Scientific biography

On 20 February 1996 I was awarded the title of Master of Sciences in Biology (specialism: microbiology). I completed my Master’s thesis entitled “The in situ bioremediation of soil contaminated with petroleum products (soil profile washing)” at the Department of Environmental Microbiology, under the supervision of prof. dr. hab. Ewa Kurek. These researches constituted an important part of the project implemented by the Department of Environmental Microbiology and the District Directorate of the Head Office for Petroleum Products in Lublin entitled “The modification of the soil environment contaminated with petroleum products conducive to the intensive degradation of these products by native microflora (usingthe example of the contaminated soil at ZGPN (Petroleum Products Management Plant)No. 1 in Zawadówka)”.

During first years of my work as a Trainee Assistant (1996) I implemented a research task entitled “Cd release from Cd-saturated soil ingredients in vitro after introducing them into the soil” as part of project No. 6 P205 036 07 (a grant from the State Committee for Scientific Research 1994-96). In the following years, as an Assistant, my research focused on the immobilization and mobilization of cadmium in the soil environment and the impact of microbiological activity on these processes. I performed research tasks implemented within the statutory activities of the Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology (until 2011 the Faculty of Biology and Earth Sciences). I was the main researcher in project No. 6 P04C 045 21 (a grant from the State Committee for Scientific Research, 2001-2004). The results obtained during the implementation of the above-mentioned grant were discussed in my doctoral dissertation entitled“The role of microorganisms in the processes of cadmium sorption and desorption in soil”, defended on 12 November 2003. My PhD thesis were also written under supervision of prof. dr hab. Ewa Kurek.

From 2004 to 2016, I worked as Assistant Professor at the Department of Environmental Microbiology, UMCS. During this period of time, I was implementing (as the head of the grant) the project no. N N305 336334 (2008-2011) entitled “Transformation of cadmium accumulated by plant roots” that was financed by the National Science Center. The aims of my researches was to identify the rate and efficiency of the mobilization of cadmium previously immobilized in the root biomass of two plant species (Festuca ovina and Secale cereale) by water extracts from soil and Cd immobilization by solid phase components of the soil. I determined the distribution of cadmium between soil fractions separated by the sequential extraction method after Cd release from the root biomass. I conducted in vitro tests using the multi-chamber system and in vivo tests – pot-plant cultivation. Whereas, effectiveness of Cd stabilization was determined in three environments, significantly changed by man: (1) in soils fertilized with sewage sludge, (2) in soils used for Festuca ovina grass cultivation and (3) in soils originated from the storage area of post-floatation wastes from Zn-Pb ore mine covered with plants and without plant cover. This ten-year research cycle ended with the preparation of the post-doctoral accomplishment entitled “The role of microorganisms and soil constituents in the transformations of cadmium accumulated in the roots of grassy plants”. On 23 May 2018, I obtained the he post-doctoral degree (habilitation) in biological sciences in biology From 1 October 2018 I has been working as Assistant Professor  in Department of Industrial and Environmental Microbiology.

Major research-related accomplishments and their possible applications

1. I have demonstrated that grasses such as S. cereale and F. ovina can be used as phytostabilisers of soil-contaminating cadmium because they accumulate this metal in their roots and are characterized by the low Cd translocation to shoots.

2. I have shown that the intracellular accumulation and chelation of cadmium are the essential processes in Cd stabilization by the roots of S. cereale and F. ovina.

3. I have established than cadmium stress stimulates the rhizodeposition of organic compounds (a potential source of easily degradable carbon and nitrogen compounds), resulting in the stimulation of the proliferation of the group of microorganisms resistant to the metal and colonising the root surface of S. cereale and  F. ovina forming a protective barrier.

4. I have demonstrated that Cd immobilized by the root is easily released as a result of abiotic processes (e.g. desorption under aseptic conditions) and biotic processes

(e.g. microbiological degradation of dead cells), and the final concentration of the metal in the soil solution depends on the rate of its mobilization and resorption by the mineral and organic constituents of the soil’s solid phase.

5. I have demonstrated evidence that plants, in a close interaction with their own microbiota, control the chemical composition and pH of the soil solution, determining the trend and rate of Cd migration between the plant, the soil solution and soil’s solid phase, and that the shift of the balance of processes towards metal immobilization from the liquid phase of the soil by plants (bioaccumulation) or bioprecipitation and biosorption from the rhizosphere will increase the efficiency of cadmium phytostabilization.

6. I have documented the formation of stable humus and Cd immobilization as a result of the humification of plant residues during F. ovina cultivation (a pot experiment).

7. I have proven that in the case of F. ovina grass, the loss of stability in cadmium immobilised in its roots was balanced out with the incorporation of Cd in the humus structure. This fact should be considered an important element in phytoremediation, because an increase in the humus content in soil is stimulated by plants and microorganisms.