To broaden and develop our teams’ collaborative skills while offering visiting students the chance to expand their scientific networks and gain cultural experiences, BRT encourages students to join our team for internship opportunities. These internships aim to facilitate idea exchange, foster professional growth, and create opportunities for collaboration. Meet the new intern joining our team from India, Dave Umang!  

 

Hello there, I’m Dave Umang from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India’s City of Heritage. With a master's degree in microbiology from Silver Oak University and professional experience in the pharmaceutical industry, I’ve always been fascinated by the unseen world of microbes. Originally, during my master’s thesis I worked on plant growth promoting bacteria. At that time I developed curiosity within the field of agriculture. This fascination led me to shift gears and pursue a new masters – this time in Tropical Crop Management and Ecology at the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences (FTZ) at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU). So far, I’ve learned many new things and have met amazing people from different countries. 

 

My journey brought me to the BRT, where I’m currently doing an internship that blends microbiology, environmental science, and renewable energy. At BRT, I’m exploring an essential question: Can microbial inoculum enhance the efficiency of anaerobic digestion for biogas production?  

 

As part of my internship, I’m conducting a comparative study between two anaerobic digestion systems:  

The research is highly technical and hands-on. We monitor gas production, analyze microbial activity, and assess how different setups impact methane yield and startup time. Every data point we collect brings us closer to understanding how to turn waste into clean, efficient energy. 

 

What makes this internship so valuable is direct access to practical tools and research experience. Working with experienced professors and PhD researchers, I gained a deeper appreciation for how complex and elegant anaerobic digestion can be.  

It’s not just about energy, this process transforms waste into something useful:  

Being part of this system has helped me connect microbiological principles with real-world applications that contribute to sustainability and climate action.  

 

Biogas offers a decentralized, farm-based alternative to fossil fuels, especially important in rural settings. But challenges like slowly start up and inconsistent gas yields limit its widespread adoption. My research aims to uncover whether an inoculum with a seemingly small tweak can make a big difference. Early results are promising. The goal? Develop actionable recommendations for more efficient, reliable small and medium scale biogas plants.  

 

Besides my academics, I enjoy reading, cooking, writing and going on adventures with my friends.  I’m an introvert and mostly enjoy my own company but I think my small circle of friends is beautiful.  

 

Overall, I look forward to a productive and informative internship!