The EvoSCO project was launched on Friday, April 19, 2024, at the Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, through the conference “A look into the wonderful world of oleaginous microorganisms”, delivered by Prof. Dr. George Aggelis. The event also marked the official presentation of the project entitled “Adaptive laboratory evolution strategies for improving lipid accumulation in oleaginous microorganisms and the production of microbial oils using agro-industrial waste.”
The event, attended by members of the academic community interested in the topic, including students, researchers, and faculty staff, consisted of two main sections. In the first part, Prof. Dr. George Aggelis, from the University of Patras (Greece), delivered the conference lecture, followed by a question-and-answer session. The second part of the event was dedicated to the presentation of the EvoSCO project, its objectives, and its research team.
As emphasized by Prof. Dr. George Aggelis, the project coordinator, the main objective of EvoSCO is the development of adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) strategies for the generation of highly productive oleaginous strains. In this context, the methodology will initially be developed and applied to Yarrowia lipolytica strains and subsequently extended to other oleaginous microorganisms of industrial interest, contributing to a better understanding of the molecular evolutionary mechanisms associated with lipogenesis.
Prof. Dr. George Aggelis is a faculty member within the Department of Genetics and Cell Biology at the University of Patras (Greece). He serves as the coordinator of the EvoSCO project and is also affiliated with the academic community of the University of Bucharest. Further details regarding his scientific activity and publications are available online here.
The project “Adaptive laboratory evolution strategies for improving lipid accumulation in oleaginous microorganisms and the production of microbial oils using agro-industrial waste” (EvoSCO) is implemented over a period of 2.5 years and is funded through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan of Romania (PNRR), Component C9 – Support for the private sector, research, development and innovation, Investment 8 – “Development of a program to attract highly specialized human resources from abroad into research, development and innovation activities”, PNRR-III-C9-2022 – I8, contract no. 760238/28.12.2023, code PNRR/2023/C9/MCID/I8, CF 162/31.07.2023, with a total budget of RON 5,999,998.14.
Work visit, February 3-6, 2025
The project director, Prof. Dr. George Aggelis, attended the Research Platform in Biology and Systems Ecology for discussions with the team members, particularly those newly involved in the project. During the meeting, the results obtained were presented and the workflow processes were evaluated.
The “Open Doors” Event and ALLUB, May 8-9, 2025
On the occasion of these two events held within the Faculty of Biology, the EvoSCO project welcomed visitors from among prospective future students. Together with the team’s PhD students, Ana-Maria Lecu and Ana-Maria Georgescu, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ana-Maria Tănase, they assisted to the presentation of topics related to oleaginous microorganisms, including the visualization of lipid inclusions using an epifluorescence microscope, as well as cultivation in the recently put into operation Solaris bioreactor, which is already being used by students enrolled in the Master’s program in Applied Genetics and Biotechnology.
Presentation of results obtained within the EvoSCO project
Student Scientific Communications Session (SCSS), Faculty of Biology, May 2025 edition
- Modern strategies for the improvement of strains from the “red yeasts” group, Andreea Stănciulescu, Viorica Maria Corbu, Ana Maria Georgescu, Ana-Maria Alexandra Lecu, Irina Lascu, Ana-Maria Tănase, George Aggelis, Ortansa Elisabeta Csutak − Master’s students section
- Improvement of the non-conventional oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica for the overproduction of intracellular lipids, Ana Maria Georgescu , Viorica Maria Corbu, Ana-Maria Lecu , Irina Lascu, Ana-Maria Tănase, George Aggelis, Ortansa Elisabeta Csutak, O. − PhD students section
- Preliminary studies on enhancing the oleaginous potential of a Rhodosporidium toruloides strain, Ana-Maria Alexandra Lecu, Bogdan Mihaiescu, Irina Lascu, Ana Maria Georgescu , Viorica Maria Corbu, Ana-Maria Tănase, George Aggelis, Ileana Stoica − PhD students section
ASM Microbe 2025 Conference, Los Angeles, USA
Between June 19-23, 2025, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ana-Maria Tănase participated in the ASM Microbe 2025 conference held in Los Angeles, United States of America, where she presented two poster contributions highlighting results obtained within the project.
The first poster, “Conversion of molasses to single-cell oils using an evolved strain of Rhodosporidium toruloides NRRL-Y-27012”, was authored by Tănase A.M., Lascu I., Corbu V.M., Lecu A.M., Georgescu A.M., Mihăiescu B., Țuțac O., Stoica I., and Aggelis G. The second poster, “Natural seawater as a promising medium for bioplastic production using Halomonas sp. N16b”, was prepared by Tănase A.M., Dragomir M., Avramescu S., and Lascu I.
During the conference, scientific connections were established with researchers interested in the topics addressed in the two posters, and attendance at a series of lectures dedicated to the field of biotechnology also took place.
FEMS 2025 Conference, Milan, Italy
Between July 14-17, 2025, Lect. Dr. Viorica Maria Corbu and Dr. Irina Lascu participated in the FEMS 2025 conference held in Milan, Italy, where they presented two poster contributions. The first poster, “Improved lipogenesis capacity of Yarrowia lipolytica ACA-DC 50109-derived strains obtained through adaptive laboratory evolution”, was authored by Corbu V.M., Lascu I., Georgescu A.M., Lecu A.M., Țuțac O., Stoica I., Tănase A.M., and Aggelis G. The second poster, “Characterization of oleaginous clones derived from adaptive laboratory evolution of Rhodosporidium toruloides”, was authored by Lascu I., Corbu V.M., Lecu A.M., Georgescu A.M., Țuțac O., Stoica I., Tănase A.M., and Aggelis G.
ECCE & ECAB 2025 Conference, Lisbon, Portugal
Between September 8-10, 2025, PhD student Ana-Maria Georgescu participated in the ECCE&ECAB 2025 conference held in Lisbon, Portugal, where she presented a poster entitled “Adaptive laboratory evolution enhances lipid biosynthesis in Yarrowia lipolytica – Complex characterization of evolved strains”. Authors: Georgescu A.M., Corbu V.M., Lecu A.M., Lascu I., Tănase A.M., Țuțac O.E., and Aggelis G.
During the conference, part of the results obtained from the cultivation of evolved clones derived from the parental strain Yarrowia lipolytica ACA-DC 50109 were presented. In addition, scientific connections were established with researchers from various international universities interested in the topics addressed.
International Fungal Biology Conference: From Molecules to Communities (IFBC 2025), Crete, Greece
Between September 27-30, 2025, PhD student Ana-Maria Lecu participated in the International Fungal Biology Conference: From Molecules to Communities IFBC-2025, held in Chania, Crete, Greece, where she presented a poster contribution related to project results, entitled “Improving lipid accumulation in Rhodosporidium toruloides via adaptive evolution strategies”. Authors: Lecu A.M., Lascu I., Georgescu A.M., Corbu V.M., Țuțac O., Tănase A.M., Stoica I., and Aggelis G.
During the event, the student attended a series of scientific presentations dedicated to the metabolism and behavior of eukaryotic microorganisms, as well as modern analytical techniques used for their study. In addition, discussions were held with researchers from other universities interested in adaptive laboratory evolution techniques and oleaginous eukaryotic microorganisms, leading to the establishment of scientific contacts with potential for future collaboration.
Balkan Conference on Biosciences 2025, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Between October 30-31, 2025, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ilda Czobor-Barbu participated in the 6th Balkan Conference on Biosciences 2025, held in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, where she presented a poster contribution including results from the EvoSCO project, entitled “Antifungal-resistant Candida in the city: environmental hotspots in urban river water”. The authors were Czobor-Barbu I., Dragomir R.I., Dicu I.G., and Gheorghe-Barbu I.
During the event, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ilda Czobor-Barbu attended numerous scientific sessions covering topics such as genetics and cell biology, research and education in biology, bioinformatics and molecular biology, biodiversity and conservation, biotechnology and microbiology, as well as biomedical sciences.
SGEM International Scientific Conference on Earth & Planetary Sciences, Extended Scientific Sessions “Green Science for Green Life” 2025, Vienna, Austria
Between December 3-6, 2025, Lect. Dr. Viorica Maria Corbu participated in the SGEM International Scientific Conference on Earth & Planetary Sciences, Extended Scientific Sessions “Green Science for Green Life” 2025, held in Vienna, Austria, where she delivered a poster presentation entitled “Converting residual glycerol into bioproducts using oleaginous yeasts for the circular economy”. The authors were Corbu V.M., Georgescu A.M., Lecu A.M., Lascu I., Țuțac O., Tănase A.M., and Aggelis G.
Following participation in the conference, Lect. Dr. Viorica Maria Corbu engaged in discussions with established researchers from several universities on topics such as the circular economy, high-resolution microbial technologies, ecological strategies for waste valorization, and the use of agro-industrial residues as substrates for the cultivation of oleaginous microorganisms.
Student Scientific Communications Session (SCSS), Faculty of Biology, May 2026 edition
On May 22, 2026, PhD student Georgescu Ana Maria participated in the Faculty of Biology Student Scientific Communications Session, held at the Research Platform in Biology and Systemic Ecology, where she gave an oral presentation entitled: “Obtaining evolved clones of Yarrowia lipolytica throught adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) and their characterization for lipid biosynthesis using alternative carbon substrates“. Authors: Georgescu A.M., Corbu V.M., Lecu A.M., Lascu I., Tanase A., Aggelis G., Csutak O (PhD students section).
Events Participation
Green Energy Expo & Romenvirotec – April 9-11, 2025
To stay informed about potential beneficiaries of the research conducted within the project, PhD students Ana-Maria Lecu and Ana-Maria Georgescu participated in the Green Energy Expo, RomEnvirotec & Urban Smart Expo 2025, held between April 9-11, 2025. The event took place at the Romexpo exhibition complex. The edition was structured around three major directions for a sustainable future.
London Calling 2025 Event, BIOGENETIX – May 20, 2025
On May 20, 2025, PhD students and postdoctoral researchers (Ana-Maria Lecu, Ana-Maria Georgescu, Dr. Irina Lascu and Lect. Dr. Viorica Maria Corbu) participated in the London Calling 2025 conference, an annual event organized by Oxford Nanopore Technologies, held between May 20-22, 2025.
The event, organized in Romania by Biogenetix and Oxford Nanopore Technologies, aimed to present and promote the latest technologies and solutions in genetic sequencing, with applications in diagnostics and research.
TETRAFEST 2025, October 9-11, 2025
Between October 9-11, 2025, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ana-Maria Tănase and Lect. Dr. Viorica Maria Corbu participated in the TETRAFEST 2025 Technology Transfer Festival, organized at the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest.
The event was dedicated to the promotion of technology transfer, innovation, and applied research, bringing together representatives from academia, research institutes, and the socio-economic sector. TETRAFEST 2025 provided a platform for interaction between researchers and potential industry partners, facilitating the presentation of scientific results, technological solutions, and collaboration opportunities with practical applications in strategic fields.
Biology Faculty Days 2025, November 21-22, 2025
Within the Biology Faculty Days, held between November 21-22, 2025, Lect. Dr. Viorica Maria Corbu delivered an oral presentation entitled “Research directions in the genetics and biotechnology of microorganisms – innovative solutions for health, sustainability, and the circular economy”.
The presentation highlighted several results obtained within the project, as well as aspects related to the laboratory infrastructure and equipment, which are essential for the optimal development of research activities.
Green Energy Expo & RomEnvirotec, March 3-5, 2026
To establish contacts with economic stakeholders, PhD student Ana-Maria Lecu participated in the Green Energy Expo & RomEnvirotec 2026 trade fair, held between March 3-5, 2026 at the Romexpo exhibition complex.
During the event, the PhD student played an active role in promoting the project and its results by distributing informational materials in physical format, namely the EvoSCO project brochure, to relevant visitors from the business and entrepreneurial sectors. She also attended a series of presentations relevant to the project’s thematic areas, including circular economy, bioenergy and related fields.
