For the fourth time in a row, Armine Margaryan has received FAR’s Yervant Terzian Armenian National Science and Education Fund (ANSEF) grant to continue her research on heavy metals and their impact on human health and the environment.
With her latest ANSEF grant in 2024, Armine and her three female colleagues are studying the role of bacterial exopolysaccharides in heavy metal removal and bioremediation. Heavy metal contamination is a major public health risk, especially in developing countries like Armenia, with well-documented toxic effects.
To isolate heavy metal resistant bacterial strains, Armine’s team has visited various mining sites across Armenia—including the abandoned Kavart mine, the Akhtala tailings dump, the Kajaran copper-molybdenum plant, the Artsvanik tailings dump, Shamlugh, and Drmbon in Nagorno-Karabakh before the second Artsakh war.
“We created a large microbial collection, which became the foundation of this ANSEF research,” Armine explains. “Among these bacteria, we focused on those producing extracellular polysaccharides, or exopolysaccharides. One possible mechanism of bacterial metal resistance is the production of this polysaccharide, which forms a protective mucus-like coat. As the coat dries, metals stick to it, preventing them from penetrating the bacterial cells and causing toxicity. By extracting this coat and creating membranes from it, we can develop natural filters that capture heavy metals from mining waste, helping to clean the environment.”
Armine’s path in science began in the mid 2000s when she studied biology at Yerevan State University. Her thesis research project focused on waste pollution in Lake Sevan. Today, with more than 20 active mining sites in Armenia, she is deeply concerned about the open tailings dumps that endanger nearby communities. “Numerous studies have confirmed high cancer rates in these areas, with mining and tailing dumps being the primary cause,” she says.
While her current research with Mane, Hripsime, and Diana is focused on fundamental science, she hopes it will one day have practical applications. “Science is beautiful in its discoveries,” she says. “I briefly worked in applied medicine during COVID-19, training staff in Nagorno-Karabakh on PCR testing. But I realized that research is my true calling.”
Balancing science and motherhood has been a new challenge for Armine. “I spend my days in the lab, experimenting from morning to night. If an experiment fails, I start over—it’s part of the process. But when my one-year-old cries and I don’t know what to do, I feel lost. Sometimes, I even cry too,” she laughs.
Becoming a successful scientist in Armenia takes dedication, hard work, and support. “ANSEF has been crucial for researchers like us,” she says. “The increased grant funding allows us to do more. It may seem like a small amount, but it lays the groundwork for bigger research and long-term goals.”
Your support to brilliant scholars like Armine and her team can make all the difference. By donating to FAR today, you'll not just fund a study, but will also be investing in the future of health, knowledge, and progress.
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