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 Cameroon, NONO WANDJI Brice Léonel!
My name is NONO WANDJI Brice Léonel, and I come from Cameroon. I grew up in Dschang, in the West region, and have just defended my doctoral thesis at the University of Dschang in Cameroon. I specialized in energy and farm machinery, and I'm particularly interested in renewable energies and sustainable technologies.
During my university studies, I worked on the conversion of biomass into energy, such as the transformation of banana trunks into biochar and charcoal briquettes. I also developed a hybrid dryer that uses both solar energy (thermal) and energy from biomass combustion for drying. My recent work has focused on biomass energy conversion using black soldier fly larvae to produce biodiesel. As a result of this work, I realized how fascinated I was by research in renewable energies and sustainable technologies. This is because of its infinite possibilities, practicality and enormous potential for improving the living conditions of people in rural areas. As a result, I have developed a particular interest in biofuels, whether liquid (biodiesel, bioethanol), solid (charcoal, pellets) or gaseous (biogas), and in the energy recovery of organic waste through the bioconversion process using black soldier fly larvae. My work on the hybrid dryer led me to develop a business project (DJIMI QUICK) in the agri-food sector. In particular, the production of pre-cooked foods. Some of these foods are preserved by drying, others by sterilization. Overall, I like to use my experience to help improve people's living conditions, especially in rural areas.
I'm very happy to be part of the BioResources and Technology (BRT) division for the next two months. I'm particularly looking forward to learning more about biogas, and biogas production and analysis techniques in the laboratory. I'm also looking forward to meeting the members of the laboratory, discussing their work and carrying out analyses on the samples I've brought along from Cameroon. One of my goals as an intern here is to learn more about biogas, analytical techniques and studying the biomethanization process in the laboratory. This will improve my skills, providing me with essential tools for building my research career.
Outside my studies, I enjoy gardening and travelling. I love exploring new places, meeting new people and discovering their cultures. I must admit, this trip to Prague marks my first travel experience to Europe and outside of Cameroon. Prague is a quiet and beautiful city. I'd like to get a real taste of local life, improve my English, and learn as much Czech as possible over the next two months. In the future, I hope to be able to return to Prague for another PhD or postdoc!
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