I am Sabrina, I have a PhD in Applied Biology & Biotechnology from RMIT University (2022). I recently completed this degree in environmental remediation with a focus on the degradation of environmental pollutants in water (wastewater & groundwater) using efficient & eco-friendly carbon nanoparticles.
ALUMNUS – Current LinkedIn profile including contact details.
I have practical experience in hydrothermal synthesis & physicochemical characterisation of carbon nanoparticles. Also, I have experience with the degradation of contaminants using AOP (Fenton-like reaction) and bioremediation, as well as their post-remediation chemical & microbiological analyses (ecotoxicity & molecular biology).
I currently work as a lab demonstrator teaching students through practical lab classes about experiments, methods, and protocols for the Environmental Biotechnology course at RMIT. I have also demonstrated for Research Methods, Genetics & Molecular Biology, and Introduction to Microbiology for Food & Nutrition courses at RMIT University (Melbourne, Australia).
Previously, I worked with biodegradation of fuel & biofuel and its control using synthetic & natural additives for 6+ years. My main work experiences are within scientific research, but I am open to new experiences outside research/academia as well.
In my spare time I enjoy cycling, hiking, and outdoor activities. I also love practicing yoga at the end of a long day and spending time with my friends.
Skills
- Hydrothermal synthesis of carbon dots
- Photoluminescence (PL) of carbon dots
- Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)
- Zeta potential
- Dynamic light scattering (DLS)
- Microbiological aseptic & sterile techniques
- Optical microscopy
- Bacterial staining & plating methods (streak, spread, pour, replica)
- MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) assays
- Microbial DNA extraction
- Microtox bioassayPolymerase chain reaction (PCR)
PhD project
Prior work
- 2018–present: lab demonstrator at RMIT University (casual)
- I currently work as a laboratory demonstrator for undergraduate & postgraduate students on the following topics: Environmental Biotechnology, Research Methods, and Introduction to Microbiology for Food & Nutrition. I also mark student assignments.
- 2014-2016: Research project ‘Chemical & microbial storage stability studies of commercial Brazilian biodiesels’
- Department of Microbiology, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Supervisors: Dr. Eduardo Cavalcanti (National Institute of Technology, Rio de Janeiro) & Prof. Dr. Fatima Menezes Bento (UFRGS, Porto Alegre)
- 2012-2014: Masters thesis ‘Evaluation of the antimicrobial potential of TBHQ (tert-butyl-hydroquinone) & bio-oil for use in soybean biodiesel (B100) & diesel oil B (B10)’
- Department of Microbiology, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Fatima Menezes Bento, Prof. Dr. Renato Cataluña, and Prof. Dr. Clarisse Piatnicki (UFRGS)
- 2010-2011: Undergraduate project ‘Biodegradability of diesel oil B (B7) by bacteria isolated from landfarming site’
- Department of Microbiology, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Adriana Cibele Dantas & Prof. Dr. Fatima Menezes Bento
Publications
- Beker, SA, Cole, I & Ball, SA (2022). ‘A review on the catalytic remediation of dyes by tailored carbon dots’, Water, vol. 14, pp. 1456. DOI: 10.3390/w14091456.
- Beker, SA, Khudur, LS, Cole, I & Ball, AS (2022). ‘Catalytic degradation of methylene blue using iron and nitrogen-containing carbon dots as Fenton-like catalysts’, New Journal of Chemistry, vol. 46, pp. 263-275. DOI: 10.1039/d1nj04761b.
- Beker, SA, Truskewycz, Cole, I & Ball, AS (2020). ‘Green synthesis of Opuntia-derived carbon nanodots for the catalytic decolourization of cationic dyes’, New Journal of Chemistry, vol. 44, pp. 20001-20012. DOI: 10.1039/d0nj03013a.
- Truskewycz, A, Beker, SA, Ball, AS, Murdoch, B & Cole, I (2020). ‘Incorporation of quantum carbon dots into a PVP/ZnO hydrogel for use as an effective hexavalent chromium sensing platform', Analytica Chimica Acta, vol. 1099, pp. 126-135. DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2019.11.053.
- Truskewycz, A, Beker, S, Ball, AS & Cole, I (2019). 'Photoluminescence measurements of carbon quantum dots within three-dimensional hydrogel matrices using a high throughput 96 well plate method', MethodsX, vol. 6, pp. 437-441. DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2019.02.014.
- Meyer, DD, Beker, SA, Heck, K, Peralba, M & Bento, FM (2018). 'Simulation of a surface spill of different diesel/biodiesel mixtures in an ultisol, using natural attenuation and bioaugmentation/biostimulation', Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, vol. 90, no. 3, pp. 2741-2752. DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765201820170268.
- Bücker, F, de Moura, TM, da Cunha, ME, de Quadros, PD, Beker, SA, Cazarolli, JC, Caramão, EB, Frazzon, APG & Bento, FM (2018). 'Evaluation of the deteriogenic microbial community using qPCR, n-alkanes and FAMEs biodegradation in diesel, biodiesel and blends (B5, B10, and B50) during storage', Fuel, vol. 233, pp. 911-917. DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2017.11.076.
- Boelter, G, Cazarolli, JC, Beker, SA, de Quadros, PD, Correa, C, Ferrao, MF, Galeazzi, CF, Pizzolato, TM & Bento, FM (2018). 'Pseudallescheria boydii and Meyerozyma guilliermondii: behavior of deteriogenic fungi during simulated storage of diesel, biodiesel, and B10 blend in Brazil', Environmental Science & Pollution Research International, vol. 25, no. 30, pp. 30410-30424. DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-3015-x.
- Beker, SA, da Silva, YP, Bücker, F, Cazarolli, JC, de Quadros, PD, Peralba, MdCR, Piatnicki, CMS & Bento, FM (2016). 'Effect of different concentrations of tert- butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) on microbial growth and chemical stability of soybean biodiesel during simulated storage', Fuel, vol. 184, pp. 701-707. DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2016.07.067.
- Beker, SA, Machado, ME, Maciel, GPS, Silva, R, Cataluña, R, Caramão, EB & Bento, FM (2015). 'Antimicrobial potential of bio-oil for use in diesel oil B10', Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society, vol. 27, pp. 91-98. DOI: 10.5935/0103-5053.20150252.
- Meyer, DD, Beker, SA, Bücker, F, Peralba, MdCR, Guedes Frazzon, AP, Osti, JF, Andreazza, R, Anastácio de Oliveira Camargo, F & Bento, FM (2014). 'Bioremediation strategies for diesel and biodiesel in oxisol from southern Brazil', International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, vol. 95, pp. 356-363. DOI: 10.1016/j.ibiod.2014.01.026.
Further information
Supervisors:
- Distinguished Prof. Andy Ball
- Prof. Ivan Cole
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