diff --git a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_events_user_services.py b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_events_user_services.py
index 64563278d4c..a6976796560 100644
--- a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_events_user_services.py
+++ b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_events_user_services.py
@@ -237,9 +237,9 @@ async def progress_create_containers(
     start_duration = (
         scheduler_data.dynamic_sidecar.instrumentation.elapsed_since_start_request()
     )
-    assert start_duration is not None  # nosec
-    get_instrumentation(app).dynamic_sidecar_metrics.start_time_duration.labels(
-        **get_metrics_labels(scheduler_data)
-    ).observe(start_duration)
+    if start_duration is not None:
+        get_instrumentation(app).dynamic_sidecar_metrics.start_time_duration.labels(
+            **get_metrics_labels(scheduler_data)
+        ).observe(start_duration)
 
     _logger.info("Internal state after creating user services %s", scheduler_data)
diff --git a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_events_utils.py b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_events_utils.py
index e861ad9f30c..e3b6d024bf8 100644
--- a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_events_utils.py
+++ b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_events_utils.py
@@ -385,10 +385,10 @@ async def attempt_pod_removal_and_data_saving(
     stop_duration = (
         scheduler_data.dynamic_sidecar.instrumentation.elapsed_since_close_request()
     )
-    assert stop_duration is not None  # nosec
-    get_instrumentation(app).dynamic_sidecar_metrics.stop_time_duration.labels(
-        **get_metrics_labels(scheduler_data)
-    ).observe(stop_duration)
+    if stop_duration is not None:
+        get_instrumentation(app).dynamic_sidecar_metrics.stop_time_duration.labels(
+            **get_metrics_labels(scheduler_data)
+        ).observe(stop_duration)
 
 
 async def attach_project_networks(app: FastAPI, scheduler_data: SchedulerData) -> None:
diff --git a/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/data/model/User.js b/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/data/model/User.js
index f0c8a5dabb1..fbdc80c6adf 100644
--- a/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/data/model/User.js
+++ b/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/data/model/User.js
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ qx.Class.define("osparc.data.model.User", {
     if (userData["login"]) {
       description += userData["login"];
     }
-    const thumbnail = osparc.utils.Avatar.emailToThumbnail(userData["login"]);
+    const thumbnail = osparc.utils.Avatar.emailToThumbnail(userData["login"], userData["userName"]);
     this.set({
       userId: parseInt(userData["id"]),
       groupId: parseInt(userData["gid"]),
diff --git a/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/desktop/account/MyAccount.js b/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/desktop/account/MyAccount.js
index 2380a9745f3..40a3e5b5918 100644
--- a/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/desktop/account/MyAccount.js
+++ b/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/desktop/account/MyAccount.js
@@ -42,11 +42,11 @@ qx.Class.define("osparc.desktop.account.MyAccount", {
       });
 
       const authData = osparc.auth.Data.getInstance();
-
+      const username = authData.getUsername();
       const email = authData.getEmail();
       const avatarSize = 80;
       const img = new qx.ui.basic.Image().set({
-        source: osparc.utils.Avatar.getUrl(email, avatarSize),
+        source: osparc.utils.Avatar.emailToThumbnail(email, username, avatarSize),
         maxWidth: avatarSize,
         maxHeight: avatarSize,
         scale: true,
diff --git a/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/info/CommentAdd.js b/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/info/CommentAdd.js
index b8f36a839e6..53b26c23bad 100644
--- a/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/info/CommentAdd.js
+++ b/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/info/CommentAdd.js
@@ -68,9 +68,11 @@ qx.Class.define("osparc.info.CommentAdd", {
             maxHeight: 32,
             decorator: "rounded",
           });
-          const myEmail = osparc.auth.Data.getInstance().getEmail();
+          const authData = osparc.auth.Data.getInstance();
+          const myUsername = authData.getUsername();
+          const myEmail = authData.getEmail();
           control.set({
-            source: osparc.utils.Avatar.getUrl(myEmail, 32)
+            source: osparc.utils.Avatar.emailToThumbnail(myEmail, myUsername, 32)
           });
           const layout = this.getChildControl("add-comment-layout");
           layout.add(control, {
diff --git a/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/info/CommentUI.js b/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/info/CommentUI.js
index ea6df760a08..94450f804b7 100644
--- a/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/info/CommentUI.js
+++ b/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/info/CommentUI.js
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ qx.Class.define("osparc.info.CommentUI", {
 
     __buildLayout: function() {
       const thumbnail = this.getChildControl("thumbnail");
-      thumbnail.setSource(osparc.utils.Avatar.getUrl("", 32));
+      thumbnail.setSource(osparc.utils.Avatar.emailToThumbnail("", "", 32));
 
       const userName = this.getChildControl("user-name");
       userName.setValue("Unknown");
diff --git a/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/navigation/UserMenuButton.js b/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/navigation/UserMenuButton.js
index e53fc4e7e1c..e1726533215 100644
--- a/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/navigation/UserMenuButton.js
+++ b/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/navigation/UserMenuButton.js
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ qx.Class.define("osparc.navigation.UserMenuButton", {
     const preferencesSettings = osparc.Preferences.getInstance();
     preferencesSettings.addListener("changeCreditsWarningThreshold", () => this.__updateHaloColor());
 
+    const myUsername = authData.getUsername() || "Username";
     const myEmail = authData.getEmail() || "bizzy@itis.ethz.ch";
     const icon = this.getChildControl("icon");
     authData.bind("role", this, "icon", {
@@ -64,7 +65,7 @@ qx.Class.define("osparc.navigation.UserMenuButton", {
         icon.getContentElement().setStyles({
           "margin-left": "-4px"
         });
-        return osparc.utils.Avatar.getUrl(myEmail, 32);
+        return osparc.utils.Avatar.emailToThumbnail(myEmail, myUsername, 32);
       }
     });
   },
diff --git a/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/store/Groups.js b/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/store/Groups.js
index 21e2d4b2a29..e954de7aba6 100644
--- a/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/store/Groups.js
+++ b/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/store/Groups.js
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ qx.Class.define("osparc.store.Groups", {
           groupMe.set({
             label: myAuthData.getUsername(),
             description: `${myAuthData.getFirstName()} ${myAuthData.getLastName()} - ${myAuthData.getEmail()}`,
-            thumbnail: osparc.utils.Avatar.emailToThumbnail(myAuthData.getEmail()),
+            thumbnail: osparc.utils.Avatar.emailToThumbnail(myAuthData.getEmail(), myAuthData.getUsername()),
           })
           return orgs;
         });
diff --git a/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/store/Store.js b/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/store/Store.js
index ea05e789754..e9146a1402f 100644
--- a/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/store/Store.js
+++ b/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/store/Store.js
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ qx.Class.define("osparc.store.Store", {
       check: "Array",
       init: []
     },
-    market: {
+    licensedItems: {
       check: "Array",
       init: []
     },
@@ -618,7 +618,7 @@ qx.Class.define("osparc.store.Store", {
     __getOrgClassifiers: function(orgId, useCache = false) {
       const params = {
         url: {
-          "gid": orgId
+          "gid": parseInt(orgId)
         }
       };
       return osparc.data.Resources.get("classifiers", params, useCache);
@@ -640,7 +640,7 @@ qx.Class.define("osparc.store.Store", {
         }
         const classifierPromises = [];
         orgs.forEach(org => {
-          classifierPromises.push(this.__getOrgClassifiers(org["gid"], !reload));
+          classifierPromises.push(this.__getOrgClassifiers(org.getGroupId(), !reload));
         });
         Promise.all(classifierPromises)
           .then(orgsClassifiersMD => {
diff --git a/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/utils/Avatar.js b/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/utils/Avatar.js
index a2d40081bcb..c108a661355 100644
--- a/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/utils/Avatar.js
+++ b/services/static-webserver/client/source/class/osparc/utils/Avatar.js
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
  * Here is a little example of how to use the widget.
  *
  * <pre class='javascript'>
- *   let image = osparc.utils.Avatar.getUrl(userEmail);
+ *   let image = osparc.utils.Avatar.emailToThumbnail(userEmail);
  * </pre>
  */
 
@@ -34,13 +34,14 @@ qx.Class.define("osparc.utils.Avatar", {
   type: "static",
 
   statics: {
-    emailToThumbnail: function(email) {
-      return this.getUrl(email, 32)
+    emailToThumbnail: function(email, username) {
+      return this.__getUrl(email, username, 32);
     },
 
-    getUrl: function(email = "", size = 100, defIcon = "identicon", rating = "g") {
+    __getUrl: function(email, username, size = 100) {
+      email = email || "";
       // MD5 (Message-Digest Algorithm) by WebToolkit
-      let MD5 = function(s) {
+      const MD5 = function(s) {
         function L(k, d) {
           return (k << d) | (k >>> (32 - d));
         }
@@ -257,8 +258,9 @@ qx.Class.define("osparc.utils.Avatar", {
         return i.toLowerCase();
       };
 
-      return "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/" + MD5(email) + "?s=" + size + "&d=" + defIcon + "&r=" + rating;
-    }
-
+      const emailHash = MD5(email);
+      const defaultImageUrl = `https://ui-avatars.com/api/${username}/${size}`;
+      return `https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/${emailHash}?d=${defaultImageUrl}&s=${size}&r=g`;
+    },
   }
 });
diff --git a/tests/e2e-playwright/tests/conftest.py b/tests/e2e-playwright/tests/conftest.py
index 20c40c3a291..e815ff6c522 100644
--- a/tests/e2e-playwright/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/e2e-playwright/tests/conftest.py
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ def log_in_and_out(
 def _open_with_resources(page: Page, *, click_it: bool):
     study_title_field = page.get_by_test_id("studyTitleField")
     # wait until the title is automatically filled up
-    expect(study_title_field).not_to_have_value("", timeout=5000)
+    expect(study_title_field).not_to_have_value("")
 
     open_with_resources_button = page.get_by_test_id("openWithResources")
     if click_it: