Dominik Refardt, PhD

Work at ZHAW

Position

Lecturer

Focus

Now: microalgae, cyanobacteria, nutrient recycling, nutrient balances, renewable resources, sustainability, wastewater, aquaculture, teaching in higher education. Then: microbial evolution, microbial ecology, host-parasite systems, waterfleas, bacteriophages, microsporidia

Teaching

• Bachelor Environmental Engineering
• Master of Science in Environment and Natural Resources
• Bachelor Applied Digital Life Sciences

Experience

• Lecturer
  Zurich University of Applied Sciences
  01 / 2016 - today
• Head of the research group aquaculture systems
  Zurich University of Applied Sciences
  06 / 2015 - 07 / 2025
• Research associate
  Zurich University of Applied Sciences
  08 / 2012 - 12 / 2015
• Postdoctoral Researcher
  ETH Zürich
  06 / 2008 - 07 / 2012
• Postdoctoral Researcher
  Auckland University und Massey University, New Zealand
  01 / 2006 - 05 / 2008

Education and Continuing education

Education

• PhD / Biology
  Fribourg University
  05 / 2001 - 01 / 2006
• Diploma / Biology
  Basel University
  09 / 1995 - 04 / 2001

Continuing Education

• Leadership training
  Zurich University of Applied Sciences
  01 / 2020
• CAS Higher Education Teaching
  Zurich University of Teacher Education
  01 / 2017

Network

ORCID digital identifier

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-9048-144X

Social media

• LinkedIn
• ResearchGate
• Google Scholar

Projects

• AquaChain – Connecting the trophic levels of a freshwater aquaculture food chain / Project leader / ongoing
• Sustainable Carotenoids from Microalgae / Project leader / ongoing
• Novel method for geosmin reduction using probiotics in aquaculture / Deputy project leader / completed
• Development of analytical methods specific to aquaculture / Deputy project leader / completed
• Sustainable algal proteins produced on potato and other controlled agri-food streams / Project leader / completed
• AWACS – Animal Welfare Assessment and Control System for Fish Farms / Team member / completed
• Ecological Engineering Living Lab: Insights into the lab of Ecological Engineering / Team member / completed
• Integrated Bio-based Materials Value Chains / Co-project leader / completed
• Denitrification Of Nitrate using Anaerobic Liquid fish-faeces Digestion / Deputy project leader / completed
• Sustainable duckweed production as a protein source for aquaculture / Project leader / completed
• Stabilized Lipids from Microalgae / Deputy project leader / completed
• Fish Welfare / Project leader / completed
• Coupling the cultivation of microalgae with agricultural biogas production / Project leader / completed
• Sustainable cultivation of microalgae for energy production / Project leader / completed
• Phototrophic cultivation of microalgae on a pilot-scale / Project leader / completed

Publications

Articles in scientific journal, peer-reviewed

• Mirzaei, M., Jazini, M., Aminiershad, G., & Refardt, D. (2024). Biodesalination of saline aquaculture wastewater with simultaneous nutrient removal and biomass production using the microalgae Arthrospira and Dunaliella in a circular economy approach. Desalination, 581(117564). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2024.117564
• Mariotto, M., Egloff, S., Fritz, I., & Refardt, D. (2023). Cultivation of the PHB-producing cyanobacterium Synechococcus leopoliensis in a pilot-scale open system using nitrogen from waste streams. Algal Research, 70(103013). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2023.103013
• Stadtlander, T., Tschudi, F., Seitz, A., Sigrist, M., Refardt, D., & Leiber, F. (2023). Partial replacement of fishmeal with duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza) in feed for two carnivorous fish species, Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Aquaculture Research, 2023(6680943). https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/6680943
• Kupczok, A., Bailey, Z. M., Refardt, D., & Wendling, C. C. (2022). Co-transfer of functionally interdependent genes contributes to genome mosaicism in lambdoid phages. Microbial Genomics, 8(11), 915. https://doi.org/10.1099/mgen.0.000915
• Pulgarin, A., Decker, J., Chen, J., Giannakis, S., Ludwig, C., Refardt, D., & Pick, H. (2022). Effective removal of the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus from a Chlorella vulgaris microalgal culture by homogeneous solar photo-Fenton at neutral pH. Water Research, 226(119301). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2022.119301
• Pulgarin, A., Kapeller, A. G., Tarik, M., Egloff, S., Mariotto, M., Ludwig, C., & Refardt, D. (2021). Cultivation of microalgae at high-density with pretreated liquid digestate as a nitrogen source : fate of nitrogen and improvements on growth limitations. Journal of Cleaner Production, 324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.129238
• Wendling, C. C., Refardt, D., & Hall, A. R. (2021). Fitness benefits to bacteria of carrying prophages and prophage‐encoded antibiotic‐resistance genes peak in different environments. Evolution, 75(2), 515–528. https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.14153
• Tschirren, L., Bachmann, D. A., Güler, A. C., Blaser, O., Rhyner, N., Seitz, A., Zbinden, E., Wahli, T., Segner, H., & Refardt, D. (2021). MyFishCheck : a model to assess fish welfare in aquaculture. Animals, 11(1), 145. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11010145
• Tejido-Nuñez, Y., Aymerich, E., Sancho, L., & Refardt, D. (2020). Co-cultivation of microalgae in aquaculture water : interactions, growth and nutrient removal efficiency at laboratory- and pilot-scale. Algal Research, 49(101940). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2020.101940
• Pulgarin, A., Giannakis, S., Pulgarin, C., Ludwig, C., & Refardt, D. (2020). A novel proposition for a citrate-modified photo-Fenton process against bacterial contamination of microalgae cultures. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 265(118615). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2020.118615
• Tejido-Nuñez, Y., Aymerich, E., Sancho, L., & Refardt, D. (2019). Treatment of aquaculture effluent with Chlorella vulgaris and Tetradesmus obliquus : the effect of pretreatment on microalgae growth and nutrient removal efficiency. Ecological Engineering, 136, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2019.05.021
• Egloff, S., Tschudi, F., Schmautz, Z., & Refardt, D. (2018). High-density cultivation of microalgae continuously fed with unfiltered water from a recirculating aquaculture system. Algal Research, 34, 68–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2018.07.004
• Pleška, M., Lang, M., Refardt, D., Levin, B. R., & Guet, C. C. (2018). Phage–host population dynamics promotes prophage acquisition in bacteria with innate immunity. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 2(2), 359–366. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-017-0424-z
• Wendling, C. C., Piecyk, A., Refardt, D., Chibani, C. M., Hertel, R., Liesegang, H., Bunk, B., Overmann, J., & Roth, O. (2017). Tripartite species interaction : eukarotic hosts suffer more from phage susceptible than from phage resistant bacteria. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 17(1), 98. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-017-0930-2
• Peng, G., Vogel, F., Refardt, D., & Ludwig, C. (2017). Catalytic supercritical water gasification : continuous methanization of Chlorella vulgaris. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 56(21), 6256–6265. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.7b00042
• Damergi, E., Schwitzguébel, J.-P., Refardt, D., Sharma, S., Holliger, C., & Ludwig, C. (2017). Extraction of carotenoids from Chlorella vulgaris using green solvents and syngas production from residual biomass. Algal Research, 25, 488–495. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2017.05.003
• Bagnoud-Velásquez, M., Refardt, D., Vuille, F., & Ludwig, C. (2015). Opportunities for Switzerland to contribute to the production of algal biofuels : the hydrothermal pathway to bio-methane. Chimia, 69(10), 614–621. https://doi.org/10.2533/chimia.2015.614

Other publications

• Refardt, D. (2022). Lab life : when your PhD (almost) falls apart. eLife, 11, e81548. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.81548
• Montpart Planell, N., Membrez, Y., & Refardt, D. (2015). Production de spiruline à la ferme : produire de la spiruline à la ferme grâce au digestat et à la chaleur excédentaire d’une installation de biogaz. Bundesamt für Energie. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2655
• Graber, A., Leiblein, T., Refardt, D., & Junge, R. (2013). Potential of algae turf scrubbers (ATS™) for elimination of phosphorus from swimming ponds [Conference paper]. In M. Borin, M. Malagoli, M. Salvato, & B. Tanis (Eds.), Wetland Systems Ecology, Functioning and Management (pp. 29–30). P.A.N. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-1612

Publications before appointment at the ZHAW

• Vávra, J., M. Hylis, I. Fiala, D. Refardt, R. Larsson. 2016. Microsporidia in a woodland pool I. Lanatospora costata sp. n. (Opisthosporidia, Microsporidia), parasite of Megacyclops viridis (Crustacea, Copepoda): fine structure and molecular phylogeny. Acta Protozool 55:269-280
• Armanious, A., M. Aeppli, J. Ronald, D. Refardt, T. Sigstam, T. Kohn & M. Sander. 2016. Viruses at solid-water interfaces: A systematic assessment of interactions driving adsorption. Env Sci Tech 50:732-743
• Haag, K.L., T.Y. James, J.-F. Pombert, R. Larsson, T.M.M. Schaer, D. Refardt & D. Ebert. 2014. Evolution of a morphological novelty occurred before genome compaction in a lineage of extreme parasites. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 111:15480–15485
• Refardt, D. & R. Kümmerli. 2013. Defying bacteriophages: contrasting altruistic with individual-based resistance mechanisms in Escherichia coli. Communicative & Integrative Biology 6:e25159
• Refardt, D., T. Bergmiller & R. Kümmerli. 2013. Altruism can evolve when relatedness is low: Evidence from bacteria committing suicide upon phage infection. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 280:20123035
• Refardt, D. 2012. Real-time quantitative PCR to discriminate and quantify lambdoid bacteriophages of Escherichia coli K-12. Bacteriophage 2:98-104
• Refardt, D. 2012. Combining forces to target bacteria (invited commentary). Evolutionary Applications 5:537-539
• Refardt, D. & D. Ebert. 2012. The impact of infection on host competition and its relationship to parasite persistence in a Daphnia microparasite system. Evol Ecol 26:95-107
• Refardt, D. 2011. Within-host competition determines reproductive success of temperate bacteriophages. ISME Journal 5:1451-1460
• Haag, K.L., J.I.R. Larsson, D. Refardt & D. Ebert. 2011. Cytological and molecular description of Hamiltosporidium tvaerminnensis gen. et sp. nov., a microsporidian parasite of Daphnia magna, and establishment of Hamiltosporidium magnivora comb. nov. Parasitology 138:447-462
• Refardt, D. & P.B. Rainey. 2010. Tuning a genetic switch: Experimental evolution and natural variation of prophage induction. Evolution 64:1086-1097
• Refardt, D., E. Decaestecker, P.T.J. Johnson & J. Vávra. 2008. Morphology, molecular phylogeny, and ecology of Binucleata daphniae n. g., n. sp (Fungi: Microsporidia), a parasite of Daphnia magna Straus, 1820 (Crustacea: Branchiopoda). Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology 55:393-408
• Refardt, D. & D. Ebert. 2007. Inference of parasite local adaptation using two different fitness components. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 20:921-929
• Refardt, D. & L. Mouton. 2007. Reverse arrangement of rRNA subunits in the microsporidium Glugoides intestinalis. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology 54:83-85
• Refardt, D. & D. Ebert. 2006. Quantitative PCR to detect, discriminate and quantify intracellular parasites in their host: an example from three microsporidians in Daphnia. Parasitology 133:11-18
• Zbinden, M., S. Lass, D. Refardt, J. Hottinger & D. Ebert. 2005. Octosporea bayeri: fumidil B inhibits vertical transmission in Daphnia magna. Experimental Parasitology 109:58-61
• Mucklow, P.T., D.B. Vizoso, K.H. Jensen, D. Refardt & D. Ebert. 2004. Variation in phenoloxidase activity and its relation to parasite resistance within and between populations of Daphnia magna. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 271:1175-1183
• Canning, E.U., D. Refardt, C.R. Vossbrinck, B. Okamura & A. Curry. 2004. Correction for genus Bryonosema (Microsporidia, Pseudonosematidae). European Journal of Protistology 40:69-69
• Canning, E.U., D. Refardt, C.R. Vossbrinck, B. Okamura & A. Curry. 2002. New diplokaryotic microsporidia (Phylum Microsporidia) from freshwater bryozoans (Bryozoa, Phylactolaemata). European Journal of Protistology 38:247-265
• Refardt, D., E.U. Canning, A. Mathis, S.A. Cheney, N.J. Lafranchi-Tristem & D. Ebert. 2002. Small subunit ribosomal DNA phylogeny of microsporidia that infect Daphnia (Crustacea: Cladocera). Parasitology 124:381-389
• Canning, E.U., A. Curry, S.A. Cheney, N.J. Lafranchi-Tristem, D. Ebert, D. Refardt, M. Killick-Kendrick, R. Killick-Kendrick. 2001. Flabelliforma montana (Phylum Microsporidia) from Phlebotomus ariasi (Diptera, Psychodidae): Ultrastructural observations and phylogenetic relationships. European Journal of Protistology 37:207-221

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