"My main research interest is the development of quantitative understanding
of physical, chemical and biological processes, especially their interactions,
in DNAPL-contaminated areas. RESTORE is a group of researchers that share my
interest. The model, being developed in collaboration with RESTORE, supports the
first in situ field DNAPL source area bioremediation trial in Europe."
Project Title:
Process-Based Modeling of Enhanced Anaerobic Bioremediation of
Trichloroethene in DNAPL Source Zones.
Project Description:
Chlorinated solvents and other dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs)
are widespread groundwater contaminants. Bioremediation within DNAPL
source zones is a promising approach for degrading these contaminants to
harmless products because some dechlorination microorganisms can survive
in otherwise toxic DNAPL source zones and by their activity facilitate
the dissolution of DNAPLs. Modeling of immiscible phase trichloroethene
(TCE) biodegradation does not yet properly account for the complexity of
processes observed in laboratory studies. The goal of Irina’s project is
to develop a comprehensive process-based numerical model for simulating
the enhanced anaerobic bioremediation of TCE and to support laboratory
and field work within Source Area Bioremediation (SABRE) project. SABRE
is a public/private consortium of twelve companies, two government
agencies, and three research institutions across US, Canada, and UK. The
focus of this 4-year $5.7 million research and development project is a
field site in the United Kingdom containing a DNAPL source area with
groundwater concentrations approaching TCE solubility.
Personal Background:
Irina (born in 1978) completed her Bachelor in Geology with Honors
at the Moscow State University (Russia) in 1999. In 2000, she joined
International Master’s course in Applied Environmental Geosciences at
the University of Tuebingen (Germany) and achieved her Master degree in
2002. She continued as a PhD candidate at the University of Tuebingen
within the environmental economics workgroup at the Center for Applied
Geoscience focusing on remediation modeling and gained her PhD (magna
cum laude) in 2006. In November 2006, she started working as a
postdoctoral fellow in the Institute for Infrastructure and Environment
under the supervision of Dr. Jason Gerhard at the University of
Edinburgh (UoE). In November 2007, she joined the group at Ecological
Engineering Laboratory at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL,
Switzerland) as a visiting scientist. Since November 2006, Irina has
been working on the Source Area Bioremediation project under the
supervision of Dr. Jason Gerhard and Prof. Andrew Barry (EPFL). She is
responsible for the development of the comprehensive numerical model for
simulating the dehalogenation of chlorinated ethenes in the DNAPL source
zones.
Travel and Awards:
- September 2008: 4th Annual Technical Meeting on Source Area
Bioremediation Project, Toronto, Canada
- May 2008: 6th International Conference on Remediation of Chlorinated
and Recalcitrant Compounds, Monterey, USA
- September 2007: 3rd Annual Technical Meeting on Source Area
Bioremediation Project, Washington DC, USA
- June 2007: Geological Society Bicentennial Conference, London, UK
- May 2007: 9th International In-Situ and On-Site Bioremediation Symposium. Baltimore, USA
