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Pedro Carlos De Barros Fernandes is an Associate Professor at Universidade Lusófona , Deputy Director of the 1st cycle in Biotechnology, and an integrated researcher at the Institute of Bioengineering and Biosciences (iBB-IST). He holds a PhD in Biotechnology (1999) and a Master in Biotechnology/Biochemical Engineering (1994) from Universidade Técnica de Lisboa (IST), along with a Chemical Engineering degree from IST (1989). A member of the Order of Engineers (ID 24667), he co-founded Biotrend, a Portuguese bioprocess development company. Education PhD in Biotechnology (1999), Universidade Técnica de Lisboa MSc in Biotechnology (1994), Instituto Superior Técnico BSc in Chemical Engineering (1989), Instituto Superior Técnico Research Interests span biocatalysis, enzyme immobilization for food and pharmaceutical applications, marine biotechnology, microfluidic device development for biosensing, and steroid bioconversions using mycobacterial systems. His work integrates process engineering principles with sustainable bioprocessing techniques. Publication Trends show a focus on microreactor technology, enzyme stabilization in non-conventional media, marine-derived biocatalysts, and food waste valorization. Key themes include biocatalytic process intensification, aqueous two-phase systems for biomolecule purification, and sustainable carbon sources for biopolymer production. Scientific Awards UTL/Santander Totta Scientific Award in Biological Engineering (2011) Advising has included supervision of 5 doctoral theses and over 32 master’s theses. His expertise extends to peer-reviewing scientific articles and evaluating R&D projects. Labs & Teams are associated with iBB-IST (Institute of Bioengineering and Biosciences) and BioRG (Universidade Lusófona), with contributions to the Ciência Viva program for science dissemination.

• Biotechnology
• Biocatalysis
• Enzyme Engineering
• +4 more

Maria Manuela Pintado is Full Professor and Director of CBQF research center at Universidade Católica Portuguesa's Faculty of Biotechnology. She leads interdisciplinary research in sustainable food systems and functional ingredients. Research domains include: Valorization of agro-industrial byproducts Development of bioactive edible films Design of functional foods for chronic disease prevention Circular economy applications in food systems Recent publications (2023-2025) show strong focus on sustainable biomaterials and health-promoting ingredients, with notable increases in circular economy applications and precision nutrition studies. Key innovations include antiviral biopolymers from yeast and bioactive films for food preservation. Awards include recognition for circular economy innovations and upcycling research. Directs extensive EU-funded projects including THRIVE (€4M) and CIRCUL-A-BILITY, supervising large research teams and industrial partnerships.

• Food Biotechnology
• Functional Ingredients
• Bioactive Compounds
• +2 more

Dr. Dragomir Milovanovic is a Group Leader at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) , affiliated with Charité CrossOver Berlin. His research focuses on understanding how intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) in presynaptic proteins regulate synaptic vesicle (SV) clustering and cytosol solubility in the crowded nerve terminal environment. Key Themes: Phase separation, biomolecular condensates, neuronal metabolism, and implications for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. The lab investigates how IDRs balance solubility and spatial organization in nerve terminals, using techniques such as confocal imaging and single-molecule tracking . Their work has shown that synapsin 1 forms liquid-like condensates that sequester lipid vesicles, maintaining SV mobility while enabling clustering. Notable findings include the discovery of electric potential at condensate interfaces and the development of the Dipping Contacts model for studying condensate-organelle interactions. These studies provide insights into normal synaptic function and pathological protein aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases.

• Neuroscience
• Cell Biology
• Neurodegenerative Diseases
• +2 more

Armando J. D. Silvestre is a Full Professor at the Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro. He holds academic degrees including a Licenciatura in Chemistry (1990), PhD in Chemistry (1994), and Agregação in Chemistry (2008) from the University of Aveiro. His research focuses on renewable materials, circular economy, and functional biomaterials. Research interests include: Development of biopolymer-based functional materials Valorization of biological residues for value-added chemicals Novel polymeric materials from renewable resources Sustainable nanocomposites and coatings Professor Silvestre has supervised 18 MSc and 11 PhD students to completion and currently mentors 3 PhD and 3 MSc candidates. Research projects include EU-funded initiatives like AFORE (Forest Biorefineries) and national projects on membrane technology and biomass valorization. Scientific contributions include over 180 SCI journal publications and patents on extraction methods. He serves on editorial boards for Industrial Crops and Products and actively participates in academic activities including Erasmus coordination and Bologna process implementation.

• Chemistry
• Polymer Science
• Renewable Materials
• +3 more

Ana Paula Mora Tavares is an Assistant Researcher at CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Portugal. She holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Aveiro (2006), preceded by a MSc from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (2000) and a BSc from Estadual University of Rio de Janeiro (1997). Her academic career includes postdoctoral research at LSRE/FEUP (2006–2009) and a Ciência 2008-funded independent position (2009–present). She teaches laboratory classes in Microbial Biotechnology at the University of Aveiro and has been involved in COHITEC’s technology commercialization training. Research Interests: Her work focuses on biomolecules purification (e.g., enzymes, antibodies), ionic liquids, aqueous biphasic systems, nanomaterials, and biocatalysis for organic synthesis. She pioneers applications in enzyme immobilization, anticancer drug development (e.g., L-asparaginase), and eco-friendly bioremediation strategies. Current projects include the InsectERA initiative for circular economy innovation. Awards: 2007 Honourable Mention from Companhia União Fabril for PhD thesis Supervision: 3 PhD students (Ana Filipa Soares Pereira, Ana Isabel Bastos Valente, Ana Sofia Correia Marques) Key Projects: InsectERA (circular economy), COHITEC (technology valorization) Labs/Teams: PATh G5 - Biomimetic Materials Group and L3 Sustainability Unit at CICECO. Her research leverages interdisciplinary approaches, combining chemical engineering with nanotechnology for biomedical and environmental applications.

• Enzyme Immobilization
• Aqueous Biphasic Systems
• Biomolecules Purification
• +7 more

Maria Isabel da Silva Santos is a Researcher affiliated with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FMV) and the CECAV (Veterinary Medicine Research Center) at the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Portugal. Research Interests: Her work focuses on Food Science , Microbiology , and Food Safety , particularly Multidrug-resistant pathogens (*E. coli*, *Salmonella*) Antimicrobial peptides in milk and whey Zoonotic disease transmission from food-producing animals Functional foods and waste valorization (e.g., pear pomace, whey) Key Publications: Recent studies include 2024: Antioxidants article on pear pomace bioactives 2024: International Journal of Molecular Sciences on milk antiviral peptides 2023: Collaborative work on multidrug-resistant *Campylobacter* in poultry Network: Active in antimicrobial resistance and zoonoses research, with collaborations across Portugal and Europe. Supervised work includes studies on foodborne pathogens and bioprocessing techniques.

• Food Science
• Microbiology
• Antimicrobial Resistance
• +3 more

Filipa Sofia Dinis Reis is a prominent researcher at the Instituto Politécnico de Bragança (IPB), specifically within the Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering at the School of Technology and Management. With over 114 publications in the last decade, she has established herself as a leading expert in food science, natural products chemistry, and sustainable food technologies. Her research spans multiple domains including functional foods, mushroom biochemistry, and food waste valorization. Dr. Dinis Reis completed her Master of Biotechnology at the Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, where she was recognized as the best student of her cohort (2008-2010). She later earned her PhD from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, receiving the Extraordinary Doctoral Prize for her outstanding work. Her educational background provided the foundation for her current research in food science and natural product chemistry. Her research interests focus on identifying and characterizing bioactive compounds in natural sources, particularly mushrooms and plant byproducts. She investigates the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiproliferative properties of these compounds, with special emphasis on food waste valorization through circular economy approaches. Her work on apple pomace, walnut biostimulants, and mushroom extracts has significant implications for sustainable food production and health-promoting ingredients. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a clear trajectory toward sustainable food systems, with increasing focus on circular economy applications, food waste valorization, and natural alternatives to synthetic additives. Her research bridges fundamental chemistry with practical food industry applications, particularly in the areas of natural preservatives and functional ingredients derived from agricultural byproducts. Iacobus Program - Stays (2023) Erasmus+ Programme (STT Staff Mobility) (2023) Ideas with potential for innovative pilot projects (2023) Iacobus Program - Scientific papers (2022) CEECIND - Concurso Estímulo ao Emprego Científico Individual (2022) Extraordinary Doctoral Prize from Universidad Complutense de Madrid (2018) PhD Grant from FCT (2015) As Principal Investigator of the CYPonins project (2022-2028), funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Dr. Dinis Reis leads research on cypress saponins as bio-based alternatives for high-mortality rate tumors. Her work attracts significant research funding and has practical applications in both the food and pharmaceutical industries, demonstrating the translational potential of her research. She actively collaborates with international researchers, as evidenced by numerous co-authored publications with scientists from various countries. Her laboratory focuses on advanced analytical techniques for characterizing bioactive compounds in natural sources, with particular expertise in chromatographic methods, antioxidant assays, and antimicrobial testing. The research group works at the intersection of food science, pharmacology, and sustainable technology, developing innovative solutions for food waste reduction and natural product utilization.

• Food Science
• Natural Products Chemistry
• Functional Foods
• +7 more

Fernando Manuel da Silva Nogueira is an Associate Professor at the Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra. He holds a PhD in Theoretical Physics from the same institution (1999) and has been a faculty member since 1990. His research focuses on materials discovery using ab-initio methods , computational physics, and development of scientific software tools like Octopus and APE . He leads the Condensed Matter Physics group at CFisUC (Centro de Física da Universidade de Coimbra) and has been Director of the Portuguese Physics Olympiad (2007-2018). Education: PhD in Theoretical Physics (1999), University of Coimbra MSc in Theoretical Physics (1993), University of Coimbra BSc in Physics (1990), University of Coimbra Research interests include computational materials science , nonlinear optics , density functional theory , and electronic structure calculations . He has authored 40+ peer-reviewed articles, 3 books, and directed over 25 research projects. His work spans topics like carbon nanotube properties, firefly bioluminescence mechanisms, and high-throughput materials discovery. He has organized 25+ conferences, advised 3 PhD students and 17 MSc students, and contributed extensively to open-source computational physics software. His ORCID is 0000-0003-3125-3660 .

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Materials Discovery
• Ab Initio Calculations
• +4 more

Marta Marques Alves is an Assistant Professor at the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) , University of Lisbon, affiliated with the Centro de Química Estrutural (CQE) . She holds a PhD in Plant Biochemistry (2010) from the New University of Lisbon (UNL) and has been a Junior Researcher in Materials Sciences at IST since 2018. Her research focuses on functional materials , particularly zinc-based biomaterials for biomedical applications , such as 3D-printed bone scaffolds that degrade naturally and release therapeutic agents. She bridges plant science and materials engineering, emphasizing eco-conscious solutions for societal transitions. She teaches Industrial Safety and Utilities and Mass and Energy Balances . Her editorial roles include serving on the boards of Scientific Reports , Applied Surface Science Advances , and Surfaces and Interfaces . She coordinates the Corrosion Science and Surface Engineering (CSSE) research group (20 members) and serves on CQE’s executive committee. Her work has led to over 50 peer-reviewed publications and collaborations in national and international projects. Institutional contributions include advising graduate students and overseeing research infrastructure. Her outreach efforts include a podcast explaining her innovations in biocompatible materials. She advocates for sustainable materials and interdisciplinary research, addressing challenges in healthcare and environmental science.

• Functional Materials Engineering
• Biocompatible Materials
• Eco-conscious Solutions
• +6 more

António O. S. S. Rangel is a Full Professor (Professor Catedrático) at the Escola Superior de Biotecnologia (ESB-UCP), University of Porto, Portugal. He serves as President of the Scientific Board of ESB-UCP and is a member of the Direction Board of the Research Center Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (CBQF) . His academic journey includes a Bachelor's in Chemistry (1985) and a PhD in Biotechnology (1991) , both from the University of Porto. He has co-authored over 190 international journal papers and supervised 20 PhD theses. His research focuses on flow-based methods for automation and miniaturization of biochemical assays, with applications in environmental monitoring, food analysis, and biomedical diagnostics. Key projects include Aqua_Smart (toxic metal monitoring in aquatic systems) and HSoil4Food (soil health for food safety). His teaching spans general and analytical chemistry disciplines. Education: PhD in Biotechnology, ESB-UCP (1991) Agregação in Biotechnology, ESB-UCP (2014) Bachelor in Chemistry, University of Porto (1985) Selected Projects: STF-EDIH: Smart Sustainable Farms & Trade Hub (2023–2026) Aqua_Smart: Toxic Metals Monitoring (2023–2026) HSoil4Food: Healthy Soils for Healthy Foods (2021–2023) His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in advancing education and sustainable innovation through analytical methodologies. He actively contributes to editorial boards and international conferences, emphasizing flow injection analysis and microfluidic technologies.

• Analytical Chemistry
• Flow Analysis
• Environmental Monitoring
• +5 more

Maria João Coito de Jesus Nunes is an Assistant Professor at the University of Beira Interior (UBI), working in the Department of Chemistry. Her research focuses on Organic Chemistry and Molecular Gastronomy. She teaches units such as Bioprocesses, Laboratory Techniques in Chemistry, Chemical Processes, and Industrial Chemistry Project. Her contact email is mjnunes@ubi.pt. Research Interests: Organic Chemistry - Synthesis Molecular Gastronomy Publications highlight work on cyanine dyes, protein chromatography, and halogen substitution mechanisms.

• Organic Chemistry
• Molecular Gastronomy
• Dye-Affinity Chromatography
• +2 more

Marlene Barros is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Dental Medicine (FMD), Portuguese Catholic University (UCP), where she also serves as Director since 2020. She is the Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Health (CIIS), recognized as 'Very Good' by FCT, and leads the SalivaTec laboratory focused on saliva-based diagnostics. She has a strong academic background in biochemistry and biology, with leadership roles in education and research. Her educational qualifications include: PhD in Biochemistry (specialty: Enzymology and Protein Chemistry), University of Coimbra (1995) Agregação in Biology, University of Aveiro (2007) Marlene Barros' research is centered on protein chemistry and molecular mechanisms of disease, with a focus on identifying biomarkers for diagnosis and therapeutic targeting. Her work spans proteomics, bioinformatics, oral biology, and microbiome analysis. She has coordinated academic programs such as the Master in Molecular Microbiology and the Degree in Biomedical Sciences. Her recent research articles reflect a strong trend in salivary proteomics, oral microbiome interactions, human-viral interactomics, and the development of bioinformatics databases (e.g., OralOme, OvisOme, CanisOme). These works emphasize translational applications in precision medicine, diagnostics, and functional food science. She has received the following scientific award: Prémio Melhor Poster SciComPT 2019 She has supervised numerous academic projects and is actively involved in national and international research collaborations. She has led or participated in significant funded projects such as SPRINT, OralTherm, RedSup4Health, and OeHMP, supported by Portugal2020 and Fundación 'la Caixa'. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in health and education. She is a key member of the SalivaTec laboratory and contributes to interdisciplinary teams in projects involving digital health, oral microbiome, and functional foods. Her leadership extends to pedagogical innovation and community-based learning in dental education.

• Protein Chemistry
• Molecular Mechanisms of Disease
• Biomarker Discovery
• +7 more

Débora Campos is a Researcher at the Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (CBQF) at Catholic University of Portugal (UCP). She holds a PhD in Biotechnology and Food Science and Engineering from UCP (awarded in 2019) and has conducted international research missions at Universidad de Rosario (Argentina), International Nanotechnology Lab (Portugal), UC Davis (USA), and MIT Food Systems Lab (USA). Her research focuses on food waste valorization with emphasis on: Functional ingredients development from agricultural by-products Bioactive compounds extraction and stabilization Sustainable food systems and circular economy approaches Nanotechnology applications in food delivery systems Dr. Campos has 24 h-index (Google Scholar), with 49 research and review papers, 10 book chapters, and over 40 conference abstracts. Her recent publications demonstrate strong focus on pineapple, mango, and fish by-products valorization, with particular expertise in bromelain extraction and applications. Her work shows consistent emphasis on sustainable extraction methods, bioactive compound preservation, and development of functional food ingredients from waste streams. Her scientific contributions have been recognized with multiple awards, including: R&D+i in sustainability category at Born from Knowledge (BfK) Idea Award Letter of Commendation for contribution on polyphenols and Health Five consecutive Annual CBQF incentives for outstanding professional performance (2020-2024) 1st place at 2024 Tech Validation Winners from EIT Food Accelerator Network Dr. Campos actively supervises students, serving as co-supervisor for 3 PhD FCT grant students (2020-24), a PhD mobility student from Algeria, and has supervised 2 BSc students from Turkey. She is also the founder of AgroGrIN Tech, a UCP spin-off focused on sustainable nutraceutical ingredients from food waste.

• Biotechnology
• Food Science
• Functional Ingredients
• +5 more

Rui Pedro Carvalho Lima de Sousa is a postdoctoral researcher at the Textile Science and Technology Center (2C2T) of the University of Minho. His career focuses on organic-inorganic hybrid materials for sensors and advanced textile applications, with expertise in sol-gel chemistry , electrospinning , and optical sensing . PhD in Applied Chemistry (University of Minho, 2023), thesis: "Sol-gel based optical sensors for monitoring of biocides and other analytes" MSc in Chemical Characterization and Analysis Techniques (2018), BSc in Biochemistry (2016) Research interests span: Development of smart textile materials for filtration and adsorption via electrospinning Biocide detection using quinoline and hydrazone derivatives Hybrid sol-gel matrices for corrosion protection and concrete durability monitoring Integration of machine learning in sensor design Recent publications highlight work in NIR fluorescent probes , ion chemosensors , and environmental monitoring applications. Key collaborations include projects with the Institute of Systems Engineering and Computers (INESC) and University of Trás-os-Montes . Scientific recognitions : Best Doctoral Thesis in Chemistry (PYCA Award) FlashChem Photography Contest (2024) Advising includes mentoring students like Oscar Martinez-Rico and Joana Rocha on electrospun membrane projects, with past contributions to organic-inorganic hybrid material research.

• Organic Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Sensor Development
• +4 more

Filipe Daniel Ramos Carvalho is an Assistant Professor at the University of Lusófona's Faculty of Engineering. He holds a PhD in Biotechnology and Biosciences from the University of Lisbon's Instituto Superior Técnico (2015), a Master's in Biotechnology from the same institution (2010), and a Bachelor's in Biotechnological Engineering from the University of Lusófona (2008). His research focuses on industrial applications of biotechnology with specialized expertise in enzyme engineering and biocatalytic processes. Research Focus Carvalho's research centers on developing biotechnological solutions for industrial applications, particularly in food science and biochemical engineering. His key research domains include: Enzyme immobilization techniques for industrial biocatalysis Microbial enzyme applications in food production systems Continuous-flow bioreactor design for bioprocess intensification Development of enzymatic pathways for sweetener production Biotransformation of compounds using engineered enzyme systems Publication Analysis Carvalho has published 17 research outputs including peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and reviews. His recent works demonstrate a strong focus on enzymatic processes in food technology, particularly sweetener production and enzyme immobilization techniques. A significant portion of his research explores scalable bioreactor systems and industrial bioprocess optimization. Research Networks Carvalho collaborates internationally on bioprocessing research, with documented collaborations in enzymatic biotransformation studies. He leads research within the Bioengineering & Sustainability Research Group (BioRG), focusing on sustainable biotechnological solutions for industrial applications.

• Industrial Biotechnology
• Biocatalysis
• Enzyme Technology
• +3 more