BrainMap

Mrs. Bianca-Denisa Chereji

Assistant Professor

- UNIVERSITATEA AUREL VLAICU ARAD

Researcher | Teaching staff

Web of Science ResearcherID: AFH-9154-2022

Expertise & keywords

Exploring the World through STEAM for a Sustainable Future Call name: PNCDI IV, P 5.10 - Știință și societate - Știința în școli - SS-SC-2024
PN-IV-P10-SS-SC-2024-0128 2025 - 2026

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA AUREL VLAICU ARAD

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA AUREL VLAICU ARAD (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website:

Abstract:

The project aims to develop STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) competencies among middle and high school students by providing innovative educational opportunities that address global challenges such as climate change, digitalization, and resource management. Activities include lectures by researchers, visits to the laboratories of "Aurel Vlaicu" University of Arad, thematic workshops, and FameLab-style competitions, all focused on practical applicability, critical thinking, and social responsibility.

The project targets the participation of 2,000 students from 26 schools, including 20 rural classes. It will organize 9 laboratory visits, 2 science caravans, 300 thematic workshops, 15 experimental ateliers, and 4 competitions with prizes. Additionally, a digital magazine and a website will be developed to support the dissemination of results and the promotion of STEAM education.

Implemented by "Aurel Vlaicu" University of Arad, in partnership with a private company and pre-university educational institutions, the project provides students and teachers with access to modern learning methods, advanced resources, and opportunities to explore technologies and innovations, contributing to the preparation of a generation capable of tackling global challenges.

The impact of different habitats and abiotic stressors on the metabolites of plants from Galium and Helichrysum genera Call name: PNCDI IV, SP 5.8.3 - Proiecte de colaborare cu Republica Moldova
PN-IV-P8-8.3-ROMD-2023-0022 2024 - 2026

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA AUREL VLAICU ARAD

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA AUREL VLAICU ARAD (RO); Universitatea de Stat de Medicină şi Farmacie „Nicolae Testemiţanu” (MD)

Affiliation:

Project website: https://moldrogahe.uav.ro/

Abstract:

The project is focused on the diverse secondary metabolites in plants, particularly in the Galium and Helichrysum genera. These compounds, including polyphenols, essential oils, and terpenoids, have gained attention due to their potential therapeutic uses. The study aims to investigate how these plants change their secondary metabolite profiles in response to various growth conditions and habitats, including stressors like drought, high carbon dioxide, and ozone.

The project outlines the following specific objectives:

O1: Screening the different plant species from Galium and Helichrysum genera from different locations from Moldavia and Romania regarding photosynthetic parameters and secondary metabolites

O2: Determination of secondary metabolites and photosynthetic parameters, from Galium and Helichrysum spp. grown in abiotic stress conditions (drought, elevated carbon dioxide, ozone)

O3: Determination of antioxidant and antiradical potentials of essential oils and hydroalcoholic extracts from Galium and Helichrysum spp.

O4: Involvement of researchers and Ph.D. students from the Moldavian Republic in advanced research

The research methodology involves the analysis of photosynthetic parameters, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pigments, polyphenols, and antioxidant capacity. The project's originality lies in its focus on stress-induced changes in secondary metabolites and their implications.

Improving the nutritional quality of meat products by applying some innovative technological strategies Call name: P 2 - SP 2.1 - Proiect experimental - demonstrativ
PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2021-3240 2022 - 2024

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA AUREL VLAICU ARAD

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA AUREL VLAICU ARAD (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website: https://gelly-meat.uav.ro/

Abstract:

Today there is a tendency of eliminating trans and saturated fats from foodstuffs, because of the proved relation between their consumption and appearance of some cardiovascular diseases. A current promising fats’ substitution in foods is represented by oleogelation, which represents a new technique of imparting to liquid vegetable oils the functionality of solid fats, resulting a gel-like structure. Nutritionally improved food products which incorporate oleogels contain less amounts of saturated fats and a more important content of polyunsaturated fatty acids. In food applications, oleogelation is one of the most-in-trend strategies for substitution of unhealthy saturated fats, with applicability in bakeries, spreads, confectioneries, and meat products.

Considering all listed aspects regarding the health benefits of using oleogels as fats replacers in food products, we consider that it is a great opportunity and need to obtain novel oleogels, starting from the actual state of knowledge from the field. The challenge to design new oleogels applicable in meat products represents the starting point for current project proposal, while the development of some innovative and healthy reformulated meat products constitutes the final aim. We have proposed to obtain reformulated canned minced meat, by substituting saturated animal fats usually used within classical technology with oleogels pumpkin seed oil-based. This action is salutary, taking into consideration the fact that worldwide there are only few studies regarding the development of a pumpkin seed oil-based oleogel, unstudied in meat products. It is also o chance to expand the consumption of pumpkin seed oil in human diet, due to its nutritive and therapeutical benefits. Feasibility of proposed project will be verified through innovative meat products’ level of acceptance through consumers, as well as through the nutritive and sensorial differences registered as against same meat products traditionally obtained.

The impact of abiotic and biotic stresses on plants due to climate changes Call name: P 4 - Proiecte de Cercetare Exploratorie, 2020
PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2020-0410 2021 - 2023

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA AUREL VLAICU ARAD

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA AUREL VLAICU ARAD (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website: https://stressedplants.uav.ro/wordpress/

Abstract:

Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas emitted into the atmosphere due to human activities. Global CO2 concentration has risen more than ever in the last 20 years, from 385 ppm in 2010 to 416 ppm in June 2020. The working hypothesis of the project is based on the fact that because of climate change (increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration and global temperature), plants subject to other stressors (abiotic and biotic) tend to develop certain defense mechanisms including emission of different volatile organic compounds and modification in the synthetic pathway of other secondary metabolites.

The general objective of the present study is to investigate the influence of abiotic and biotic stresses on plants grow at elevated carbon dioxide in order to include the volatile emission in global models and to determine the modifications in the synthesis of secondary metabolites.

The originality and innovation elements of the present project consist of studies regarding stress-induced (both abiotic and biotic) to plants grown at high carbon dioxide concentration.

Closing the bioeconomy value chains by manufacturing market demanded innovative bioproducts Call name: P 1 - SP 1.2 - Proiecte complexe realizate in consorții CDI
PN-III-P1-1.2-PCCDI-2017-0569 2018 - 2021

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Chimie si Petrochimie - ICECHIM Bucuresti

Project partners: Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Chimie si Petrochimie - ICECHIM Bucuresti (RO); INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE MACROMOLECULARA "PETRU PONI" (RO); UNIVERSITATEA "DUNAREA DE JOS" (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU STIINTE BIOLOGICE (RO); UNIVERSITATEA AUREL VLAICU ARAD (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA AUREL VLAICU ARAD (RO)

Project website: http://icechim-rezultate.ro/proiect.php?id=51&lang=ro

Abstract:

Agriculture and food industry in Romania generates large amounts of co/by-products, which are not used and turn into wastes, with negative impacts. The approach of the project PRO-SPER is to develop integrated processes, flexible and interconnected, to transform a number of agro-food by-products in bio-products, with market demand. This approach facilitates the achievement of project goals, complex-coordination and linking of the research organizations that are members of the Consortium, INCDCP-ICMPP, UDJ, ICECHIM, INCDSB and UAV, for improving their institutional performance in the field of nano-and bio-technologies of their application into bioeconomy.

The overall objective of the project PRO-SPER is to increase the impact of research and development activities and innovation of the RDI institutions, by developing and harnessing innovative technological solutions for bio-nano-processing of several by-products from the bioeconomy value chains, for recovering and/or formation of value-added components and their use in order to obtain products with high added value.

Expected results through the implementation of the project (21 new jobs, 23 national patent applications and international patent applications 6 EPO/WIPO; 10 technologies/new products resulting from the project, at a level of technological maturity to enable taking over by the operators, 5 services research and technological research services 10 cheques, 10 experiments cheques services

80 internship of young researchers from and within partner institutions, 50 visits for developing new techniques for working jointly in the Consortium, 30 training internships for new employees, 28scientific papers, 1 joint program CDI, in line with the development plan of institutional partners) have a significant impact on the capacity-building of the partners in the Consortium.

FILE DESCRIPTION	DOCUMENT
List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects