Postdoctoral Researcher at Technical University of Munich Human Spaceflight Technology, Germany
Sergio Santaeufemia Sánchez is a postdoctoral researcher at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in the Professorship of Human Spaceflight Technology 🚀. With a PhD in Biotechnology from the University of A Coruña 🧪, his work bridges life sciences and aerospace engineering. Sergio investigates microalgae-based life support systems for future space habitats 🌿🌕, contributing to oxygen production, water purification, and edible biomass cultivation. His interdisciplinary expertise spans microbiology, biotechnology, and space systems engineering 🌌. He also supervises students and teaches courses on human spaceflight technology and life support systems at TUM 🎓.
Publication Profile
Orcid
Academic Background
Sergio earned his PhD in Biotechnology from the University of A Coruña (UDC), Spain 🇪🇸, specializing in microalgae-based bioremediation 🌊. His doctoral research focused on pollutant removal using extremophilic microalgae under challenging environmental conditions. During his academic journey, he gained advanced knowledge in molecular biology, photosynthesis, and microbial stress responses 🧫. This foundation paved the way for his interdisciplinary shift to aerospace research at the Technical University of Munich 🇩🇪. He has also been trained in space systems, photobioreactor design, and life support engineering to support long-term human missions in space 🛰️.
Professional Experience
Sergio has held research positions in Spain 🇪🇸, Poland 🇵🇱, and Germany 🇩🇪, contributing to biotechnology and aerospace engineering. He began at the Centre for New Technologies (CeNT), researching microalgae under extreme conditions 🔬. At the Technical University of Munich, he applies his biotechnology background to develop photobioreactors for astronaut life support 🚀. His international collaborations include partners from Italy 🇮🇹 and the USA 🇺🇸. Sergio has managed and contributed to multiple European-funded projects (HORIZON-EIC, BIODIVERSA+, NCN) 💡. He also supervises students, leads experiments, and organizes outreach events like Space Day Ottobrunn 🌍.
Awards and Honors
Sergio has been part of numerous prestigious European research projects, including HORIZON-EIC and BIODIVERSA+ 💶. He received NCN MINIATURA and OPUS research grants in Poland 🇵🇱 for his pioneering work on extremophilic microalgae 🧪. His studies have appeared in high-impact journals and gained international recognition 🌐. Sergio co-organized key space events like the Space Station Design Workshop (SSDW) and Space Day Ottobrunn 🛰️. His work has led to over 330 citations, an h-index of 8, and 10 peer-reviewed publications 📚. His contributions highlight his excellence in combining space research and biotechnology 🚀🌱.
Research Focus
Sergio focuses on extremophilic microalgae to support life in space through oxygen production, water purification, and food generation 🌿💧🍽️. He explores their stress adaptation mechanisms to enhance bioremediation techniques on Earth and in extraterrestrial environments 🌍🌕. His research integrates transcriptomics, photobioreactor design, and microbial ecology, targeting space applications such as lunar or Mars habitats 🪐. He is currently involved in designing space-compatible life support systems and experiments for parabolic flights and lunar simulations 🚀. Sergio’s interdisciplinary approach bridges biotechnology, life sciences, and aerospace engineering to push the boundaries of human spaceflight 🌌.
Publication Top Notes
📄 Bioremediation of oxytetracycline in seawater by living and dead biomass of the microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum
📅 Year: 2016 | 📚 Journal of Hazardous Materials | 🔁 Cited by: 109 | 🧪🌊
📄 Biosorption of ibuprofen from aqueous solution using living and dead biomass of the microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum
📅 Year: 2018 | 📚 Journal of Applied Phycology | 🔁 Cited by: 62 | 💊🌱
📄 Bioaugmentation as a strategy to enhance nutrient removal: Symbiosis between Chlorella protothecoidesand Brevundimonas diminuta
📅 Year: 2018 | 📚 Bioresource Technology Reports | 🔁 Cited by: 36 | 🧫💧
📄 Light intensity affects the mixotrophic carbon exploitation in Chlorella protothecoides: consequences on microalgae-bacteria based wastewater treatment
📅Year: 2018 | 📚Water Science and Technology | 🔁Cited by: 20 | 🌞💡
Conclusion
Dr. Sergio Santaeufemia Sánchez is an outstanding candidate for the Best Researcher Award, distinguished by his innovative and interdisciplinary work at the intersection of biotechnology, environmental science, and space technology. With a strong portfolio of high-impact international research projects (e.g., HORIZON-EIC, BIODIVERSA+), he has advanced novel applications of extremophile microalgae for bioremediation and life support systems in space missions. Despite being at an early stage in his career, he has achieved a notable h-index of 8 with 10 SCI-indexed publications, often as first or leading author, reflecting both academic impact and leadership. His collaborations span leading global institutions across diverse fields such as biology, physics, and aerospace engineering, demonstrating his capacity for cross-disciplinary integration. Dr. Santaeufemia’s work directly addresses global environmental challenges and contributes to the future of human spaceflight, while his supervision of students and science outreach efforts highlight his commitment to education and public engagement.