Milena Marycz, PhD, Eng., awarded an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship 2025 | Gdańsk University of Technology

The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships are among the most competitive grant schemes for postdoctoral researchers internationally. The scheme supports the development of research careers, researcher mobility, and the implementation of innovative research projects within the international scientific community. In the 2025 call, the European Research Executive Agency received 17,066 applications, of which 16,836 met the formal criteria and were forwarded for evaluation.

Dr Milena Marycz’s project aims to develop biotechnologies to upgrade biogas with hydrogen, converting it into biomethane with higher energy content. The research is in line with current trends in the development of sustainable energy technologies, the circular economy and the efficient use of renewable energy sources.

The project will be carried out over two years at leading research institutions in Europe: the University of Valladolid (UVa) in Spain and Ghent University in Belgium, in collaboration with an international team of specialists. The project’s academic supervisor is Professor Raul Muñoz Torre, representing UVa.

“Receiving an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship grant is a tremendous honour for me and, at the same time, an important step in the further development of my research career. This scheme provides comprehensive conditions for conducting research at the highest level: access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure, support from experienced experts, and the opportunity to focus entirely on the project. Another key element is funding for participation in leading scientific conferences and developing international collaboration, which significantly enhances the scientific and implementation potential of the research. I hope that the research results will contribute to the development of effective biomethane production technologies that support the energy transition,” said the researcher. “The project covers both basic research, such as understanding the biological and process mechanisms involved in biogas conversion, and the development of solutions with high application potential, implemented in collaboration with industry. In particular, it focuses on the analysis of specialised communities of anaerobic microorganisms and their role in gas conversion processes. At the same time, innovative bioreactor concepts designed for efficient gas conversion will be developed and optimised, including the design and testing of proprietary solutions. This approach not only allows for expanding scientific knowledge but also for developing solutions that can be applied in economic practice,” she added.

Being awarded an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship is a significant achievement in a research career. Dr Marycz is the second person from the Gdańsk University of Technology to receive this award, confirming the growing recognition of Gdańsk Tech’s research within the international scientific community.