Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași (UAIC) contributes with expertise in aquatic ecology, ecotoxicology, environmental monitoring and aquaculture. Within CERSUS, it leads water management research for recirculating aquaculture systems and contributes to innovative materials, by-product-derived fish feed supplements, and sustainability and risk assessment. Its activities connect circular bioeconomy solutions with water quality, aquatic ecosystem protection and sustainable fish production.
CERSUS Project Contribution
Reseach profile and expertise
The UAIC team contributes with research in:
- Aquatic ecology and biodiversity, including the assessment of aquatic ecosystems and wetlands and the conservation of endangered species.
- Environmental monitoring, investigating priority and emerging contaminants, including toxic metals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and microplastics.
- Aquatic ecotoxicology and neuroecotoxicology, using fish models to assess pollutant effects on physiology, behaviour and health.
- Combined pollutant toxicity, examining cumulative, synergistic and antagonistic effects of contaminant mixtures.
- Biochemical and behavioural assessment, including oxidative stress indicators and automated tracking of fish behaviour.
- Recirculating aquaculture, integrating water treatment, feeding strategies and biological assessment to improve fish production and resource efficiency.
UAIC’s role in the consortium
WP1 — Project management and coordination
UAIC participates in consortium governance, scientific coordination, progress monitoring and reporting. It works with the coordinator and the other partners to support project implementation and interdisciplinary cooperation.
WP2 — Innovative materials for environmental applications
UAIC contributes to developing natural polymer-based materials with controlled properties for aquaculture applications. These include materials designed to support microbiological filtration and the removal of nitrogen compounds from recirculating aquaculture waters.
WP3 — Advanced wastewater treatment and resource recovery
UAIC contributes to developing and evaluating integrated advanced processes for the degradation of priority and emerging pollutants. Its expertise in biological effects and ecotoxicology supports the assessment of treatment safety and the suitability of treated water for reuse.
The university also participates in the consortium’s research on metal recovery and sustainable industrial water management.
WP4 — Water resources management for recirculating aquaculture
UAIC leads the work package dedicated to water management and the application of innovative materials in recirculating aquaculture systems.
The team leads investigations into the neurotoxic potential of selected pollutants using fish models, examining biochemical, physiological and behavioural responses to exposure. It also contributes to environmental monitoring, laboratory toxicity testing and the assessment of innovative materials under real aquaculture conditions.
UAIC leads the development of improved technologies for rearing valuable fish species in recirculating systems, bringing together water quality management, innovative filtration materials and feeding strategies to support fish health, growth and production quality.
WP5 — By-product and waste valorisation
UAIC contributes to recovering, characterising and purifying bioactive compounds from agricultural and food-processing residues.
The university leads the task on developing plant-based supplements for fish feed from by-products. This work combines nutrient-rich fractions recovered from wine lees with antioxidant-rich extracts, optimises formulations and evaluates their biological properties and potential toxicity. Selected formulations are subsequently tested in aquaculture systems within WP4.
WP6 — Sustainability and risk assessment
UAIC leads the task on risk assessment and the refinement of life cycle impact assessment methodologies. Toxicity data generated within WP4 support the development and testing of a risk assessment methodology and the calculation of new or updated characterisation factors for innovative materials.
UAIC also contributes to prospective and experimental-data-based sustainability assessments of by-product and waste valorisation pathways.
WP7 — Technology transfer, dissemination and training
UAIC contributes to scientific dissemination, stakeholder engagement, technology transfer and researcher exchanges. Its training activities include the assessment of aquatic environmental quality, in collaboration with consortium partners.
The university also organises a summer school on the water–energy–materials nexus in the circular bioeconomy, supporting interdisciplinary learning and the development of young researchers.
UAIC Team
The UAIC team is led by Professor Mircea Nicușor Nicoară, whose expertise spans hydrobiology, aquatic biodiversity and ecotoxicology. His research investigates the occurrence and effects of priority and emerging pollutants in aquatic environments, including the combined toxicity of contaminant mixtures and the effects of microplastics.
The team brings together complementary expertise in animal physiology, oxidative stress, neuroecotoxicology, environmental contaminant analysis and materials-related toxicity.
Through its leadership in aquatic environmental assessment and aquaculture research, UAIC helps CERSUS connect circular bioeconomy innovation with ecosystem protection, biological safety and sustainable fish production.
Leading research members
Prof.dr.habil. Mircea Nicusor Nicoara
Partner Coordinator
CS I dr. Alin Stelian Ciobica
Key person
Lect.dr. Gabriel-Ionut Plavan
Key person
CS III dr. Roxana Strungaru-Jijie
Key person
more about this partner’s research team
UAIC Infrastructure
UAIC provides complementary laboratory and aquaculture facilities for environmental analysis, biological testing and validation under realistic operating conditions.
Laboratory capabilities include optical and fluorescence microscopy, stereomicroscopy, automated biochemical analysis, UV–visible spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography with UV–visible and fluorescence detection. Sample preparation facilities include solid-phase extraction equipment and a nitrogen concentrator.
Noldus EthoVision and Track3D systems support automated behavioural analysis and tracking of fish models, enabling investigations into pollutant exposure and neurotoxic effects.
The Ezăreni Aquaculture Research Station provides eight earthen ponds covering 5.9 hectares, two recirculating aquaculture systems and one flow-through system. Its facilities include feed production equipment, feed and fish composition analysis, and instruments for monitoring water quality, dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature.
Together, these facilities connect laboratory findings with aquaculture testing and technology development.