BrainMap

Flavia-Viorela Borteș

PhD student

PhD student, Research assistant, Engineer - UNIVERSITATEA AUREL VLAICU ARAD

Student | PhD student

Flavia-Viorela Borteș is presently undertaking a doctoral degree, possessing a substantial research background in the disciplines of environmental engineering and plant ecophysiology. She has engaged in research activities at the Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Aurel Vlaicu University, located in Arad, Romania, for a duration of four years. During her tenure at this institution, she has contributed to a significant body of work, evidenced by her participation in over seventy national and international conferences. Furthermore, she has disseminated her findings through the publication of four scholarly articles in esteemed scientific journals.

Web of Science ResearcherID: https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/ADU-6622-2022

Curriculum Vitae (07/01/2026)

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.

Cell-penetrating peptides-containing systems as a potential platform for the use in breast and prostate cancer treatment Call name: P 4 - Proiecte de cercetare exploratorie - PCE-2021
PN-III-P4-PCE-2021-0639 2022 - 2024

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA AUREL VLAICU ARAD

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA AUREL VLAICU ARAD (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website: https://cpps-cancer.uav.ro/

Abstract:

Cancer became a major concern with human morbidity and mortality worldwide, therefore many strategies have been applied to combat the propagation of cancer cells and their elevated growth such as chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. Cell-penetrating peptides, CPPs, are useful vectors for the delivery of therapeutic agents such as drugs, siRNA, splice-correcting oligonucleotides, proteins, and plasmids. This project will focus on the design and synthesis of new cell-penetrating peptides obtained by performing chemical modifications of well known antimicrobial peptides. The CPPs will be non-covalently conjugated with different established drugs to obtain stable complexes to study the cellular uptake and pharmacological effects in relevant biological systems. The project aims to develop suitable methods for cell delivery of drugs with high specificity for cell/tissue cancer phenotypes. This project has a strong multidisciplinary character which falls into a special important area of science since it brings together a wide area of expertise including peptide/organic chemistry, molecular biology, cell biology.

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.

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