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Romania
Citizenship:
Ph.D. degree award:
2004
Mrs.
ALEXANDRA MARIA
HILLEBRAND-VOICULESCU
Dr.
Senior researcher II (CSII)
-
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA''
Other affiliations
Researcher
-
GRUPUL DE EXPLORARI SUBACVATICE SI SPEOLOGICE
(
Romania
)
Researcher | Teaching staff | Scientific reviewer | Entrepreneur
As a biochimist, in 2004, I completed my PhD in the field of cellular biology, studying the processes occuring in the ER during glycoproteins'maturation. One year later, I got hired in the Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology, the Romanian Academy (Bucharest) where I started to investigate the subterranean ecosystems, with a focus on the underground microbiomes. I collect my samples from limestone caves, ice caves and hypogenic caves. I master molecular biology/microbiology as well as proteins' biochemistry techniques. Being an outdoor person, passionate about SCUBA-diving and caving, and concerned about Nature and environment, since 1994, I am member of the Group for Underwater and Speleologycal Exploration (GESS) an NGO focused on environment protection and conservation. As a GESS member I was one of the custodians of two caves, both Natura2000 sites (2005-2018). Presently I am the head of GESS' Protected Areas Department.
>20
years
Web of Science ResearcherID:
Alexandra Maria Hillebrand-Voiculescu
Personal public profile link.
Curriculum Vitae (26/11/2024)
Expertise & keywords
Biochemistry
Enviromental microbiology
Cave ecology
Molecular ecology
Biospeleology
Soil ecology
Cave and karst research
Ice caves
Enzymology
Subterranean and/or underwater ecosystems
Biogeochemistry
Conservation biogeography, ecology,biodiversity,
biogeography, phylogeography, plant ecology, plant taxonomy, patterns of diversity
Projects
Publications & Patents
Entrepreneurship
Reviewer section
Factors influencing biodiversity in underground habitats from Pianosa Island
Call name:
2019
-
2023
Role in this project:
Project coordinator
Coordinating institution:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA''
Project partners:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA'' ()
Affiliation:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA'' ()
Project website:
Abstract:
Read more
Food chains in the dark: diversity and evolutionary processes in caves
Call name:
PN-III-P4-ID-PCCF- 2016-0016
2018
-
2022
Role in this project:
Key expert
Coordinating institution:
ACADEMIA ROMANA FILIALA CLUJ
Project partners:
ACADEMIA ROMANA FILIALA CLUJ (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD FILIALA INSTITUTUL DE CERCETARI PENTRU INSTRUMENTATIE ANALITICA CLUJ NAPOCA (RO); UNIVERSITATEA DE MEDICINA SI FARMACIE "IULIU HATIEGANU" (RO)
Affiliation:
ACADEMIA ROMANA FILIALA CLUJ (RO)
Project website:
http://darkfoodincaves.com
Abstract:
Caves are outstanding geomicrobiological, ecological, and evolutionary laboratories for the extreme conditions encountered in their deep passages: permanent absence of light, constant temperature, saturated air humidity, absence of primary producers, low nutrients, low biodiversity and short food chains. The study of caves as extreme habitats is relevant to life detection on extraterrestrial bodies and are of global importance because karst terrains (with caves) carries up to 25 % of drinking water. In addition, the new discoveries show that the microorganisms that inhabit caves may produce secondary metabolites that can be of value to humans. Understanding the cave microbial diversity and distribution in relationship to geochemical and other environmental conditions can be crucial in testing hypothesis and explaining processes, such as excellent conservation of bones, drawings and artifacts in caves, in finding new drugs and developing a genomic screening library for antibiotic production, or as proxy for food-starved sites in astrobiological researches. The metagenomic approach on the gut microbiota in cave invertebrates will indicate how much of the cave colonization and adaptation to a food-starved ecosystem has changed the symbiotic microbiome and is promoting diversification. It will also open the avenue to correlate the efficiency of substrate utilization and nutrient level with the structure and composition of microbial community in food-starved ecosystems. In the same time, metagenomics will possibly reveal the presence of novel genomes indicating new microbial taxa inhabiting cave-related mineral and/or invertebrate gut niches.
Read more
Cave deposits as archives of climate and environmental changes. A Center of Excellence in speleological research (ARCHIVES II, EEA-RO-NO-2018-0126)
Call name:
EEA-RO-NO-2018-0126
2018
-
2021
Role in this project:
Key expert
Coordinating institution:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA''
Project partners:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA'' ()
Affiliation:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA'' ()
Project website:
Abstract:
Read more
Cave ice microbiom: metabolic diversity and activity in response to climate dynamics and anthropogenic pollution
Call name:
P 3 - SP 3.2 - Proiecte ERA.NET
ERA-LAC-CAVICE-ERIS
2016
-
2018
Role in this project:
Key expert
Coordinating institution:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA''
Project partners:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA'' (RO)
Affiliation:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA'' (RO)
Project website:
http://alexandrahillebran.wixsite.com/cavice
Abstract:
Glacial environments including Polar regions, frozen lakes, mountain glaciers, and upper atmosphere, are currently the focus of intense research due to their recognized vulnerability to climate change and the increased interest in psychrophilic microorganisms due to their great biotechnological potential. However, there is only limited information available on ice microbiota from ice caves. These highly preserved and relatively unexposed ice environments constitute archives for studying the impact of climate and anthropogenic pollution on the diversity of the ice embedded
microbial communities as well as on their metabolic activity. While studies on structural diversity were partially carried out on this type of habitat, both functional diversity and microbial productivity of this ecosystem are still unexplored. Our proposal represents the first investigation of metabolic diversity and activity of microbial communities from a cave ice environment, to reveal the identities and functions of the key players in this ecosystem, using metagenomic and metatranscriptomic Next Generation
Sequencing. The project emphasis on a comparative study of total and active microbial communities from ice caves of different climate and pollution exposures, in order to understand the microbial diversity and metabolism in this preserved environment, and to establish a chronosequence model reflecting the impact of
both climate and environmental pollution on cave ice microcosm. The selected ecosystems represent perennial ice blocks harbored in limestone caves located in Romania (Scarisoara Ice Cave), and Norway (Svarthamar Ice Cave), and in glacier caves located in Argentina (Viedma Glacier cave) and Chile (Mylodon cave, MY). Our
proposal focuses on the metagenomic and metatranscriptomic reconstitution of total and active microbial community present in different aged ice strata from these caves. This functional synopsis will be analyzed in relation with the chemical composition of ice deposits reflecting contamination due to anthropological activities and climate dynamics, and variations due to ice formation origin and geographical locations, to identify putative
corresponding biomarkers for these glacial ecosystems. The results of this proposal will contribute not only to unraveling the microbial activity of an unstudied type of habitat, but also to investigate the effect of climate variations and environment pollution on such natural monuments leading to better management of the sites and to their more efficient protection and conservation. In addition, screening for microorganisms of high bionanotechnological potential will focus on isolation and characterization of novel metal nanoparticle synthesizing psychrophilic and psychrotolerant strains, enlarging the applicative potential of ice contained microcosm. This joint research project will create longterm partnerships between the European and Latin American Universities and Research Institutes that will contribute to strengthening our research capacity
through interlaboratory exchanges, and creating a dynamics in early stage research training. The expected results will constitute a consolidated starting point for further joint applications treating fundamental and applicative aspects of cryosphere microcosm, focused on ecosystem responses to changing environmental conditions and cave ice derived products valorization in nanotechnologies.
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Resilience of hydrothermal systems against natural and anthropogenic disturbances. A case study: the hot, sulfide-rich groundwater accumulation at Băile Herculane
Call name:
Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA-2011 call, Type 1
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2011-3.1-1619
2012
-
2016
Role in this project:
Key expert
Coordinating institution:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA''
Project partners:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA'' (RO); INSTITUTUL DE BIOLOGIE (RO)
Affiliation:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA'' (RO)
Project website:
http://www.resiltherm.iser.ro
Abstract:
The concept of system resilience refers to the ability of the system to return to a non-failure state after a failure has occurred. This concept has been already applied, for some time now, to ecological systems, to social- ecological systems, as well as to water resource systems. The aim of the present project is to acquire a fundamental understanding of the way by which hydrothermal systems behave when subject to natural and anthropogenic external disturbances, and to outline and quantify those hydrological, chemical and microbiological parameters which could be able to provide a general instrument for evaluating the resilience of those systems. In order to achieve this goal, our intention is to perform an investigation, as extended as possible, of a very important and quite distinct geothermal hydrostructure in Romania, namely the thermo-mineral water accumulation at Baile Herculane, and to consequently acquire a background allowing us to devise concepts and conclusions whose applicability should be of general validity for any similar setting occurring worldwide.
Read more
Biodiversity and chronological distribution of microorganisms in the perennial ice deposits of Scărişoara Cave Glacier (Romania)
Call name:
PN-II-ID-PCE-2011-3-0742
2011
-
2015
Role in this project:
Key expert
Coordinating institution:
INSTITUTUL DE BIOLOGIE
Project partners:
INSTITUTUL DE BIOLOGIE (); INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA'' ()
Affiliation:
INSTITUTUL DE BIOLOGIE ()
Project website:
Abstract:
Read more
Climate archives in karst – an integrated approch to the study and modeling of abrupt climate oscillations
Call name:
PN-II-ID-PCCE-2008-1
2009
-
2013
Role in this project:
Key expert
Coordinating institution:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA''
Project partners:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA'' ()
Affiliation:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA'' ()
Project website:
Abstract:
Read more
Microbial food webs in Movile cave
Call name:
NE/G017956/1
2010
-
2013
Role in this project:
Partner team leader
Coordinating institution:
University Warwick
Project partners:
University Warwick (); INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA'' (); GRUPUL DE EXPLORARI SUBACVATICE SI SPEOLOGICE ()
Affiliation:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA'' ()
Project website:
Abstract:
Read more
A model of microbial communities living in the biofilms at the sulphurous thermal water - air interface in Mangalia aquipher structure and activity variation (Movile Cave)
Call name:
235
2007
-
2008
Role in this project:
Project coordinator
Coordinating institution:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA''
Project partners:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA'' ()
Affiliation:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA'' ()
Project website:
Abstract:
Read more
Rapid climate oscillations in karst deposits from Romania as revealed by isotopic and paleomagnetic proxies
Call name:
CEEX 627/2005
2007
-
2008
Role in this project:
Key expert
Coordinating institution:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA''
Project partners:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA'' ()
Affiliation:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA'' ()
Project website:
Abstract:
Read more
Study of pollutants transfer mechanisms in karst
Call name:
107
2007
-
2008
Role in this project:
Key expert
Coordinating institution:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA''
Project partners:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA'' ()
Affiliation:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA'' ()
Project website:
Abstract:
Read more
Determination of protein-disulfid isomerases oxidative states in the ER
Call name:
2003
-
2004
Role in this project:
Project coordinator
Coordinating institution:
INSTITUTUL DE BIOCHIMIE
Project partners:
INSTITUTUL DE BIOCHIMIE ()
Affiliation:
INSTITUTUL DE BIOCHIMIE ()
Project website:
Abstract:
Read more
Bats protection and conservation of their underground habitats from Meridional Carpathians
Call name:
2001
-
2004
Role in this project:
Key expert
Coordinating institution:
GRUPUL DE EXPLORARI SUBACVATICE SI SPEOLOGICE
Project partners:
GRUPUL DE EXPLORARI SUBACVATICE SI SPEOLOGICE (); ASOCIATIA GREEN CROSS ROMANIA (); MUZEUL NATIONAL DE ISTORIE NATURALA "GRIGORE ANTIPA" (); INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA'' ()
Affiliation:
GRUPUL DE EXPLORARI SUBACVATICE SI SPEOLOGICE ()
Project website:
Abstract:
Read more
A life buoy for the sea
Call name:
RER/01/G33: BSERP/SGP/ ROM2
2003
-
2003
Role in this project:
Key expert
Coordinating institution:
GRUPUL DE EXPLORARI SUBACVATICE SI SPEOLOGICE
Project partners:
GRUPUL DE EXPLORARI SUBACVATICE SI SPEOLOGICE ()
Affiliation:
GRUPUL DE EXPLORARI SUBACVATICE SI SPEOLOGICE ()
Project website:
Abstract:
Read more
Role of disulfide isomerases in glycoproteins biosynthesis in animal cells
Call name:
33508
2001
-
2002
Role in this project:
Key expert
Coordinating institution:
INSTITUTUL DE BIOCHIMIE
Project partners:
INSTITUTUL DE BIOCHIMIE ()
Affiliation:
INSTITUTUL DE BIOCHIMIE ()
Project website:
Abstract:
Read more
Study of depigmentation mechanisms in Movile Cave organisms
Call name:
5204/B7 si 6032/A7
1999
-
2000
Role in this project:
Project coordinator
Coordinating institution:
INSTITUTUL DE BIOCHIMIE
Project partners:
INSTITUTUL DE BIOCHIMIE ()
Affiliation:
INSTITUTUL DE BIOCHIMIE ()
Project website:
Abstract:
Read more
Studies on plants’ molecular defence mechanisms against pathogenic agents, to elaborate new strategies to increase their resistance to diseases, with a direct impact on the environment’s protection
Call name:
1996
-
1999
Role in this project:
Key expert
Coordinating institution:
INSTITUTUL DE BIOCHIMIE
Project partners:
INSTITUTUL DE BIOCHIMIE ()
Affiliation:
INSTITUTUL DE BIOCHIMIE ()
Project website:
Abstract:
Read more
Study of ERp57 Involvement in Glycoprotein Folding Mechanism
Call name:
34/414
1999
-
1999
Role in this project:
Coordinating institution:
INSTITUTUL DE BIOCHIMIE
Project partners:
INSTITUTUL DE BIOCHIMIE ()
Affiliation:
INSTITUTUL DE BIOCHIMIE ()
Project website:
Abstract:
Read more
project title
Call name:
P 1 - SP 1.1 - Proiecte de mobilitate pentru cercetatori
PN-III-P1-1.1-MC-2017-1837
2017
-
Role in this project:
Coordinating institution:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA''
Project partners:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA'' (RO)
Affiliation:
INSTITUTUL DE SPEOLOGIE ''EMIL RACOVITA'' (RO)
Project website:
Abstract:
Read more
FILE DESCRIPTION
DOCUMENT
List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Download (182.99 kb) 22/11/2019
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects
[T: 0.5862, O: 417]