Our speakers at DOC2025

A

Achenbach, Birk

I studied biotechnology with a focus on bioprocess development at Mannheim University of Applied Sciences. I gained practical experience through internships and theses in medical screening methods, production plant design, and membrane technology. As a doctoral candidate at the University of Stuttgart, I have focused on developing production processes for copolymeric PHAs since 2023.

B

Balleh Jobe, Fatou

Fatou Balleh Jobe is a dedicated PhD candidate in Environmental Engineering and a Scientific Research Assistant at the University of Rostock, specializing in Bioenergy and Green Hydrogen with a focus on Carbon Capture, Storage, and Utilization. She co-organizes the annual International Conference on Circular Economy, Renewable Energies, and Green Hydrogen in Africa.

C

Christou, Myrsini

Agricultural engineer (MSc Environmental Planning), head of Biomass Dept. at CRES. Expertise in biomass potential, sustainable production, and value chain assessment. Coordinator of ICARUS (aviation biofuels) & GreenMeUp (biomethane). Leads EERA Bioenergy and serves on multiple European bioenergy and biogas platforms and associations.

F

Flaig, Valerie

Valerie Flaig completed her master's degree in process engineering at TH Köln in August 2024. Simultaneously, she began working on the research project ‘Carbonate Looping with a Mobile Plant (CARMEN)’ at TH Köln in cooperation with TU Darmstadt. Her focus is evaluating the carbonate looping process within overall CCU/CCS process chains, assessing both economic and ecological aspects.

Prof. Dr. Freyer, Stephan

Prof. Dr. Stephan Freyer, chemist from University of Cologne, entered biotechnology at Research Center Jülich and earned his PhD. He joined BASF in 1993, later becoming research director. His work covers amino acids, biopolymers, biorefining, and applications in nutrition, crop care, and oil recovery. Since 2025 he is professor at TUHH and advisor.

G

M. Sc. Garção, Maria Isabella Lima

Background in Chemical Engineering, with BSc at UTFPR, Brazil and MSc at IPB, Portugal. PhD candidate since 2023 at the University of Hohenheim, Germany. The research focuses on two-stage anaerobic digestion for enhanced liquid manure utilization in a highly standardized and automated pilot-scale plant. The approach aims to provide an economically viable and transferable solution for manure digestion.

L

Leal, Leiddi

Leiddi Leal is an environmental engineer with a master’s in environmental technologies. She is a doctoral candidate at the University of Hohenheim, Germany, focusing on optimizing hydrothermal biomass conversion to produce phosphate-based fertilizers. Her work includes process simulation, environmental impact, and economic feasibility using Aspen Plus® software.

S

Seyedla, Niloufar Hasanpour

I am a PhD candidate in Environmental Economics at University College Cork, researching social acceptance and market development of anaerobic digestion and microalgae biorefineries. With experience in AD optimisation and project management, my research supports the creation of replicable business models to expand bioenergy deployment across Ireland.

T

M. Sc. Toriello España, Natalia

Researcher at University of Hohenheim with a background in chemical engineering at Universidad Iberoamericana and a masters in Air Quality Control, Solid Waste and Wastewater Process Engineering at University of Stuttgart. My focus is on hydrothermal carbonization with integrated phosphorus recovery to develop pore-forming agents for bricks, aiming to advance the circular economy in construction.

V

M. Sc. Vicente, Jeferson Felipe Rio

Master’s in Chemical Engineering from the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (2023), currently Research Assistant at the Department of Conversion Technologies of Biobased Resources, University of Hohenheim. Work focuses on the Edelnass project, enhancing the value of paludiculture biomass through different approaches.