Hi, I am Sara Defratyka and my research life is focused on methane in the atmosphere and its isotopes. So, so exciting!
Currently, I am a Postdoc at University of Edinburgh, working mostly within POLYGRAM and PARIS projects. As my studies are made in strong collaboration with National Physical Laboratory (Teddington, Greater London), on the daily basis I am based in Greater London instead of Edinburgh.
I come from Poland, where I did my bachelor and master studies in physics at AGH University in Krakow. There, I have discovered, that I am more interested in experimental part of physics and I enjoy spending time in the laboratory or at field work. Thus, specification in environmental physics came quite naturally for me.
Due to raising awareness of climate change and human contribution to emission of greenhouse gases, I have decided to do my PhD in atmospheric studies. I made my studies within Horizon 2020 MEMO2 project, where with 12 other ESR, I was involved in methane studies. I was doing my studies at LSCE in Paris, and I was focused on characterization of methane emissions in urban area, where Paris agglomeration was my study case (here you can find more!). My studies were based on mobile measurements, where the instrument was deployed inside the car, what allows for continuous measurement of methane and its isotopes during driving (and standing hours in Paris’ traffic jam).
We discovered that in urban area, methane is emitted not only from natural gas distribution network but also from sewage network. During my PhD, I was also involved in
more international projects like, measurement campaign in Upper Silesia region (significant source of methane in Europe) or creating European database of methane isotopes.
After successfully finishing my PhD, I moved to London, to continue studies of methane and its isotopes. I have started my postdoc in the UK in December 2021. Based on my current work, I prepared the paper focused on method validation for indirect, mobile measurements of methane isotopes. This work can help to better plan measurement campaigns focused on sources signatures around sites. Additionally, during my current work, I 
am also involved in work at Heathfield (the UK) observational sites, where continuous measurements of methane isotopes (δ13C-CH4 and δH2-CH4) take place. Recently I got a chance to be involved in deployment of the instruments at tall tower site in Scotland. The project aims to extend a network of tall tower measurements in the UK, what helps to take more science based approach for policy makers and independently verify reported emissions to the atmosphere of methane and other gases.
As laboratory work is my big passion, currently I spend hours in the lab working on optimization of methane preconcentrator, to prepare samples to measure less abundant isotopologues of methane (Δ13CH3D and Δ12CH2D2) within POLYGRAM. The aim is to be able to process 1000 L of ambient air,
where there is around 2 particles per million of methane, to ultimately receive the sample containing at less 1% of methane. Then, the sample can be further processed to obtain pure methane sample, needed for Δ13CH3D and Δ12CH2D2 measurements. Challenging, but doable!
Despite intense lab work, I enjoy also doing other things in my life. I am big fun of cooking and baking, especially of trying new, unobvious recipe like kidney beans brownie. Despite developing my culinary skills, I learn French, practice embroidery, travel closer and further, listen to podcasts, and do zumba and yoga. Of course, I also find a time for friends and family, cause nothing is better than spending time with my lovely people!
