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PhD, Lecturer
Research Biologist specializing in Restoration Ecology, Biodiversity and Nature-based Solutions |
Research interests include:
- Biodiversity assessment, monitoring and conservation;
- Ecological restoration of transformed and degraded ecosystems;
- Post-war environmental recovery;
- Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration and climate adaptation;
- Monitoring and restoration of high-mountain ecosystems in the Ukrainian Carpathians;
- Remote sensing and GIS applications in environmental research;
- Innovative approaches to biodiversity monitoring and ecosystem management.
2024
PhD student, Oles Honchar Dnipro National University, Dnipro.
2021-2023
Granted of scholarship of the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt since 01.09.2021 to 31.01.2023 in the Institute of Landscape planning and Ecology, Stuttgart University, Germany. The topic of the research within DBU scholarship: “Biological A pproaches to the Assessment of the Ecological Conditions and Recultivation of Technogenic Ecotopes (on the example of Burshtyn Thermal Power Plant, Western Ukraine).
2018
Master Degree in biology, Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University.
2016
Bachelor Degree in biology, Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University.
Scientific Secretary
International Scientific Center “Observatory”
2025–present
Coordination of scientific and organizational activities, development of international cooperation, research infrastructure, and interdisciplinary research initiatives in the Carpathian region.
Independent Researcher
I.P. Cert LLC
2024–present
Conducting research and project activities in biodiversity assessment, ecosystem monitoring, and ecosystem process modelling.
Lecturer, Department of Biology and Ecology
Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University
2023–present
Teaching and research in plant physiology, experimental bioecology, ecological restoration, environmental monitoring, and professional foreign language for environmental sciences.
Researcher / MOE Fellow
University of Stuttgart, Germany
2021–2023
Fellow of the MOE Fellowship supported by the German Federal Environmental Foundation (Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, DBU). Hosting institution: University of Stuttgart, Institute of Landscape Planning and Ecology.
Product Manager
BCM Ukraine LLC
2020–2021
Responsible for marketing and sales of laboratory equipment, ELISA kits, and other diagnostic kits for medical laboratories.
Senior Laboratory Assistant
Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University
2018
Senior laboratory assistant at the Department of Medical Biology and Medical Genetics.
Grant Holder / DBU Fellow
Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU), Germany
March 2026 – February 2027
Project: “Integrated Framework for Multi-Level Biodiversity Monitoring in Ukrainian Agricultural Landscapes.”
Development of an integrated multi-level framework for biodiversity monitoring in Ukrainian agricultural landscapes, combining environmental assessment, monitoring approaches, and data-based analysis. The project is supported within the DBU Funding Initiative Ukraine.
Grant Holder
Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU), Germany
July 2023 – January 2024
Grant project: “Hay Transferring as a Revegetation Tool for Ecological Restoration of Ash and Slag Dumps of Burshtyn Thermal Power Plant, Western Ukraine.”
Project Participant
Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU), Germany
February – June 2024
Participation in the grant project “Ukraine Nature”, focused on assessing the environmental impact of military actions within the initiative “Nature Conservation and Conflict in Ukraine: Determining War Damage to Nature Reserves in Ukraine.”
ERASMUS+ Programme Participant
2019–2023
Participation in international ERASMUS+ training programmes, including “MoPED: Modernization of Pedagogical Higher Education by Innovative Teaching Instruments” and “From PhD to Innovator WOMXN Potsdam” at the University of Potsdam, Germany.
Participant, Twinning Programme
University of East Anglia, UK
June 2023
Participation in the Ukrainian-British project “Soil Preparation for Reconstruction – Soil Decontamination in Ukraine, Eco-Entrepreneurship and Environmental Journalism.”
Total publications – 30
Selected publications:
1. Semak, U.Y. (2021). Morphological response of the leaf blades of Betula pendula Roth. to the influence of man-made environmental factors. E3S Web of Conferences, 255(3): 01044. DOI: 10.1051/e3sconf/202125501044
2. Semak, U.Y., Mylenka, M.M. (2022). Morphological dendroindication of the level of technogenic transformation of ecotopes of ash and slag dumps of Burshtyn TPP. Ecological Science, 44: 163–167. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32846/2306-9716/2022.eco.5-44.24
3. Semak, U., Mylenka, M. (2023). Accumulation of heavy metals in leaves of tree species on the ash and slag dumps of the Burshtyn Thermal Power Plant. ScienceRise: Biological Science, 3(36): 22–27. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15587/2519-8025.2023.288085
4. Semak, U., Mylenka, M., Fischer, L. (2023). Vegetation description and functional traits of technogenic ecotopes at a thermal power plant in Western Ukraine. Urban Naturalist, 10(68): 1–18.
5. Semak, U.Y., Mylenka, M.M. (2024). Herbaceous plants as heavy metals accumulators in conditions of ash and slag dumps. Acta Biologica Ukrainica, 1: 13–20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26661/2410-0943-2024-1-02
6. Semak, U., Mylenka, M. (2024). Mulching as a restoration method of revegetation at ash and slag dumps of Burshtyn TPP. Scientific Horizons, 27(3): 73–83. DOI: https://doi.org/10.48077/scihor3.2024.73
7. Semak, U., Luchak, I. (2025). Spontaneous forests as biodiversity conservation hotspots on abandoned agricultural lands. Bulletin of Sumy National Agrarian University. Series “Agronomy and Biology”, 62(4).
8. Semak, U.Y., Mylenka, M.M., Tsepetsaver, H.V. (2025). Remote ecological sensing-based evaluation of vegetation dynamics in mountain protected areas of the Carpathian region. Ecological Science, 63. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32846/2306-9716/2025.eco.6-63.42
9. Semak, U., Mylenka, M., Melnyk, T. (2025). Integrated Design and Ecological Performance of Vertical Greening Systems in an Academic Building. Journal of Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University. Biology, 12: 149–159. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15330/jpnubio.12.149-159
10. Leal Filho, W., Fedoruk, M., Kunyk, O., Semak, U., Yaroshenko, N., Ruda, M., Eustachio, J.P.P., Dinis, M.A.P., Luetz, J.M. (2026). Ecocide in Ukraine: an assessment of geospatial and environmental evidence of war-related ecosystem destruction in Ukraine. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 14: 1823887. DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2026.1823887
E-mail: uliana.semak@cnu.edu.ua
Halytska str., 201
Department of Biology and Ecology
Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University
Ivano-Frankivsk
Ukraine
76018
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