Bioceb

Trip to Toulouse - cohort 5

Jeanne Beyrand — 2026-02-19T18:04:44Z

Visit at Toulouse Biotechnology Institute (TBI) and Toulouse White Biotechnology (TWB) – A dive into the biotech innovation and transfer process.

Sun and warm weather were there this year for the ritual trip to Toulouse of the AgroParisTech M2 BEB cohort, accompanied by Stéphanie BAUMBERGER, Bioceb and M2 BEB coordinator, and Claire BARANGER, Microbiology teacher-researcher at AgroParisTech.

After a first day of free exploration of the “Pink city” and a friendly dinner altogether, the second day was dedicated to the visit of Toulouse Biotechnology Institute (TBI) and Toulouse White Biotechnology (TWB) on the campus of National Institutes of Science and Technology (INSA Toulouse).

Day 1 friendly dinner in the historical city center and The Garonne River by night

These two visits illustrated the continuum between fundamental research and industrial innovation in white biotechnologies, with the discovery of some research teams, clusters of facilities (ex. IBISBA European infrastructure dedicated to industrial biotechnologies, so-called “white biotechnologies”) and local technical platforms (ex. MetaToul-FluxoMet).

Roundtable and TBI presentation by Claire DUMON, INRAE Research Director in the team “Enzymatic Catalysis and Molecular Engineering”

Through the visits, the students were presented with high-resolution equipment (Mass Spectrometry and NMR), along with automated platforms and techniques for high-throughput screening. They realised the cost of data production and the importance of their management and reuse. Moreover, they broadened their professional network and made contacts for future internships, PhD theses, or other projects.

Presentation of the MetaToul-FluxoMet technical platform by Hanna KULYK-BARBIER, CNRS Engineer. The platform provides researchers with a wide range of up-to-date tools in metabolmics and fluxomics for the investigation of microbial metabolism.

Presentation of the IBISBA infrastructure by Michael O'DONOHUE, INRAE Research Director serving as the Acting Director. IBISBA is a pan-European research infrastructure dedicated to Industrial Biotechnology (https://ibisba.eu/).

Presentation of his PhD thesis project by Iker PARDO LARRABEITI (AgroParisTech alumnus, Ph.D Student in the Catalysis and Enzyme Molecular Engineering Team of TBI)

As for the previous Bioceb editions, the trip inspired enthusiasm among the students. Many thanks to all the staff who contributed to its success.

Presentation of TWB and group pictures

Ivan Citakovic (cohort 1) at AgroParisTech

Jeanne Beyrand — 2026-02-11T16:17:47Z

On January 20th, 2026, Ivan Citakovic, a Bioceb alumnus from the first Bioceb graduating cohort, gave a talk at AgroParisTech. He is currently finalising an industrial PhD (CIFRE) in collaboration between Immunrise Biocontrol France and Institut Français de recherche pour l'exploitation de la mer (Ifremer). He gave a lecture on microalgae to second-year Master's students, including Bioceb students.

– Bringing real-world applications of Microalgae worldwide, along with presenting the stakeholders, current market trends, technologies and obstacles related to microalgae-based industries (cosmetics, pharmacy, plant protection, fuels..);
– Introducing students to current bottlenecks in Microalgae industry, including the regulations, costs of biomass production and technologies for calling up;
– Presenting the opportunities for students after the Bioceb- Including the CIFRE thesis opportunity, and several other paths related to building an industry-related career and making steps towards management and entrepreneurship in life science fields.

The Bioceb programme regularly involves alumni, whether through lectures, site visits, or sharing personal experiences. This helps to maintain the Bioceb network!

Informative webinar for prospective applicants - December 10th 2025

2025-11-21T17:00:05Z

Watch the webinar!

EMJM kick-off meeting 2025

2025-11-20T15:07:56Z

On 19 and 20 November 2025, the annual Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) kick-off meeting organised by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) was held in Brussels.

The meeting brought together academic coordinators and administrative staff from new or renewed EMJM programmes. As Bioceb coordinator, Stéphanie Baumberger had the opportunity to attend this two-day meeting in person. This allowed her to share her experience and best practices with coordinators from disciplines as diverse as humanities, security, laser physics and oral communication. The testimonials from successful projects and former EMJM students were particularly interesting, as they provided inspiring examples and ideas to take away. In addition, the presentations on the updated rules for EMJM programmes were very useful in preparing for the recruitment of the next Bioceb cohort and ensuring the smooth implementation of the programme. These were complemented by a face-to-face meeting with the Bioceb project officer, who confirmed that Bioceb was on track.

Overall, thanks to this meeting, Bioceb has consolidated its position within the Erasmus Mundus community.

Autumn Semester at AgroParisTech

2025-10-20T10:27:54Z

Since their welcome day at the beginning of the academic year, the students of the Master 2 in Biomass Engineering for Bioeconomy (M2 BEB) have been actively engaged in a wide range of academic and professional activities.

The program began with welcoming days, allowing students to meet their professors, discover the structure of the year, and connect with their peers. This initial meeting set a collaborative and motivated tone for the year ahead.

No later than the week that followed, students have started their Green Line Project experimental work in the labs of Institute Jean-Pierre Bourgin for Plant Sciences (IJPB) in Versailles, under the supervision of Hector-Adiel Flores Nestor, a Bioceb alumnus, (team DECLIC) and Ana Lopez Malvar (team QUALIBIOSEC), both post-doc researchers at INRAE. Several practical lab sessions in group have already taken place, encouraging teamwork and hands-on learning.

Visit of the green house facilities with Ana Lopez Malvar who supervises the GLP “Impact of climate change on maize digestibility”

Students evaluating protein profiles of recombinant yeast for the GLP “Yeast biotechnology” supervised by Hector-Adiel Flores Nestor.

It also gave them the opportunity to meet international guest lecturers in biorefinery (visit of Prof. Carlos Ariel Cardona Alzate from UNAL (Colombia) and Jimmy Anderson Martinez Ruano from UFRO (Chile)) and attend IJPB seminars by specialists in plant sciences.

Meeting with Prof. Carlos Ariel Cardona Alzate at IJPB Apsynth team

Talk of Prof. Carlos Ariel Cardona Alzate at the seminar of the “Biomass, seeds, bioproducts” IJPB division

In parallel, the students benefited from joint crosscutting activities through the intercultural and the theatre workshops, the session of preparation to personal professional project, and French lessons organized at AgroParisTech campus in Palaiseau.

Some students have also started the elective course “Cell factory design”, while the others have started the course “Genetic manipulation of plant resources”. It is the opportunity for them to deepen their knowledge in biotechnology concepts and lab technics, and interact with students from other curricula.

M2 BEB students enjoying a nice autumn weather during lunch break at INRAE in Versailles

M2 BEB students enjoying a nice autumn weather during lunch break at INRAE in VersaillesM2 BEB students enjoying a nice autumn weather during lunch break at INRAE in VersaillesM2 BEB students enjoying a nice autumn weather during lunch break at INRAE in VersaillesM2 BEB students enjoying a nice autumn weather during lunch break at INRAE in VersaillesM2 BEB students enjoying a nice autumn weather during lunch break at INRAE in Versailles

Overall, the beginning of the year has created a real group dynamic and allowed the students to dive to the heart of research projects.

M2 BEB students, with Ana Karen Sanchez Castaneda (AgroParisTech) and Jimmy Martinez Ruano (Universidad de La Frontera, Chile), at the Theater workshop led by François Pick.

Bioceb news

2025-10-10T16:58:52Z

The first Bioceb project, an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree funded from 2019 to 2025 with the support of the Erasmus + Programme of the European Union (Project Reference: 610559-EPP-1-2019-1-FR-EPPKA1-JMD-MOB), has just come to an end.

We are proud of our achievements and of the graduation of four cohorts of excellent students! The results and impact of this project are detailed in the 'Impact & Outreach' section of the website, as well as on our social media channels.

We are thrilled to announce that a second Bioceb project, an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master, is being co-funded by the European Union, as from October 2025 to November 2031, extending our mission to train the next generation of bioeconomy professionals. The website will be updated gradually to provide all the information about this new project.

Bioceb can once again offer EMJM scholarships to the best students! The amount of these scholarships will be €1,400 per month, regardless of the student's nationality, for the two years of the master's programme. We will soon launch a recruitment campaign for a 6th cohort of students (normally in November). The information will be updated shortly in the ‘applications' section of the website. The next cohort of students will begin their studies in August/September 2026.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

Start of the third semester at AgroParisTech - cohort 5

2025-10-01T16:34:00Z

The academic year officially began at AgroParisTech on September 9th 2025 for Track 1 - cohort 5 students, marked by conviviality, discovery, and connection in Palaiseau and in Paris.

Students are enrolled in the Master 2 in Integrative Biology and Physiology (IBP), study track Biomass Engineering for Bioeconomy (BEB), delivered by the Université Paris-Saclay (UPSaclay), operated by AgroParisTech. This year, the cohort includes two Bioceb students and seven students from outside Bioceb, creating a truly diverse mix of profiles!

After a general presentation of the courses and expectations for the semester, the students enjoyed a nice lunch with academic and administrative staff! This convivial gathering allowed students to meet their classmates, exchange first impressions, and start building bonds. The afternoon was devoted to a visit of the library and the experimental hall.

On September 10th, the classes officially started. In the afternoon, the group embarked on a Bateaux Mouches cruise along the Seine. This activity not only introduced students to the city's iconic landmarks—from Notre-Dame to the Musée d'Orsay—but also created a relaxed atmosphere for conversation and team building.

This "rentrée" event embodies the values of the Bioceb programme: intercultural exchange, teamwork, and community spirit. We wish the students a fruitful and inspiring academic year at AgroParisTech. Bienvenue à tous!

Biosphera Graduation Ceremony 2025

2025-07-21T17:01:57Z

The Graduation Ceremony organised by the Graduate School Biosphera from Université Paris Saclay took place on July 10th 2025 in CentraleSupélec!

Biosphera_Graduation_Ceremony

During this ceremony, students enrolled in a master's programme offered by AgroParisTech/Université Paris-Saclay in 2023/2024 obtained their master's diplomas! Among them were Bioceb graduates from the third cohort, from tracks 1, 4, and 5, who spent one semester at AgroParisTech during the programme.

They received one of their Master's Diplomas: Master in Integrative Biology and Physiology, study track Biomass Engineering for Bioeconomy, delivered by Université Paris-Saclay and operated by AgroParisTech. Congratulations!

Successful Bioceb students obtain a triple degree, i.e. National Master Degree certificates from the three universities in which they study during the Bioceb programme.

Graduate School Biosphera LinkedIn post

End of Semester at AgroParisTech

2025-06-02T10:42:48Z

Semester 2 at AgroParisTech is close to its end for Bioceb cohort n°5…

Since the defense of their GLP-2nd stage experimental work at the joint forum with TalTech students on 6th May, students had the opportunity to attend a session dedicated to entrepreneurship organized by Loïc Rajjou, Professor at AgroParisTech, and to enjoy two field trip activities, one in Troyes and the other in Versailles.

The trip to Troyes on 22nd May provided them with the opportunity to explore the historical centre of the city before visiting a R&D site of FRD-CODEM, a technology resource centre dedicated to ecomaterials and biobased materials. They were welcomed by Marie Audouin, Analyses project manager at FRDlab, who presented the different aspects of the development of plant fiber-based solutions: design of customized fibers and semi-finished products, material processability, quality control, resource availability.

Cohort 5 students with Marie Audouin at FRDlab in Troyes

In Versailles, the students were immersed in the supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) laboratory of ISIPCA, which is a French school for post-graduate studies in perfume, cosmetics products and food flavour formulation. They benefited from the expertise of Cyrille Santerre, ISPICA teacher specialist in supercritical fluid, who made a comprehensive presentation of the SFE principle and its advantages regarding a wide diversity of industrial and analytical applications. They could put into practice their green chemistry knowledge from Semester 1, through a real-time experiment of sunflower seeds lipid extraction by SFE.

Cohort 5 students with Cyrille Santerre at ISIPCA in Versailles

It is now time for the students to complete their GLP report and to prepare the poster that they will present at the European Bioeconomy University forum in Finland, on the way to Tallinn for the Bioceb summer school… a rich programme before well-deserved holidays or summer optional internship!

Research and Creativity at TalTech

2025-04-16T16:33:07Z

Bioceb Cohort 5th Students Bridge Research and Creativity at TalTech

This semester at TalTech has been a rewarding blend of scientific exploration and hands-on creativity for Bioceb students, as they immersed themselves in experiences that brought the bioeconomy to life beyond the classroom.

One of the semester's highlights was a visit to TFTAK – the Center of Food and Fermentation Technologies in Tallinn, Estonia. Known for its cutting-edge research in food innovation and industrial biotechnology, TFTAK welcomed students into its dynamic laboratories, offering an in-depth look at how science drives sustainable solutions.

Guided by Dr. Shomaila Sikandar, students explored how TFTAK blends fermentation technologies, synthetic biology, and modern analytics to develop next-generation food products. With a strong industry focus, the center exemplifies how scientific research can be scaled and translated into impactful real-world applications — from health-supporting ingredients to eco-friendly production systems.

Back on campus, on another day, students participated in a hands-on 3D printing workshop led by Tommaso Tagliani, Bioceb alumnus and current researcher at ÄIO. Under the mentorship of Professor Yevgen Karpichev, the session introduced students to the practical side of prototyping through 3D printing.

Beyond the basics of the technology, students designed and printed their own Bioceb-themed keychain, using digital fabrication tools that highlight the role of innovation in modern research labs. The workshop encouraged creativity while also underscoring the importance of accessible tools for rapid problem-solving in the bio-based sciences.

Together, these experiences reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the Bioceb programme, where students are not only exposed to cutting-edge research but are also empowered to experiment, collaborate, and think like future engineers and scientists.

Gratitude goes to TFTAK, Tommaso Tagliani, and the Professors at TalTech for making these opportunities possible, and to all the students who brought energy, curiosity, and collaboration into every moment of it.

Article by Anvarshu Gopal (Bioceb Cohort 5th)