Section: Dissemination

Ongoing theses

• Nabil Mabrouk develops individual-based computer models for bacterial communities, taking spatial structure (like flocks and bio-film) into account. The simulator has been validated by comparison with analytical models, which under certain conditions approximate the individual-based models quite accurately. In particular, the behavior of a population-balance model for bacterial flocculation has been reproduced. Nabil will defend his thesis January 7, 2010.

• Miled El Hajji is preparing a PhD thesis since December 2007, under the supervision of A. Rapaport and L. Ranjard (INRA Dijon). Microbial communities of soil ecosystems appear to possess some similitude with waste-water ecosystems that are worth being studied more deeply, which is the main purpose of this thesis, granted by INRA. An originality of the work relies on experiments on simple ecosystems conducted at INRA Dijon.

• Ihab Haidar is funded by the French Ministry of Research (MESR grant) since November 2008, for preparing a PhD thesis under the supervision of A. Rapaport and F. Gerard (INRA Montpellier). His research subject focuses on coupling geochemical models of soil with microbial dynamical models, in partnership with UMR Eco & Sols (Montpellier).

• The PhD thesis of Diagne Mamadou Lamine is co-directed by Mary Teuw Niane (Saint-Louis, Sénégal) and T. Sari on the subject “Modélisation mathématique de la dynamique de prolifération du Typha dans le Parc National du Djoudj”.

• Boumediene Benyahia has just begun his PhD Thesis in September 2008 within the TREASURE network (cf. 8.1.5 ). His thesis aims at evaluating classical anaerobic process models for AMBRs. In close cooperation with Amine Charfi (cf. herebelow) and all partners of the TREASURE network, he will try to modify such models to link their variables to those used to characterize the membranes. The final objective is to be able to predict and control the clogging of membranes. The first work to be realized is the modelling of an AMBR working in the Biotechnological Center of Sfax (CBS, Sfax, Tunisia). At the same time, he will be in charge of the design and the building of an AMBR pilot plant in Tlemcen which should begin soon.

• Amine Charfi will begin his PhD soon within the TREASURE network (cf. 8.1.5 ). His thesis aims at characterizing the membranes used in AMBRs in order to link their characteristics to biological compartment of bioprocess models. In close cooperation with Boumediene Benyahia and all partners of the TREASURE network, he will conceive and realize experiments on membranes modules both with and without biomass in order to better understand chemical and physical properties of the membranes and its capacity to clog. The first work to be realized is, on the one side, an extensive literature survey on the membrane models, and, on the other side, on classical models of anaerobic bioreactors.

• Angelo Raherinirina has just begun his PhD (prepared in Madagascar) under the supervision of F. Campillo and R. Rakotozafy. The thesis aims at developping Markovian models for agricultural dynamics. A. Raherinirina spent three months in Montpellier.