Maria Sotenko

Dr. Maria Sotenko is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Chester’s Faculty of Science, Business and Enterprise. She holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Warwick (2010) and prior academic positions at Loughborough University (2016–2019). Her research focuses on transforming waste into valuable products using biotechnology, with expertise in phytoremediation, CO2 capture, and life cycle assessment. She co-founded Novatica Technologies Ltd to commercialize sustainable processes.

Education: BSc in Ecology (Novosibirsk State University, 2004), MSc in Catalysis (2006), and PhD in Chemical Engineering (Warwick, 2010). Postdoctoral work included projects at Bath University (Pd nanoparticle synthesis) and Warwick Manufacturing Group (Cleaning Land for Wealth initiative).

Teaching includes modules on materials processing, fluid mechanics, and biotechnology. Active in funded projects such as Innovate UK’s BioPro initiative for low-emission protein production and the Scaling Sustainable Single Cell Proteins project. Over 10 peer-reviewed publications address topics like biodegradable composites, CO2 capture systems, and fungal-mediated catalysis.