On December 18th, 2023, the Biogas Research Team indulged in our annual end-of-year general meeting and team party. The event was filled with highlights, from our yearly overview of achievements, team projects, and research activities to food, fun and games. One of the outstanding moments of the day was the annual BRT award ceremony, wher
On December 18th, 2023, the Biogas Research Team indulged in our annual end-of-year general meeting and team party. The event was filled with highlights, from our yearly overview of achievements, team projects, and research activities to food, fun and games. One of the outstanding moments of the day was the annual BRT award ceremony, where the most valuable team members were recognised for their research achievements and willingness to go above and beyond to help others.
The Most Valuable Member of Biogas Research Team 2023 Award is a recognition bestowed upon an outstanding individual who has demonstrated exceptional dedication, leadership, and contribution to the overall success and advancement of the Biogas Research Team throughout the year 2023. This award acknowledges their significant role, tireless efforts, and positive impact on the team's objectives, moving forward a culture of excellence, collaboration, and innovation within the research community as well as within the team.
The recipients of this award are chosen based on an anonymous voting system by the team members and by the Biogas Research Team Group Leader, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hynek Roubík.
We are pleased to announce that this year, there were not one but two recipients of the BRT award. Both candidates not only won unanimously by the team's voting system but were also chosen by the group leader as equally deserving of the honour.
Without further ado, we are pleased to announce the 2023 BRT award winners!
And the winners are…
Dr. Viktoriia Chubur and Dr. Eduardo Duque Dussán.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 BRT Most Valuable Member award!
Dr. Viktoriia completed her BSc. And MSc studies specializing in "Ecology and Environmental Protection at the Sumy State University (SumDU), Ukraine. She then pursued her Doctoral studies at SSU in collaboration with the Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague (CZU) under the Biogas Research Team (BRT), obtaining her PhD degree in the
Dr. Viktoriia completed her BSc. And MSc studies specializing in "Ecology and Environmental Protection at the Sumy State University (SumDU), Ukraine. She then pursued her Doctoral studies at SSU in collaboration with the Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague (CZU) under the Biogas Research Team (BRT), obtaining her PhD degree in the field of "Environmental Protection Technologies under the research topic "Environmentally Safe Utilization of Waste for Energy Purposes in Environmental Protection Technologies" with a specific focus on anaerobic digestion of waste for biogas production, with the possibility of using chemical industry waste, such as phosphogypsum (PG) as a mineral additive. Throughout her academic journey, she gained experience through internships in biogas laboratories in Ukraine (Regional Office of Water Resources in Sumy region), the Czech Republic (CZU), Germany (TU Bergakademie Freiberg), and Austria (IFA-Tulln - BOKU), and through participation in the realization of Ukraine-Czech projects and other international projects within the BRT. For the past three years, she was the Head of SumDU’s Faculty Scientific Association of Students (Postgraduates, Doctoral Students, and Young Scientists). During her postgraduate studies, under the guidance of her supervisors (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yelizaveta Chernysh and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hynek Roubík).
Dr. Viktoriia is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the BRT. Upon successfully completing her postgraduate studies within three years, she continues her growth in the BRT. One of the current projects she is actively involved in is our "Phosphogypsum Processing to Critical Raw Materials" project, focusing on the comprehensive use of PG with samples from Ukraine, Poland, Spain, and Croatia.
She is also the BRT Laboratory Coordinator; within this role, she helps coordinate and develop our biogas laboratory and conducts experiments on anaerobic fermentation and bio-testing of organo-mineral fertilizer obtained from digestates. She is also the BRT Laboratory Coordinator; within this role, she helps coordinate and develop our biogas laboratory and conducts experiments on anaerobic fermentation and bio-testing of organo-mineral fertilizer obtained from digestates.
In addition to her scientific work, Dr. Viktoria is also a key member of the BRT Communications and Dissemination Team (BRT Comms Team) and has helped to manage the BRT social media communication with the aim to ensure the accessibility and openness of scientific research to the wider public – a fundamental value of the BRT's work.
Dr. Viktoriia’s dedication, hard work and achievements speak for themself and make her a deserving candidate for the BRT award.
Congratulations, Dr. Viktoriia, on winning the award!
Dr. Eduardo Duque Dussán - The 2023 BRT AWARD WINNER Dr. Eduardo Duque Dussán earned his Ph.D. in Sustainable Technologies from the Czech University of Life Sciences (CZU), Prague, specializing in the design and evaluation of a Hybrid Solar Tunnel Dryer for Parchment Coffee in Colombia (2020-2023). His academic journey includes an MBA fro
Dr. Eduardo Duque Dussán - The 2023 BRT AWARD WINNER Dr. Eduardo Duque Dussán earned his Ph.D. in Sustainable Technologies from the Czech University of Life Sciences (CZU), Prague, specializing in the design and evaluation of a Hybrid Solar Tunnel Dryer for Parchment Coffee in Colombia (2020-2023). His academic journey includes an MBA from ESNECA Business School (2020-2021), an MSc in Chemical and Process Engineering from the Czech Technical University (2017-2019) and a Mechanical Engineering undergraduate degree from the Universidad Autónoma de Manizales.
Dr. Duque Dussán's professional experience includes roles as a Catedratic Lecturer at the Universidad de Caldas, a Discipline Engineer at Bilfinger Tebodin, and a Senior Design Engineer at Herragro S.A. His responsibilities ranged from piping design and plant layout generation to teaching fluid mechanics and designing machinery for hot forging.
He is currently a researcher at the Faculty of Tropical Agrisciences at CZU, where he has actively contributed to the Biogas Research Team (BRT) and Food Security Research Group (FSRG) since July 2021. His tasks encompass waste management technology design, mechanical engineering, teaching activities, development projects in the BRT, and involvement in food drying technologies and mechanical design in FSRG.
He actively engages in research projects, conferences, and publications, with a focus on sustainable agriculture, coffee drying, and energy-efficient processes. Dr. Duque Dussán's dedication extends to international collaborations, including projects in Cambodia, Nepal, and Zambia. He contributes to research groups such as the Biogas Research Team, Food Security, and Postharvest Technologies from the National Coffee Research Center of Colombia.
In summary, Dr. Eduardo Duque Dussán is a versatile professional with expertise in sustainable technologies, mechanical and chemical engineering, and a strong commitment to academic research and international collaboration. He is a more than deserving candidate for the BRT Most Valuable Team Member award.
Congratulations, Dr. Duque Dussán, on winning the award!