Blog
From Student to Guest Lecturer: Returning to the Classroom That Shaped Me
A few years ago, I was sitting in this room as a student of the MSc in Environmental Engineering (Sanitary Engineering specialization) at Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (NOVA School of Science and Technology), trying to imagine what my future in this field could look like. Today, now as a PhD candidate, I returned, this time to give a lecture to those same students. After two years away from direct teaching (since my time at Shanghai University), coming back to a classroom reminded me
My Secondment at SLU
April marked the end of my first secondment, which took place at the Department of Molecular Sciences of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala. Under the precious and gentle guidance of my co-supervisor Maria Westerholm, I focused on the molecular angle of my experiment. I carried out several analysis on my samples, while learning to critically assess the limitations and biases associated with different sequencing techniques and analytical approaches. Although it might feel discouraging to know that no methodology allows to entirely retrieve one’s targets, understanding these constraints
Three Months Away: My secondment at INRAE
Some experiences fit into a CV, while others quietly reshape the way you think, work, and see the world. My three-month secondment at INRAE in Narbonne was the latter. Before leaving, I wasn’t completely sure what to expect. Being part of a team of passionate scientists opened a new dimension of understanding for me in environmental research. The work was intensive and, at times, challenging, but that’s exactly what made the experience valuable. Being placed within a different scientific environment pushes you to question familiar approaches and leave your comfort
Training the Next Generation of Scientists: DC3 Tiago Martins supervises Simon van Es
As part of the HORIZON Europe MSCA INCLUE Project, I had the opportunity to supervise a graduation internship in Analytical Chemistry. The internship was carried out at Nijhuis Saur Industries by Simon van Es, a student from HAN University of Applied Sciences. For me personally, this experience represented an important milestone in my PhD journey. It was my first time supervising a student from start to finish on this topic that I have been carrying for so long. I have had the opportunity to teach in different universities and countries,
Electrochemical Pathways for Metal Recovery: My Midterm PhD Update at PETLab
On 19 February 2026, I had the opportunity to present the latest developments of my PhD research at the KU Leuven PETLab Seminar, hosted at KU Leuven Campus De Nayer. The session was part of the Arenberg Doctoral School seminar series and attracted researchers and students interested in cutting-edge solutions for sustainable resource recovery. My presentation, titled “Turning sludge into resource: Electrochemical Strategies for Metal Recovery and Safe Sludge Reuse,” explored how wastewater sludge, often considered an environmental liability, can instead be transformed into a valuable resource. Wastewater sludge contains
Bridging Research and Learning: Nitin Kumar Presents to a Broad Academic Audience at the University of Glasgow
A diverse academic audience gathered at the University of Glasgow to hear doctoral researcher Nitin Kumar (DC11) present his work titled “Holistic Sensing of Pollutants and Ecotoxicity in Wastewater Treated Sludge”, a topic that is far more fascinating than it might first appear. The presentation offered an insightful introduction to the science of sludge, a topic that, despite its everyday relevance, is often overlooked in mainstream scientific discourse. Kumar guided the audience through the fundamental concepts underpinning his research, breaking down technical ideas into clear and relatable terms without sacrificing scientific depth. The session was designed to bridge the gap between cutting-edge doctoral research and the broader academic community, ensuring that even those new to the field could follow and engage with the material. “Presenting to a mixed audience is always a rewarding challenge,” Kumar noted. “You want to make sure that an undergraduate student walks away just as inspired and informed as a PhD researcher, and that means finding the right language and the right story to tell.” The audience responded with enthusiasm, and the presentation sparked thoughtful discussion among attendees, reflecting the relevance and accessibility of Kumar’s work. For many undergraduates in the room, it offered a valuable window into what doctoral research looks like in practice, and how scientific topics as seemingly unglamorous as sludge can hold significant implications for environmental science and sustainability. For Kumar, engagements like these are a natural extension of his commitment to science communication and public outreach. “Research doesn’t exist in a vacuum,” he remarked. “Sharing it, especially with students who are just beginning their scientific journey, is how we build the next generation of curious, informed, and passionate researchers.” The event stands as another example of the University of Glasgow’s dedication to fostering an inclusive and collaborative academic culture, where knowledge is shared openly across disciplines and career stages. Through presentations like these, doctoral researchers such as Kumar continue to inspire, educate, and connect with the wider university community.
A Chapter in Southern France: My Secondment at INRAE
During my PhD, I had the incredible opportunity to complete a secondment at INRAE in Narbonne, an experience that has left a lasting impact on me both professionally and personally. From a scientific perspective, this secondment was an intense and rewarding learning journey. I significantly deepened my practical analytical skills and expanded my knowledge in environmental research. Working alongside colleagues from diverse scientific backgrounds allowed me to view my research through new lenses and engage in valuable interdisciplinary discussions that both challenged and inspired me. Beyond the lab, the setting itself played
Finding Perspective in Patterns: Reflections from the Scottish Environmental & Analytical Chemistry Symposium
Conferences have a way of pulling you out of your own data and reminding you where your work fits in the bigger picture. I recently attended the 14th Scottish Environmental and Analytical Chemistry Symposium, hosted at the University of Aberdeen, where I presented a poster on my PhD research and spent a day immersed in discussions spanning environmental monitoring, analytical innovation, and applied chemistry. My poster focused on the development of array-based fluorescent sensing strategies for detecting micropollutants and assessing potential ecotoxicity in treated sewage sludge. Sludge is increasingly viewed
Encouraging Young Minds: Nitin Kumar Engages Pupils in Chemistry at Paracetamol Workshops
On 2 December 2025, University of Glasgow doctoral researcher Nitin Kumar (DC11) participated in a series of Paracetamol-themed laboratory workshops for a group of pupils who travelled from Dumfries. Aimed at providing hands-on experience in chemistry, the sessions introduced students to practical aspects of pharmaceutical science while offering a glimpse into life as a researcher. The workshops were divided into two parts. In the first half, Kumar and a couple of colleagues delivered a short talk about their academic journeys and research projects, sharing insights into the day-to-day work of
From Signals to Insights: Advancing My PhD Work on Sludge Sensing
Turning Sludge into a Story Sewage sludge might not sound glamorous, but it tells a fascinating chemical story.Rich in nutrients yet carrying micropollutants, from pharmaceuticals and endocrine-disrupting compounds to PFASs and industrial chemicals,it presents a unique challenge: how can we safely reuse it while monitoring contaminants effectively? A Cross-Reactive Sensor Array Our solution is a cross-reactive sensor array made of structurally diverse hosts: cucurbit[8]uril, cucurbit[7]uril, γ-cyclodextrin, hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin, sulfocalix[4]arene, and human serum albumin. Paired with fluorescent dyes, this system responds to host-guest interactions. Using fluorescence indicator displacement assays (FIDAs), we’ve
My secondment at TU Delft
This is my first day back at my lab. It feels as if I lived a whole, and fully different, life in the last two months. Being home means that I now have to look back at everything and try to summarize it. I have spent two months at the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands (the country fighting the seas to stay afloat), completing my secondment. My INCLUE colleague Andrea, welcomed me in an amazing manner, as did the entire university. I learned, I discussed, I
My secondment at the University of Oxford
It’s been just shy of a month since I came back from my secondment in Oxford, and I am still processing this amazing experience. I had the pleasure and utter honour of working in James Kwan’s lab, one of the most advanced and renowned groups in sonochemistry. There, I had the chance to work with their custom SonoCyl ultrasound reactors, optimized for pollutant degradation as well as for H₂ production, among other goals. With these reactors, I achieved very promising degradation levels for PFAS, the focus of my project. I
From Student to Guest Lecturer: Returning to the Classroom That Shaped Me
A few years ago, I was sitting in this room as a student of the MSc in Environmental Engineering (Sanitary Engineering specialization) at Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (NOVA School of Science and Technology), trying to imagine what my future in this field could look like. Today, now as a PhD candidate, I returned, this time to give a lecture to those same students. After two years away from direct teaching (since my time at Shanghai University), coming back to a classroom reminded me
My Secondment at SLU
April marked the end of my first secondment, which took place at the Department of Molecular Sciences of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala. Under the precious and gentle guidance of my co-supervisor Maria Westerholm, I focused on the molecular angle of my experiment. I carried out several analysis on my samples, while learning to critically assess the limitations and biases associated with different sequencing techniques and analytical approaches. Although it might feel discouraging to know that no methodology allows to entirely retrieve one’s targets, understanding these constraints
Three Months Away: My secondment at INRAE
Some experiences fit into a CV, while others quietly reshape the way you think, work, and see the world. My three-month secondment at INRAE in Narbonne was the latter. Before leaving, I wasn’t completely sure what to expect. Being part of a team of passionate scientists opened a new dimension of understanding for me in environmental research. The work was intensive and, at times, challenging, but that’s exactly what made the experience valuable. Being placed within a different scientific environment pushes you to question familiar approaches and leave your comfort
Training the Next Generation of Scientists: DC3 Tiago Martins supervises Simon van Es
As part of the HORIZON Europe MSCA INCLUE Project, I had the opportunity to supervise a graduation internship in Analytical Chemistry. The internship was carried out at Nijhuis Saur Industries by Simon van Es, a student from HAN University of Applied Sciences. For me personally, this experience represented an important milestone in my PhD journey. It was my first time supervising a student from start to finish on this topic that I have been carrying for so long. I have had the opportunity to teach in different universities and countries,
Electrochemical Pathways for Metal Recovery: My Midterm PhD Update at PETLab
On 19 February 2026, I had the opportunity to present the latest developments of my PhD research at the KU Leuven PETLab Seminar, hosted at KU Leuven Campus De Nayer. The session was part of the Arenberg Doctoral School seminar series and attracted researchers and students interested in cutting-edge solutions for sustainable resource recovery. My presentation, titled “Turning sludge into resource: Electrochemical Strategies for Metal Recovery and Safe Sludge Reuse,” explored how wastewater sludge, often considered an environmental liability, can instead be transformed into a valuable resource. Wastewater sludge contains
Bridging Research and Learning: Nitin Kumar Presents to a Broad Academic Audience at the University of Glasgow
A diverse academic audience gathered at the University of Glasgow to hear doctoral researcher Nitin Kumar (DC11) present his work titled “Holistic Sensing of Pollutants and Ecotoxicity in Wastewater Treated Sludge”, a topic that is far more fascinating than it might first appear. The presentation offered an insightful introduction to the science of sludge, a topic that, despite its everyday relevance, is often overlooked in mainstream scientific discourse. Kumar guided the audience through the fundamental concepts underpinning his research, breaking down technical ideas into clear and relatable terms without sacrificing scientific depth. The session was designed to bridge the gap between cutting-edge doctoral research and the broader academic community, ensuring that even those new to the field could follow and engage with the material. “Presenting to a mixed audience is always a rewarding challenge,” Kumar noted. “You want to make sure that an undergraduate student walks away just as inspired and informed as a PhD researcher, and that means finding the right language and the right story to tell.” The audience responded with enthusiasm, and the presentation sparked thoughtful discussion among attendees, reflecting the relevance and accessibility of Kumar’s work. For many undergraduates in the room, it offered a valuable window into what doctoral research looks like in practice, and how scientific topics as seemingly unglamorous as sludge can hold significant implications for environmental science and sustainability. For Kumar, engagements like these are a natural extension of his commitment to science communication and public outreach. “Research doesn’t exist in a vacuum,” he remarked. “Sharing it, especially with students who are just beginning their scientific journey, is how we build the next generation of curious, informed, and passionate researchers.” The event stands as another example of the University of Glasgow’s dedication to fostering an inclusive and collaborative academic culture, where knowledge is shared openly across disciplines and career stages. Through presentations like these, doctoral researchers such as Kumar continue to inspire, educate, and connect with the wider university community.