Mihaela Doni

Mihaela DONI (previous names OANCEA, BADEA) has graduated in 1992 from the Faculty of Chemistry of the University of Bucharest, specialization Technological Biochemistry. Being attracted since the faculty by the research activity in the field of biotechnologies, in the same year she was hired by contest in the Biotechnology Department of ICECHIM institute(which at that time was called the Chemical Research Institute).

In the period 1996 - 2001, during her doctoral studies in the Faculty of Chemistry of the University of Bucharest, Mihaela had on the one hand the chance to participate directly in the preparation of the proposals and further in the implementation of the first types of national grants (ANSTI Grants; Romanian Academy Grants), as well as European projects (FP4 Framework Program; IncoCopernicus; Leonardo da Vinci). Thus, within the FLOW INJECTION OF ANALYSIS FOR IMPROVEMENT THE QUALITY CONTROL OF DRINKING WATERS project – INCO COPERNICUS contract NO. ERBIC 15 CT98 0119, Mihaela had the opportunity to carry out two doctoral research stages at “Tor Vergata” University in Rome, Italy (1999) and Lund University, Sweden (2000).

Between May 2001 and November 2002 (18 months) she was the recipient of a prestigious individual Marie Curie postdoc grant, funded by the EU within the FP5 Framework Program at the Tor Vergata University in Rome, Italy, in the Prof. Giuseppe Palleschi group. Then, she hold a 2-years postdoctoral position in the same institution.

Upon returning to Romania, in 2005, Dr. Doni (Badea) got involved in attracting research funds, as well as investment funds for the establishment of the Biotechnology and Bioanalysis Laboratory  (B&B Lab) in frame of National Institute for Research & Development for Chemistry and Petrochemistry - ICECHIM Bucharest, which was put into operation in 2009. The B&B Lab has coordinated more than 30 national and international projects such as CEEX, Ideas, Partnerships, Leonardo da Vinci, Innovation Checks, PED, MANUNET, ERANET and participated in dozens of other projects dedicated to the development of:

-        Innovative analytical systems based on flow injection analysis with electrochemical and optical detection for toxic compounds determination in environment

-        New sensing materials for electrochemical sensors and biosensors

-        Innovative analytical platforms based on electrochemical detection combined with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) detection for mycotoxins determination in food

-        Electropolymerised nanofilms for electrochemical determination of nitrite and nitrate in water and soil for agricultural applications

-        Biotechnologies based on bacteria with calcifying abilities suitable to improve mortar properties

-        Polymeric materials for the conservation of stone cultural heritage elements

-        Characterization methods for the polymer composites biodegradability

-        Fungal based biopolymer composites for construction materials

-        Biomimetic models for nanosensors design

-        Use of the spent microbial biomass in fertilizer manufacturing

-        Fungal strains with keratin-degrading and plant growth promoting characteristics

-        Plants biostimulants based on spent Pleurotus substrate

-        Hydro-gelified and film forming formulations of plant biostimulants for crop residues treatment on conservation agriculture systems

Also, Dr. Doni was involved in strategy development and infrastructure projects regarding the circular economy and the valorization of waste and by-products from various industries.

Since February 2017, Dr. Mihaela Doni was appointed as General Manager of National Institute for Research & Development for Chemistry and Petrochemistry - ICECHIM Bucharest.

Since 2008, Dr. Mihaela Doni is expert evaluator for EU projects **(**FP7-PEOPLE; H2020-MSCA; H2020 – FET-Open; HE – MSCA) and national projects (CEEX, PNCDI II, III, PFE, PNRR).

Dr. Doni is member of the Romanian Chemical Society since 2010 and in 2021 was elected as Vice-President.

Based on the expertise in the field of circular economy and in sustainable development, following the selection at national level, organized by the General Secretariat of the Government in order to establish the Consultative Council for Sustainable Development (CCDD), formed by 34 specialists, Dr Doni was appointed as member of this council by the Prime Minister's Decision no. 372/2021.