elina.dace@lu.lv
+371 26196240
Scopus ID: 35093671800
Education:
2022 Master's degree in Social Science (Riga Technical University)
2013 PhD degree in Environmental Engineering (Thesis Title “Model of the Integrated Waste Management System of Primary Packaging”)
2009 Master's degree in Environmental Science (Riga Technical University)
2007 Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science (Riga Technical University)
2014 Diploma for Vocational training in beekeeping (Latvia University of Agriculture)
2004 General secondary education (Riga Secondary School No. 49)
Work experience:
Since 2022 leader of the Circularity Transitions Research Group at University of Latvia, Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology
Since 2021 senior researcher at University of Latvia, Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology
Since 2020 visiting senior researcher at Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Faculty of Information Technology
2019 – 2020 researcher at University of Latvia, Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology
2019 – 2020 acting senior researcher at JSC Biotehniskais centrs
2018 – 2019 scientific secretary at Riga Stradins University, Research Department
2016 – 2018 senior researcher at RTU, Institute of Energy Systems and Environment (IESE)
2014 – 2018 assistant professor at RTU IESE
2010 – 2018 study coordinator at RTU IESE
2009 – 2016 researcher at RTU IESE
2010 – 2014 lecturer at RTU IESE
Projects:
2023 – 2026 Recycling plastic and developing hybrid living materials by capturing greenhouse gases to produce value-added products (REPLACER), M-ERA.Net funded by the Latvian Council of Science
2022 – 2023 Socio-economic context of food waste generation in Latvia, funded by Riga Stradins University
2021 – 2023 From indifference to making difference in climate policy: improving the interaction between political narrative and societal perceptions in Latvia (CliNaP), funded by the Latvian Council of Science
2020 – 2023 Decision Support Tool for an Integrated Food Waste Valorisation System, funded by ERDF
2019 – 2020 Assessment of investment needs in the National Waste Management Plan 2021 – 2028, a project financed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development
2019 Industry impact study on the implementation of a deposit-refund system in Latvia, a project financed by the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
2016 – 2017 Comparative assessment of performance of the 28 European Union Member States in agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, a research project financed by Riga Technical University
2014 – 2015 Cooperation development project on promoting sustainable environmental engineering education between Urgench State University and Riga Technical University, education and mobility project financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia
2013 – 2015 Involvement of Human Resources for Development of Integrated Renewable Energy Resources Energy Production System, a research project financed by the European Social Fund
2015 Analysis of techno-economic alternatives for production and use of refuse derived fuel in Latvia, a contract research project financed by the Latvian Association of Waste Management Companies
2014 –2015 Finding the way to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable agricultural policy, a research project financed by Riga Technical University
2014 Modelling greenhouse gas emissions from Latvian non-ETS sectors – projections for 2020 and 2030, a contract research project financed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development. Senior Researcher
2012 – 2015 Closing the Life Cycle of Landfills – Landfill Mining in the Baltic Sea Region for Future, a research project financed by Swedish Institute
2012 Screening of Latvian sanitary landfills with respect to environmental, technical and economic performance, a contract research project financed by the Ltd. ZAAO
2011 – 2014 Development and implementation of the Master Programme –“Eco-Engineering – environmental processing and sustainable use of renewable recourses and bio-waste”, education and mobility project financed by Trans-European Mobility Programme for University Studies (Tempus) programme
2010 – 2011 Model and action plan for utilization of renewable energy sources and increase of energy efficiency in Latvia, contract research project financed by Latvian Environmental Protection Fund
2009 – 2012 System thinking integration in environmental policy, a research project financed by the European Economic Area and Norwegian Government Financial Instrument and the Republic of Latvia
Teaching activities:
Developed study courses:
Waste management systems – 4.5 ECTS (full course in English and Latvian to Master students)
Environmental policy and economics – 7.5 ECTS (full course in English to Master students)
Raw materials and resources – 3 ECTS (full course in Latvian to Bachelor students)
Lectures delivered in other courses:
Renewable energy sources – 6 ECTS (8 lectures in English to Bachelor students)
Basics of systems simulation – 6 ECTS (4 lectures in English to Bachelor students)
Environmental engineering – 3 ECTS (4 lectures in Latvian to Bachelor students)
Theoretical aspects of climate technologies – 6 ECTS (4 lectures in Latvian to Bachelor students)
Biotechonomy – 3 ECTS (4 lectures in Latvian to Bachelor and Master students)
Guest lectures provided abroad (Lithuania, Finland, Romania, Uzbekistan, Russia, Kazahstan)
Supervision of PhD students:
Raimonda Soloha. Model for sustainable transition towards the zero-waste food supply system, since 2021
Supervision of master's theses:
Monika Rasinskaite. Analysis and assessment of gas emissions from different municipal solid waste landfill models, 2016
Oleksandra Yakovleva. Assessment of the balance of RDF supply and demand system in Europe, 2016
Inese Tiļļa. Research of methanation process: Upgrading the biogas and syngas composition in the methanation process integrated with irregular renewable sources, 2015
Vaida Malyjonite. Life-cycle-assessment of energy recovery from end-of-life tires and selected solid waste, 2015
Aftab Khan. Comparison of RDF production technologies: an LCA based evaluation perspective, 2015
Lāsma Slotiņa. Decision support tool for implementation of remanufacturing and reverse logistics’ in an enterprise, 2015
Sabina Gavelyte. Research and evaluation of water permeability in landfills, 2015
Aleksandrs Lazdāns. Methanation process research, 2014
Kamel Haine. Finding the Optimum Solution for Reverse Logistics Network of Mobile Phones in Latvia by Applying GIS, 2014
Supervision of 5 bachelor's theses
Other activities:
Reviewer for international scientific journals,
National expert of the science field “Environmental Science” research area “Environmental Engineering”, approved by the decision No.40-3-1 on November 19, 2015, by the Latvian Science Committee. Renewed on November 2, 2018 (decision No.38-2-1). Term – November 1, 2021,
Independent expert of the European Commission. Expert ID: EX2018D325629; Term – termless,
Independent expert at the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia; Term – 07.11.2020,
Independent expert at the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic; Term – 31.12.2020,
Independent expert at the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research; Term – termless.
Language skills:
Latvian – native
English – C2 (CEFR)
Russian – C2 (CEFR)