Name and Surname: Marco Vitale
Organization: IMDEA Energy
Major Fields of Research/Activity: Process modeling and sustainability assessment of energy systems
- What is your role in the YAF project? What are you currently working on within the scope of YAF?
My role as Doctoral Candidate 10 in the YAF project consists of the modeling, optimization and sustainability assessment of yeast-based sustainable aviation fuels production processes. Within the scope of my individual research project, I’m currently working on the integration of fermentation dynamics into wider process simulation models.
- Why do you think the YAF research is important for your career development and how it will impact the society?
YAF research gives me privileged access to cutting-edge advances in both microbial and bioprocess engineering. As bio-based production gains relevance, these insights will support my future work in the field and contribute to the future sustainable production of essential goods and services.
- What or who inspired you to go into academia/research?
I think it can essentially be reduced to curiosity, a passion for challenges, and a belief in the potential of human ingenuity to tackle them, together with the will to contribute to sustainable solutions for our common future on Earth.
- For you, what is most challenging and/or exciting about your work in YAF?
I guess the most challenging part of my work in YAF lies in reconciling understandable model descriptions with the complexity of microbial life. An exciting side of this challenge is that ours is a collaborative, multidisciplinary effort, so that doubts usually turn into new paths ahead through suggestions and insights from other specialists.
- Write a catchy slogan for your IRP.
From fermenters, through models, to the sky, together sustainably we’ll fly!
- Where can we find you after work? Doing what?
If it comes to some indoor time, I enjoy spending it reading or playing volleyball; outdoors, I like sports in general, hiking or going for long walks.