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\nJustyna Barys, a graduate trainee working in ESA\u2019s technical centre, has been selected as one of the 30 Under 30 \u2013 Europe Industry List<\/a> compiled by leading business publisher Forbes.\n<\/p>\n \nJustyna, 26, has been working in ESA\u2019s Life and Physical Sciences Instrumentation section in its Netherlands-based technical heart since October 2015, focusing on the MELiSSA Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative<\/a> project to develop closed-loop life support for future deep-space expeditions.\n<\/p>\n \nShe joins a diverse range of millennial European entrepreneurs, engineers and designers \u2013 the final Forbes selection having been made by an all-star jury that included St\u00e9phane Isra\u00ebl, CEO of Arianespace.\n<\/p>\n \nJustyna specialised in biotechnology at the Lodz University of Technology before coming to ESA: \u201cI\u2019d always been interested in astronomy and space, so would regularly visit the NASA and ESA websites.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cI didn\u2019t think the Young Graduate Trainee<\/a> vacancy was something for me at first, but it turned out to be very interesting in terms of my interests and the combination of engineering and microbiology in my background.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \nJustyna\u2019s work focuses on nitrogen-converting bacteria, a crucial element in the various processes making up MELiSSA: \u201cWe are used to provision of oxygen, water and food by Earth\u2019s ecosystem. It would be ideal to carry Earth\u2019s ecosystem with us for exploring the Solar System. Unfortunately, mass and volume do not allow it.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cInstead, the MELiSSA approach is inspired by the principle of a closed \u2019aquatic\u2019 lake ecosystem. The carbon dioxide and waste products are progressively processed to allow the culture of plants and algae. These plants and algae will then provide food, oxygen and water purification.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cTo grow plants we need nitrogen. Human urine is a good source of nitrogen, but doesn\u2019t contain it in the form that plants need \u2013 nitrates. But there are bacteria, originally taken from soil, that perform this conversion job, so I\u2019ve been attempting to cultivate them and study how they grow.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cTo begin with I was experimenting with small flasks, using polyvinyl acetate beads to promote the growth of biofilm which makes this kind of bacteria more active.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cAs a next step I\u2019ve been building a bioreactor for continuous culture. Once it is finished, nutrients and oxygen will be supplied, pH controlled and effluent removed to promote their continuous growth and monitor their conversion rate of ammonia into nitrates.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \nThe research is only one element of the 11-nation MELiSSA effort, including the full-scale pilot plant<\/a> in Spain\u2019s University Aut\u00f2noma of Barcelona.\n<\/p>\n \nJustyna has also worked on another aspect of MELiSSA, preparing an experiment on highly nutritious oxygen-producing Spirulina <\/i>bacteria for a teacher workshop.\n<\/p>\n \nSet to leave ESA in September, Justyna is looking for a PhD position in microbiology, biotechnology or environmental engineering.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \nJustyna Barys, a graduate trainee working in ESA’s technical centre, has been selected as one of the 30 Under 30 – Europe Industry List<\/a> compiled by leading business publisher Forbes.\n<\/p>\n \nJustyna, 26, has been working in ESA’s Life and Physical Sciences Instrumentation section in its Netherlands-based technical heart since October 2015, focusing on the MELiSSA Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative<\/a> project to develop closed-loop life support for future deep-space expeditions.\n<\/p>\n \nShe joins a diverse range of millennial European entrepreneurs, engineers and designers – the final Forbes selection having been made by an all-star jury that included Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace.\n<\/p>\n \nJustyna specialised in biotechnology at the Lodz University of Technology before coming to ESA: “I’d always been interested in astronomy and space, so would regularly visit the NASA and ESA websites.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n