Dr. Venkateswer Reddy Motakatla from India
Institute of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology
1) Why did you decide to come to Muenster for your research?
Main reason was the host Professor Alexander Steinbüchel and the facilities available in the Microbiology department in WWu, Münster. Professor Steinbüchel at WWU Münster had a significant and world-class reputation in the research area of biopolymers and he had extensive publication records and have been highly successful at both national and international level. Furthermore, Professor Steinbüchel had a team in excess of 30 postgraduate, doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, working with such a critical mass is exciting for me. Working with Professor Steinbüchel group can open significant new opportunities for me. Moreover Alexander von Humboldt foundation accepted to provide fellowship for me, and funding my research activities for 2 years in the WWu, Münster, hence I decided to come Münster.
2) What is your research about (in simple terms)?
Various types of waste from different sources are generated in large quantities, creating significant problems in their management and disposal. Waste valorization is the process of converting waste materials into useful products including chemicals, materials, and fuels. So, in my research we are using cheaply available agricultural and municipal wastes for production of biofuels (medium chain fatty acids, MCFA) and bioplastics (polyhxdroxyalkanoates, PHA) and we can reduce the production cost along with solving the problem of waste treatment.
Advantages of MCFA production through Chain elongation are: (i) MCFA can be produced in non-sterile conditions, so sterilization step of the feedstock is not necessary which reduces the production cost, (ii) MCFA have more versatile applications as corrosive inhibitors, and used for treatment of disease like dementia (dementia is memory loss, Alzheimer's is the most common type of dementia), (iii) MCFA works as precursors for production of anti-microbials, biofuels, and bioplastics, (iv) Feedstock for MCFA and PHA being lignocellulosic materials, which cannot be digested by humans, this way the food-fuel competition could be avoided.
Among all the key advantage of chain elongation is that products (MCFA) can be generated with lower Green House Gas emission rates compared to the existing conventional technologies along with simultaneous waste valorization. The knowledge generated through this innovative biotechnological approach will not only benefit the environmental management of global wastes, but can also be used to produce various chemicals.
3) Has the research environment in Muenster affected your work? Would you recommend coming to Muenster to a colleague?
Yes (positively). Microbiology department in WWU had fully equipped laboratories with many facilities which previously not available to me. WWU has a well-established system for the mentoring and tutoring of the international researchers. Microbiology department regularly organizes in-house training on different aspects of research covered under the subjects of Microbiology and Biotechnology. I am involving in weekly research group meetings where scientific issues associated with the project and the results will be discussed to enhance my critical thinking abilities. Furthermore, I will be actively involved in tutoring of the doctoral/master student projects for motivating and building up team leadership qualities. Research based at WWu, Münster offer me a unique chance to improve my career prospects in research and academia.
Apart from that, Welcome center (International office) and Graduation center in WWU offer many career development and training programs, which helped me to gain knowledge. I also got an opportunity for attending training sessions on complementary skills, such as languages, career training, maintain the balance between professional & personal career, and scientific writing, organized by Welcome center. In addition, I am involving in monthly academic meetings held in Humboldt club (Hüffer str 65) where scientific and social issues associated and the resulting discussions enhancing my awareness about science and society.
I strongly recommend coming a colleague to Münster because of its uniqueness. Münster is the beautiful and green town, I hope everybody love it.
4) What would you advise other international researchers to do during their stay in Münster? Is there anything you do particularly like about Muenster?
Apart from excellent research facilities in WWu, the city Münster organize many programs to enjoy the leisure time. Personally, I would like to do cycling in Promenade, walking and jogging around Aasee, BBQ near Aasee, visit Zoo with my family, shopping in Prinzipal markt and finally having beer with friends in Altstadt. I also like to attend the monthly academics and programs organized by the Welcome center in WWu, hence I get the chance to meet international and national researchers along with highly dedicated and helping staff from international office.