SHORT SUMMARY OF SCIENTIFIC LIFE

Zainab Ul Kausar (Pakistan, 1997) is a chemical engineer (UAB, 2019) with a Master's degree in Biological and Environmental Engineering (UAB, 2021). During her MSc studies, she received a scholarship (BECA-COLABORACIÓN) to contribute to the department's research project, which consists of optimizing the configuration of microbial electrolysis cells for efficient hydrogen production from wastewater. Her master's final study involved the comprehensive screening of carbon based anode materials for bioelectrochemical systems. She is now pursuing a PhD in Environmental Science and Technology within the scope of an EU project (VIVALDI), and her research focuses on the conversion of CO2 into value added compounds. 

Zainab’s current research interests are:

• Bioelectrochemical nitrogen recovery from high-N-loaded wastewaters.
• Electrochemical CO2 reduction to formic acid
• Study the impact of formic acid for platform chemical 3 hydroxypropionic acid production in Pichia Pastoris
• Coupling of CO2 electroreduction and fermentations in a single reactor.

Publications

Ul, Z. et al. Systematic screening of carbon‐based anode materials for bioelectrochemical systems. J of Chemical Tech & Biotech 98, 1402–1415 (2023).

Galeano, M. B. et al. Bioelectrochemical ammonium recovery from wastewater: A review. Chemical Engineering Journal 472, 144855 (2023).

Ul, Z., Sulonen, M., Baeza, J. A. & Guisasola, A. Continuous high-purity bioelectrochemical nitrogen recovery from high N-loaded wastewaters. Bioelectrochemistry 158, 108707 (2024).