Costas Nikiforidis

Costas Nikiforidis is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biobased Chemistry and Technology at Wageningen University & Research. His research focuses on plant-based materials, particularly oil bodies (oleosomes) and proteins, exploring their extraction, functional properties, and applications in food systems. He has pioneered studies on rapeseed, sunflower, and flaxseed proteins, emphasizing their roles in emulsions, foams, and encapsulation systems. His work addresses challenges in sustainable food production, including protein purification, phenolic acid removal, and oxidative stability. He has supervised multiple PhD projects and collaborated internationally on biorefinery processes and edible 3D printing materials.

Research interests include: (1) oleosome-protein interactions, (2) plant protein functionalization, (3) lipid oxidation mechanisms, and (4) biodegradable food systems. He has delivered invited lectures on plant-derived carriers for therapeutics and 3D printed meat alternatives. Notable media contributions highlight innovations like pea protein-based lard substitutes for vegetarian burgers. Primary collaborators include Dr. R. Boom, Prof. E. Scholten, and Prof. L.M.C. Sagis.