Dr. Dominik Refardt

Personal profile

Management role

• dep. Director of Department, Ecotechnologies and Energy Systems Research Unit
• Head, Research group aquaculture systems

Position at the ZHAW

Lecturer

www.zhaw.ch/de/lsfm/institute-zentren/iunr/ecological-engineering/aquakultursysteme/

Expertise and research interests

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

Educational background

Leadership training (2020, Zurich University of Applied Sciences)
CAS Higher Education Teaching (2017, Zurich University of Teacher Education)
PhD in biology (2005, University of Fribourg)
Diploma in biology (2001, University of Basel)

Professional milestones

since 2016 Lecturer at ZHAW Wädenswil
2012-2015 Research associate at ZHAW Wädenswil
2008-2012 Postdoctoral Researcher at ETH Zürich
2006-2008 Postdoctoral Researcher at Auckland University and Massey University, New Zealand

Membership of networks

• Swiss Algae Consortium Association (vice president)
• Innovationsgruppe Aquakultur
• European Percid Fish Culture Core Group
• MyAquacultureFarm
• Schweizer Jugend forscht (Fachexperte Biologie und Umwelt)

Projects

• Etablierung analytischer Methoden für die Aquakultur / Deputy project leader / Project ongoing
• AWACS – Animal Welfare Assessment and Control System for Fish Farms / Team member / Project ongoing
• Förderung des Seesaiblings im Zürichsee / Team member / Project completed
• Ecological Engineering Living Lab / Team member / Project completed
• BIOMAT (Integrated Bio-based Materials Value Chains) / Project co-leader / Project completed
• Denitrification Of Nitrate using Anaerobic Liquid fish-faeces Digestion / Deputy project leader / Project completed
• Sustainable duckweed production as a protein source for aquaculture / Project leader / Project completed
• Stabilized Lipids from Microalgae / Deputy project leader / Project completed
• Fish Welfare / Project leader / Project completed
• Biogas2Algae / Project leader / Project completed
• Sustainable cultivation of microalgae for energy production / Project leader / Project completed
• Phototrophic cultivation of microalgae on a pilot-scale / Project leader / Project completed

Publications

• Mariotto, Marina; Egloff, Sophia; Fritz, Ines; Refardt, Dominik,

  2023.

  Cultivation of the PHB-producing cyanobacterium Synechococcus leopoliensis in a pilot-scale open system using nitrogen from waste streams.

  Algal Research.

  70(103013).

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2023.103013

• Stadtlander, Timo; Tschudi, Fridolin; Seitz, Andreas; Sigrist, Mathias; Refardt, Dominik; Leiber, Florian,

  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).

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/6680943

• Kupczok, Anne; Bailey, Zachary M.; Refardt, Dominik; Wendling, Carolin C.,

  2022.

  Co-transfer of functionally interdependent genes contributes to genome mosaicism in lambdoid phages.

  Microbial Genomics.

  8(11), pp. 000915.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1099/mgen.0.000915

• Pulgarin, Adrian; Decker, Jérémie; Chen, Jiahua; Giannakis, Stefanos; Ludwig, Christian; Refardt, Dominik; Pick, Horst,

  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).

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2022.119301

• Wendling, Carolin C.; Refardt, Dominik; Hall, Alex R.,

  2021.

  Fitness benefits to bacteria of carrying prophages and prophage‐encoded antibiotic‐resistance genes peak in different environments.

  Evolution.

  75(2), pp. 515-528.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.14153

• Tschirren, Linda; Bachmann, David Andrea; Güler, Ali Cem; Blaser, Oliver; Rhyner, Nicola; Seitz, Andreas; Zbinden, Erich; Wahli, Thomas; Segner, Helmut; Refardt, Dominik,

  2021.

  MyFishCheck : a model to assess fish welfare in aquaculture.

  Animals.

  11(1), pp. 145.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11010145

• Pulgarin, Adrian; Kapeller, Alexander Garcia; Tarik, Mohamed; Egloff, Sophia; Mariotto, Marina; Ludwig, Christian; Refardt, Dominik,

  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.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.129238

• Tejido-Nuñez, Yaiza; Aymerich, Enrique; Sancho, Luis; Refardt, Dominik,

  2020.

  Co-cultivation of microalgae in aquaculture water : interactions, growth and nutrient removal efficiency at laboratory- and pilot-scale.

  Algal Research.

  49(101940).

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2020.101940

• Pulgarin, Adrian; Giannakis, Stefanos; Pulgarin, César; Ludwig, Christian; Refardt, Dominik,

  2020.

  A novel proposition for a citrate-modified photo-Fenton process against bacterial contamination of microalgae cultures.

  Applied Catalysis B: Environmental.

  265(118615).

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2020.118615

• Tejido-Nuñez, Yaiza; Aymerich, Enrique; Sancho, Luis; Refardt, Dominik,

  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, pp. 1-9.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2019.05.021

• Egloff, Sophia; Tschudi, Fridolin; Schmautz, Zala; Refardt, Dominik,

  2018.

  High-density cultivation of microalgae continuously fed with unfiltered water from a recirculating aquaculture system.

  Algal Research.

  34, pp. 68-74.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2018.07.004

• Pleška, Maroš; Lang, Moritz; Refardt, Dominik; Levin, Bruce R.; Guet, Călin C.,

  2018.

  Phage–host population dynamics promotes prophage acquisition in bacteria with innate immunity.

  Nature Ecology & Evolution.

  2(2), pp. 359-366.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-017-0424-z

• Peng, Gaël; Vogel, Frédéric; Refardt, Dominik; Ludwig, Christian,

  2017.

  Catalytic supercritical water gasification : continuous methanization of Chlorella vulgaris.

  Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research.

  56(21), pp. 6256-6265.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.7b00042

• Damergi, Eya; Schwitzguébel, Jean-Paul; Refardt, Dominik; Sharma, Shivom; Holliger, Christof; Ludwig, Christian,

  2017.

  Extraction of carotenoids from Chlorella vulgaris using green solvents and syngas production from residual biomass.

  Algal Research.

  25, pp. 488-495.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2017.05.003

• Wendling, Carolin Charlotte; Piecyk, Agnes; Refardt, Dominik; Chibani, Cynthia Maria; Hertel, Robert; Liesegang, Heiko; Bunk, Boyke; Overmann, Jörg; Roth, Olivia,

  2017.

  Tripartite species interaction : eukarotic hosts suffer more from phage susceptible than from phage resistant bacteria.

  BMC Evolutionary Biology.

  17(1), pp. 98.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-017-0930-2

• Bagnoud-Velásquez, Mariluz; Refardt, Dominik; Vuille, François; Ludwig, Christian,

  2015.

  Opportunities for Switzerland to contribute to the production of algal biofuels : the hydrothermal pathway to bio-methane.

  Chimia.

  69(10), pp. 614-621.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.2533/chimia.2015.614

• Refardt, Dominik,

  2022.

  Lab life : when your PhD (almost) falls apart.

  eLife.

  11, pp. e81548.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.81548

• Montpart Planell, Nuria; Membrez, Yves; Refardt, Dominik,

  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.

  Biomasse und Holzenergie

  .

  Bern:

  Bundesamt für Energie.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2655

• Graber, Andreas; Leiblein, Thomas; Refardt, Dominik; Junge, Ranka,

  2013.

  Potential of algae turf scrubbers (ATS™) for elimination of phosphorus from swimming ponds [paper].

  In:

  Borin, Maurizio; Malagoli, Mario; Salvato, Michela; Tanis, Benek, eds.,

  Wetland Systems Ecology, Functioning and Management.

  8th Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) European Chapter International Conference, Padova, Italy, 1-4 September 2013.

  Padova:

  P.A.N..

  pp. 29-30.

  Available from: 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. dx.doi.org/10.4467/16890027AP.16.023.6010

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. dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b04644

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. dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1410442111

Refardt, D. & R. Kümmerli. 2013. Defying bacteriophages: contrasting altruistic with individual-based resistance mechanisms in Escherichia coli. Communicative & Integrative Biology 6:e25159. dx.doi.org/10.4161/cib.25159

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. dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2012.3035. Recommended by F1000Prime

Refardt, D. 2012. Real-time quantitative PCR to discriminate and quantify lambdoid bacteriophages of Escherichia coli K-12. Bacteriophage 2:98-104. dx.doi.org/10.4161/bact.20092

Refardt, D. 2012. Combining forces to target bacteria (invited commentary). Evolutionary Applications 5:537-539. dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-4571.2012.00255.x

Refardt, D. & D. Ebert. 2012. The impact of infection on host competition and its relationship to parasite persistence in a Daphnia microparasite system. Evolutionary Ecology 26:95-107. dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10682-011-9487-5

Refardt, D. 2011. Within-host competition determines reproductive success of temperate bacteriophages. ISME Journal 5:1451-1460. dx.doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2011.30

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. dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0031182010001393

Refardt, D. & P.B. Rainey. 2010. Tuning a genetic switch: Experimental evolution and natural variation of prophage induction. Evolution 64:1086-1097. dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1558-5646.2009.00882.x

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. dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1550-7408.2008.00341.x

Refardt, D. & D. Ebert. 2007. Inference of parasite local adaptation using two different fitness components. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 20:921-929. dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1420-9101.2007.01307.x

Refardt, D. & L. Mouton. 2007. Reverse arrangement of rRNA subunits in the microsporidium Glugoides intestinalis. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology 54:83-85. dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1550-7408.2006.00149.x

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. doi.org/10.1017/S0031182006000060

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. doi.org/10.1017/S0031182001001305

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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