The group’s main research directions fall into two broad areas of smart specialization, namely:
i) bioeconomy and
ii) energy, environment and climate change.
Within these broad domains, in which the versatility of mass spectrometry has found extensive applicability, there are several sub-domains in which the group members have developed research directions. Among these, the most recent applications can be grouped as follows:
- Traceability and authentication of food and beverages in relation to geographical and botanical origin, using both recognized markers (isotopic and elemental profiles) and emerging techniques, such as metabolomics;
- Food and beverage quality control, focusing on:
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- Identification of adulteration of food and beverages throug the addition of unauthorized substances in relation to the labeled specifications (exogenous water, sugar or ethanol);
- identification and quantification of organic (e.g. pesticide residues) and inorganic (potentially toxic metals) compounds.
- Applications of mass spectrometry in the cosmetics industry: estimation of the quality of essential oils, identification of specific organic and inorganic compounds of interest from raw material to final product;
- Climate change and pollution at the level of terrestrial biospheres, atmosphere and marine environment;
- Investigation of the potential of natural resources: mineral waters, geothermal waters, methane sources;
- Testing the migration of metal ions from food contact materials into various food simulants.
Team Leader
Dr. habil. Dana Alina MĂGDAŞ – Leading Researcher (R4)
Expertise: Biotechnologies.
Members:
PhD student Zoltán BALÁZS – First Stage Researcher (R1)
Expertise:.
Dr. Florina Dorina COVACIU – Recognised Researcher (R2)
Expertise: Analytical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Gas-Chromatography.
Dr. Gabriela Ioana CRISTEA – Established Researcher (R3)
Expertise: Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS).
Ioana CUREAN – Senior Technician (TS)
Maria DAVID – Scientific Research Assistant (ACS)
Expertise: .
Dr. Augusta Adriana DEHELEAN – Established Researcher (R3)
Expertise: Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
Dr. Ioana Coralia FEHER – Established Researcher (R3)
Expertise: Analytical chemistry, Chromatography, Mass spectrometry, Food safety, Environmental chemistry, Chemometrics.
Dr. Cornelia Veronica FLOARE-AVRAM – Recognised Researcher (R2)
Expertise: Analytical Chemistry, Chromatography, Mass Spectrometry.
Ariana-Raluca HAŢEGAN – Scientific Research Assistant (ACS)
Expertise: .
Dr. Olivian Ciprian MĂRINCAŞ – Recognised Researcher (R2)
Expertise: Analytical Chemistry, Chromatography, Mass Spectrometry, Food safety, Environmental Chemistry.
Eng. Valentin Raul MIREL – Technological Development Engineer I
Expertise: Chemical Engineering, Vacuum Technique, Material Science and Nanomaterials, Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Telecommunications, and Nanotechnology.
Dr. Zaharie MOLDOVAN – Leading Researcher (R4)
Expertise: Atomic, Molecular and Chemical Physics; Environmental Chemistry; Mass Spectrometry; Gas Chromatography; High Performance Liquid Chromatography(HPLC).
Dr. Csilla MÜLLER MOLNÁR – Recognised Researcher (R2)
Expertise: Biomolecular Physics, Optical Spectroscopy, Raman and SERS spectroscopy, UV-VIS Spectroscopy, Food control, Environmental monitoring.
Nicoleta PETRICĂ – Senior Technician (TS)
Dr. Romulus Horaţiu PUŞCAŞ – Recognised Researcher (R2)
Expertise: Atomic and Molecular Physics, Vacuum technique.
Dr. eng. Cezara Mariana VOICA – Recognised Researcher (R2)
Expertise: Analytical Chmemistry, Engineering Chemistry, Quality assurance.
1. Within COST Actions
- CA18225 – Taste and Odor in early diagnosis of source and drinking Water Problems
- TD1407 “Network on Technology-Critical Elements – from Environmental Processes to Human Health Threats”.
2. Cooperations within clusters in Cluj
- AgroTransilvania Cluster
- Transylvanian Furniture Cluster
3. Collaborations with industry in the framework of the Project entitled “Increasing the knowledge and technology transfer capacity of INCDTIM Cluj in bioeconomy TTC-ITIM“, nr. 18/01.09.2016, POC competition, Axis1: RDI in support of economic competitiveness and business development, Action 2.3 Partnerships for knowledge transfer.
- Development of a new range of enameled dishes with beneficial health properties, Subsidiary Contract No. 278/10.04.2019
- Fingerprinting and traceability of new varieties of cheeses produced in Transylvania, Subsidiary Contract No. 279/23.04.2019