Program Overview
PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ALGERIA
MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
REGIONAL CONFERENCE OF UNIVERSITY ESTABLISHMENTS OF THE WESTERN REGION
POST-DEGREE TRAINING OFFER
TOWARDS OBTAINING A DOCTORAL DEGREE
FOR THE 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR
Doctoral Training Project by Sector
Home Institution: Oran1 University, Ahmed BEN BELLA
Field: Natural and Life Sciences (SNV)
Sector: Marine and Continental Hydrobiology (HBMC)
Supporting Institution: Aquaculture and Bioremediation Laboratory - W0913600 & Environmental Monitoring laboratory - W0911500
Faculty: Natural and Life Sciences
Department: Biotechnology
Formation Manager: Prof. ABI AYAD Sidi Mohammed El Amine
Specialty: Aquaculture and Biotechnology
Issues and objectives assigned to the doctoral program:
The objective is the development of biotechnologies for aquatic organisms. Indeed, with significant population growth (Algeria has a population of nearly 48 million), needs and anthropogenic waste are exploding, leading to the depletion of certain resources intended for human consumption and increasingly significant waste, contributing to the degradation and destruction of natural biotopes intended for this resource used by humans. Furthermore, and following the directives of the President of the Republic and the priorities imposed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS) and the General Directorate of Scientific Research and Technological Development (DGRSDT), topics dealing with new technologies must be studied and developed at the level of national research laboratories, which will allow the establishment of functional and operational startups. Indeed, biotechnological sciences concerning the study of extreme zones and the valorization of products and co-products of fishing and aquaculture as well as the development of aquaculture currently represent a major strategic issue for many countries and are the subject of increasingly important concentrations of resources for their development. It is in this context that this doctoral training is situated and presents several objectives, which are:
Aquaculture: The development of aquaculture is experiencing considerable global growth, with global aquaculture production reaching 94.4 million tons in 2022 for a total production (fisheries and aquaculture) of 185.4 million tons. The aquatic organisms produced are mainly for food use, which represents approximately 89% of the quantity produced. Approximately 730 species are produced in 2024 throughout the world, which demonstrates the interest and importance of this activity in the economies of many countries. Algeria is not left behind and is developing this activity to meet the ever-increasing demand of its population. As part of this doctorate, we propose to introduce and adapt locally, in the Mediterranean, the breeding or fattening of 01 species of salmonid, in this case the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) or the silver salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), and this according to the capacity of one or the other specie to adapt to the environmental conditions of the southern Mediterranean, in Algeria. The choice fell on salmonids for 02 main reasons, the first is a question of diversification of national aquaculture production and the second is the excessive selling price of this fish on Algerian stalls and which is around 4500 DA / kg, a very expensive product which is not within the reach of small and medium budgets.
Inventory of microbiological biodiversity, of biotechnological interest, of extreme wetlands: Algeria has a total of 1,497 wetlands covering more than 2.99 million hectares (RAMSAR, 2018). Since January 11, 2015, the country has implemented a plan to safeguard and protect these environments, 50 of which are classified as RAMSAR, representing more than 1% of the country's total surface area. Wetlands represent very fragile environments, yet among the most productive on the planet. Indeed, they are home to a remarkable natural heritage and represent a major element of the region's biodiversity hotspots. These ecosystems provide multiple functions, particularly from a hydrological (i.e., groundwater recharge, sediment retention and export, and water purification), biological (i.e., food, reproduction, and shelter for flora, fauna, and microorganisms), and economic (i.e., agriculture, fishing, and tourism) perspective. For the exploitation of microorganisms with biotechnological interest living in these extreme ecosystems, it is necessary to know their biodiversity and therefore to carry out molecular identifications of the different populations colonizing the Algerian wetlands. The interest of this theme is the knowledge of local biodiversity which has a certain biotechnological interest and the preservation of biological resources which represent a very rich national heritage and are the subject of exploitation often unauthorized and contrary to the interests of Algeria.
Bioremediation: Within this area, we are primarily working on the biotreatment of waste from the oil industry at the country's ports, used motor oils, and waste from oil mills, particularly those from the olive oil industry.
Indeed, Algeria is a major player and producer in the oil industry and has one of the largest vehicle fleets in Africa and the Mediterranean basin. This results in a significant discharge of all types of oily waste, often released into the natural environment, either on the ground or in the aquatic environment. This waste is mainly composed of hydrocarbons, oils and hydrocarbon residues, and numerous other compounds from the manufacturing process of energy and other products.
Furthermore, olive growing is the country's primary tree resource. In 2023, 113,600 tons of oil were produced over an area of 440,000 hectares. Thus, the processing of 100 kg of olives produces approximately 20 kg of oil, 30 kg of pomace and approximately 50 L of wastewater or margins. This waste generated is very little recovered in Algeria, particularly the margins. The margins constitute an environmental problem because they are loaded with organic matter, minerals and toxic polyphenols which are generally either discharged directly into waterways (very high oxygen consumption and toxicity) or spread on the soil (very high toxicity), which causes pollution of agricultural land. These margins can be bio-treated and/or recovered in various ways.
Research projects related to doctoral training:
As of today, all our national and international research projects have been closed.
Number of teaching positions available for international students:
One position for international doctoral students if substantial funding is available from the supervisory authority.
Two positions if the doctoral training is supported by a joint supervision project with substantial funding.