Alla Silkina

Dr. Alla Silkina is a Research Officer at Swansea University's Sustainable Aquatic Research Center (CSAR), specializing in algal biotechnology and applied biotechnology. She contributes to high-impact projects such as Algal Biotechnology for Wales KTC, ACCOMPLISH A4B CIRP, and EnAlgae INTERREG, focusing on waste bio-remediation, microalgae cultivation, and bio-product development. Her work bridges academia and industry, supporting over 65 Welsh SMEs and international collaborators.

Her research focuses on optimizing algal growth conditions, bioremediation strategies, and sustainable resource utilization. Key projects include converting industrial waste into valuable bioproducts and improving cyanobacterial mass cultivation using far-red light acclimation. Silkina's expertise spans microalgae physiology, pigment production, and reactor design for large-scale applications.

Collaborations with industries like TATA Steel UK and Axium Process Ltd highlight her role in translating research into practical solutions. She has supervised postgraduate research, including studies on Synechococcus elongatus biomass productivity. Awards and grants include £6.5M from EU Interreg and Innovate UK funding for projects like BioAlgaeSorb and ShellPlant.

Leveraging her work in anaerobic digestate utilization and microalgal strain optimization, Silkina drives circular economy initiatives. Her modules taught include Cellular & Microbial Biology (BIO104) and Natural Products Biotechnology (BIO343), emphasizing hands-on training in biotechnology applications.