationship between concentration antibiotics, their transformation products (TPs) and integrase genes (intI1, intI2, intI3) in aforementioned samples. Moreover, the sequencing analysis will enable us to detect integron structures. By determination of structures of gene cassettes, information on antibiotic resistance and ARGs spread will be provided.

          Food products, including dairy products packaged in a modified atmosphere, are available for sale, to objective of meet consumers' needs for freshness and a longer shelf-life. The basis of packaging systems in a modified atmosphere are specific properties of particular gases, which share in the mixture is selected individually depending on the type of product.  Despite the many advantages of packaging in a vacuum system or in traditional gases, still looking for a new ones or composing their appropriate composition in order to improved the properties of packaged raw materials and dairy products, as well as to extend the shelf-life date. Therefore, the cognitive objective of the dissertation will be to gain a new knowledge about the biophysiochemical, sensory and microbiological changes occurring in mould cheeses during their cold storage in modified atmospheres with different concentrations of protective gases.
          The selection of mould cheese for research is due to their specificity. Besides to extending the shelf life, the packaging and composition of the atmosphere should ensure maintenance of the delicate surface (skin) of the cheese, which proves the attractiveness of the product.
          An important aspect of the research will be to determine and develope the optimal composition, as well as the concentration of protective gases, enable to the approprite formation of functional properties of mould cheese. The main aim of research will be to modification the composition of protective gases during the packaging in a modified atmosphere, in order to minimize the changes of quality of mould cheeses and to determine the appropriate of storage time. The necessary and simultaneously interdisciplinary will be also the determination of the quality parameters of raw milk, including the identification of the breed, age and period of lactation of cows, from which the raw material will be obtained for the production of mould cheese.

          Description of the subject of the dissertation with an explanation of what makes it interdisciplinary (200 – 300 words): Dissertation entitled: “Evolution and genome architecture in fungal plant pathogens” will cover exploration of mitogenomes and nuclear genomes of Fusaria responsible for plant diseases. Novel Next Generation Sequencing approaches and bioinformatic tools will be employed to achieve a wide range of genomic data allowing characterization of different fungal field populations. The studies will also include chemical analysis which will primarily involve identification of mycotoxin profiles of the studied strains. Mycological methods will cover isolation, incubation and storing of fungal strains for subsequent molecular and chemical analysis. The main goal of the planned studies is the linking of molecular, chemical and other metadata to achieve more comprehensive results allowing more precise characterization of this important group of phytopathogens.

          Dissertation entitled: “Monitoring of plant pathogenic fungi using novel detection tools” will cover development of novel detection tools for plant pathogenic fungi. Novel Next Generation Sequencing approaches and bioinformatic tools will be employed to achieve a wide range of genomic data allowing development of novel, mitochondrial-based detection tools for plant pathogenic fungi. The studied strains will originate from diverse European areas of cereal and legume cultivation. Biotechnological methods will include isolation, incubation and storing of fungal strains for subsequent molecular analysis (library preparation for NGS sequencing and qPCR). Novel on-line platforms and qPCR assays will be developed for more reliable characterization of Fusaria of agronomic importance. The platform and the qPCR tools will be used to characterize field populations of plant pathogenic fungi in different regions of Poland.

         Although there is a large variety of laboratory methods that can be used during the isolation of specific cell and tissue components, we still have problems in protein isolation with the right quality and quantity in order to obtain adequate results in the next stage of analysis. Electrophoretic studies are an important step in the analysis of cell and tissue proteome, and the degree of sample purification is of key importance here. The search for biological markers of reproductive processes is based on the analysis of both the qualitative and quantitative set of proteins isolated from spermatozoa, fluids or tissues of the male reproductive system. Choosing the optimal method of protein isolation is always difficult. The aim of the research will be to discover the relationship between the used isolation method and the quality and quantity of individual protein fractions in analyzed material.
         As a result of interdisciplinary activities combining research methods such as proteomic analysis of proteins from sperm, fluids and tissues of the reproductive system of selected animal species typical of the scientific discipline which is biology of reproduction and technological solutions using the phenomena of sound wave propagation in the liquid typical for the scientific discipline which is agricultural engineering is assumed to acquire new knowledge about the usefulness of ultrasounds to support the processes of protein isolation from the male reproductive system as well as purity and recovery rate of individual protein fractions from the initial preparation. Supporting ultrasound extraction may have a significant effect on solubility, diffusion, solvent penetration, analyte transport, extraction time and efficiency.

         It is generally agreed upon that hydrogen is an ultimate fuel of the future. This is because H2 is the only known ecologically clean fuel (its combustion leads to the formation of water molecule) with practically unlimited resources, as well as it has superior to other commonly known fuels heat of combustion (ca. 120-130 MJ/kg). The process of alkaline water electrolysis is one of the most promising technologies for the production of ultra-high purity hydrogen gas (powered e.g. by photovoltaic or wind energy sources), which is considered an ideal energy carrier for the renewable energy storage. The latter aspect is especially important with respect to rapid development of PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane), hydrogen/oxygen fuel cell technologies. This thesis aims at the development of advanced catalyst materials for the production of highly effective cathode (hydrogen generation) and anode (oxygen generation) electrodes, with optimized (minimized) overpotential parameters for a laboratory-scale alkaline water electrolyzer unit. Such-produced hydrogen and oxygen gases will then be properly purified and compressed in order to serve as fuel and oxidizing agent for a small size PEM-type (Ballard) fuel cell device. In this sense, the subject of water electrolysis becomes interdisciplinary science and technology, as it is closely related to a number of important areas of technical knowledge and industry, including: Environmental Management and Protection, Energy Generation and Storage (e.g. Energy Clusters), and Automotive Manufacturing.

          Heavy metals and their multiple industrial, agricultural, medical, domestic and technological applications have led to their wide distribution in the environment. Heavy metals have potential effects on human health and the environment. The effect of heavy metals on plants crops, in particular and Lemna minor, have  not been extensively studied yet. Therefore, the objective of this PhD thesis will be to demonstrate the influences of selected heavy metals on metabolic processes in crop plants and Lemna minor.  Therefore, the objective of the research will be to determine the physiological-biochemical plant responses induced by heavy metals.

1. The physiological responses will be evaluated by: 1. the determination of activity of selected enzymes related to the toxicity of metals 2. separation of proteins isolated from plants grown in optimum conditions and those subjected to the chemical stress (proteomic Maldi-TOF/TOF analysis); 3. identification of proteins related to the toxicity of heavy metals, 4. intracellular localization of free radicals (confocal microscopy), 5. assessment of chlorophyll content in plants.
2. Biophysical methods will include: spectroscopy and fluorescence analyses.

Chlorophyll will be extracted from leaves with methanol. The chlorophyll molar concentration and its percent decrease in the leaves will be calculated by spectroscopy. Spectroscopic and fluorescent methods will be applied in this study to analyse the rate and mechanisms of chlorophyll degradation by heavy metals in leaves.

          The current global consumption of petroleum-based synthetic plastic is approximately 299 Mt/year. Polystyrene (PS), commonly known as Styrofoam, accounted for approximately 7.1% (21 Mt/year) of the total plastic consumption. Although PS is considered a durable plastic, PS products are often designed for a short service time and one-time use as a result of the low cost of this material. The sharp contrast between the remarkable durability of PS and the short service time of PS products has led to the increasing accumulation of PS waste in our environment. Most of the collected PS waste is disposed along with municipal solid waste in landfills. Even more problematic is that a great amount of PS debris is also dispersed as “white pollutants” in the environment, becoming a global environmental concern. Research conducted at our University showed that mealworms (the larvae of Tenebrio molitor) chew and eat Styrofoam, a common PS product and it is efficiently degraded in the larval gut. What is more, these insects have received increasing attention during the past years as the potential protein source for animal feeds. Therefore, a combination of use mealworms for disposal of waste and animal feed production seems to be an interesting concept in line with the bioeconomy assumptions. However, the use of plastic-fed mealworms for the production of animal feed carries with it the potential health risk associated with residual microplastics. In recent years, plastic particles with a diameter <5 mm have been increasingly recognized a health hazard to animals and human. To discern the the specific health threats  and to gauge their relative severity we propose studies examining effects of microplastics in feed on indicators of animal health status which is essential for further development of this concept. We plan to study the effect of residue of microplastics in feed using zebrafish as a model organisms for farmed fish. To elucidate the potential  adverse effects caused by microplastics, a number of modern techniques will be used including, molecular biology techniques (qPCR), histopathology, immunofluorescence with use of confocal microscopy, behavioral analysis e.t.c.

        The current global consumption of petroleum-based synthetic plastic is approximately 299 Mt/year. Polystyrene (PS), commonly known as Styrofoam, accounted for approximately 7.1% (21 Mt/year) of the total plastic consumption. Although PS is considered a durable plastic, PS products are often designed for a short service time and one-time use as a result of the low cost of this material. The sharp contrast between the remarkable durability of PS and the short service time of PS products has led to the increasing accumulation of PS waste in our environment. Most of the collected PS waste is disposed along with municipal solid waste in landfills. Even more problematic is that a great amount of PS debris is also dispersed as “white pollutants” in the environment, becoming a global environmental concern. Research conducted at our University showed that mealworms (the larvae of Tenebrio molitor) chew and eat Styrofoam, a common PS product and it is efficiently degraded in the larval gut. What is more, these insects have received increasing attention during the past years as the potential protein source for animal feeds. Therefore, a combination of use mealworms for disposal of waste and animal feed production seems to be an interesting concept in line with the bioeconomy assumptions. However, the use of plastic-fed mealworms for the production of animal feed carries with it the potential health risk associated with residual microplastics. In recent years, plastic particles with a diameter

         Biomass has become the main renewable energy source (RES) in Poland and it accounted for 76% of all RES in 2015. Moreover, biomass is a raw material for the production of biogas and transport biofuels, which accounted for 5.5% and 6.7% of RES, respectively. The majority of biomass as energy and industrial feedstock is derived from forests. However, domestic policy has indicated an increased importance of agricultural biomass, including woody shrubs grown in short harvest rotations, such as willow, poplar and perennial herbaceous crops (PHC), e.g. cup plant, Virginia fanpetals. These plants could be grown on soils of poorer quality, unusable for growing crops for food or fodder. The area of land in Poland which meets the usability criteria for perennial energy and industrial crops, without providing competition or having a negative impact on the production of food and fodder, is estimated to be 1.6 million ha. In consequence, there are a number of opportunities in Poland for: (i) cultivation of perennial crops, (ii) utilization of soils of poor quality, and (iii) production of biomass as energy feedstock. Depending on the species and the harvest date, biomass of perennial plants can be used directly as a solid fuel or transformed into briquettes or pellets. It can also be used in biorefineries as feedstock for various bioproducts as well as liquid and gaseous biofuels. Currently, maize is the most frequently used substrate for the production of biogas in Poland, Germany and other EU countries. Development of biogas plants boosts RES production growth, it also stimulates the competition for maize as feedstock for fodder and food production. Therefore, cultivation of PHC creates opportunities: (i) to use soils of poor quality, (ii) it can be a source of biomass as a substrate or co-substrate for a biogas plant, i.e. it is a potential supplement and replacement for maize and (iii) it can also be a feedstock for other industrial purposes. Not much is known on the utilization of PHC for biogas production. Therefore, the aim of the study will to determine the biomass and biogas productivity and LCA analysis of biomass production of two PHC species. The planned research will be a combination of research in the field of Agronomy and Environmental Management and Protection. Biomass production and LCA will be implemented as part of research conducted in the Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Production (Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture). Research in the field of biogas efficiency will be carried out in cooperation with the Department of Environmental Engineering (Faculty of Environmental Sciences).

         The part of the economy that uses biomass, crops and residues from households, agriculture and food industry for the manufacturing of materials, chemicals, transportation fuels and energy is defined as biobased economy. The biobased economy consists of all options to produce food and non-food products and energy services from biomass. The biobased economy needs sustainable supply of biomass (including residues) for bioproduct generation and multiple uses. In this concept, no biomass should be used for energy generation unless other options have been considered of using it to produce higher value added products (hierarchy of biomass utilization). Therefore, the use of biomass residues from households for feeding insects for production of protein and fat is important for the national and world bioeconomy development. The planned research will be a combination of research in the field of agricultural and biological sciences. Biomass from agricultural residues, as a source of feed for selected insect species, will be provided from research carried out in the Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Production (Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture). Assessment of the suitability and growth rate of selected insect species, etc. will be carried out in cooperation of the Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Production and the Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection (Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology).

         A growing part of the population is not accepting common wheat and its bakery products due to gluten intolerance. In the same time these people choose ancient wheat species (like spelt, emmer or einkorn) as a common wheat replacement. In Poland einkorn was introduced by organic farmers and is gaining popularity due to increasing demand of consumers. Therefore it offers a combination of advantages of ancient wheat properties and organic growing technology (production without synthetic inputs). Our experience has shown that the organic method of wheat growing means not only lower yields but also inferior quality parameters like too low protein and gluten content, which make the grain less suitable for bakery. It is assumed that Innovating organic growing technologies, and especially better N nutrition (via legumes as fore-crops but also via organic N fertilizers approved in organic farming) will help to overcome the obstacles. There is another important aspect of the new growing technology is cost effectiveness. The subject is interdisciplinary as it combines the dietary expectations of growing group of gluten intolerance among consumers with innovating organic growing technology and the quality parameters of grain (food science) and the cost effectiveness of the new growing technology (economy).

         A growing part of the population is not accepting common wheat and its bakery products due to gluten intolerance. In the same time these people choose ancient wheat species (like spelt, emmer or einkorn) as a common wheat replacement. In Poland emmer was introduced by organic farmers and is gaining popularity due to increasing demand of consumers. Therefore it offers a combination of advantages of ancient wheat properties and organic growing technology (production without synthetic inputs). Our experience has shown that the organic method of wheat growing means not only lower yields but also inferior quality parameters like too low protein and gluten content, which make the grain less suitable for bakery. It is assumed that Innovating organic growing technologies, and especially better N nutrition (via legumes as fore-crops but also via organic N fertilizers approved in organic farming) will help to overcome the obstacles. There is another important aspect of the new growing technology is cost effectiveness. The subject is interdisciplinary as it combines the dietary expectations of growing group of gluten intolerance among consumers with innovating organic growing technology and the quality parameters of grain (food science) and the cost effectiveness of the new growing technology (economy).

        Platform substances are a group of chemicals that serve as starting materials for the production of different valuable chemicals. Currently, petroleum-based platform chemicals dominate in the industry. Therefore, to decrease both the environmental pollution and the use of fossil fuels, the idea of the production of platform chemicals from renewable source has been gaining interest. In this study, distillery residue that contains high amount of organic matter will account for a sustainable feedstock for the production of selected platform chemicals using a biorefinery concept. Based on the literature study and the analysis of distillery residue, the potential chemicals that can be produced from this waste source will be first selected. Next, the methods of environmental engineering, biotechnology and chemical technology will be used for the optimization of the production of these platform substances, including the searching for a method of substrate pretreatment. The goal of the study will be to investigate the effective technological solution for the production of the selected platform chemicals from distillery residue. The combination of the interdisciplinary methodologies will allow achieving the assumed research goals.

          Demand for renewable fuels means that the volume of waste generated in industrial distilleries increases. Distillery residue contains high amount of organic matter, therefore direct using as fertilizers for agriculture or direct using for animal feeding or treating by anaerobic digestion for biogas production have been the main ways to deal with it so far. In this dissertation, biorefinery approach is planned, in which treatment of distillery residue will be integrated with an expanded resource recovery. Distillery residue will be separated by pressure-driven membrane filtration. The permeate and retentate will be valorized as sources of biobased materials that can be recovered. The production of volatile fatty acid by anaerobic digestion by eliminating the methane-forming phase will be investigated as one of the paths. Furthermore, saccharide recovery will be evaluated. The variations in the order of the above unit processes in a technological chain will be examined to determine the most effective way to deal with the distillery residue in terms of material recovery. In addition, the methods of digestate utilization will be tested.
         The proposed research topic is related to the application of methods used in environmental engineering, such as membrane techniques, and methods used in biotechnology, e.g. production of biobased materials. The combination of methodologies available in these disciplines will allow achieving the assumed research goals.

         With the increasing production of tvarogs (acid coagulated cheese) and even greek yoghurts, there is a need for optimized acid whey processing. Many dairy plants, especially small and medium, suffer with lack of technology to process acid whey into valuable food products. Additional problem create the necessity to manage the wastes produced during whey processing, i.e. UF permeate.
The research will focus on identification of optimal parameters of acid whey treatment. The aim of this project is to develop several technologies to process acid whey into added value dairy based ingredients. Several schemes for whey treatment will be developed depending on the size of the dairy processing plant. The threshold values of critical ingredients (i.e. dry matter, protein) will be determined in order to calculate the economic feasibility of the process. The technological determinants (i.e. type of equipment, process parameters) of acid whey processing will be selected. The technology to concentrate and/or fractionate acid whey ingredients will be developed. It is necessary to choose the most relevant sequence of fractionation methods and conditions applied during processing to produce tailored dairy products with desired functional properties. The by-products of acid whey processing that cannot be used for the production of food products, will be utilized to produce i.e. biofuels. The proposed project guarantees the complex and interdisciplinary approach to acid whey management in dairy plants.