Emmanouil Papaioannou

Dr. Emmanouil Papaioannou is a Senior Lecturer in Bio-Process Engineering at Lancaster University's School of Engineering. With over 15 years of research experience, he specializes in biotechnological production and downstream processing of added-value compounds, with expertise spanning biotechnology and food science.

His educational background includes:

• PhD in Chemical Engineering/Biotechnology (carotenoids microbial production), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece (2009)
• MSc in Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies (polymeric surfaces modification), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece (2004)
• MEng in Chemical Engineering/Food Science (vitamins B complex analysis), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece (2001)

Dr. Papaioannou's research focuses on the integration of microbial production and downstream processing as a unified bio-process. His work spans nanomaterials and membranes technology, utilization of agri-food industry wastes, chemistry of surfaces and their modification, natural products and food chemistry, green and sustainable chemistry, chromatographic materials, molecularly imprinted polymers, and encapsulation of substances in edible matrices. His research has been funded by prestigious organizations including EPSRC, Royal Society, and the European Union.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on membrane technologies for sustainable processing of agri-food wastes, natural products extraction, and development of eco-friendly methodologies for compound purification. The research trends show increasing emphasis on circular economy applications, bio-based crop protection, and development of low-cost analytical methods for food quality assessment.

Dr. Papaioannou has received several notable awards:

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Intra-European Postdoctoral Fellowship from the EU
• Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Greek National Institute of Scholarships
• Multiple Marie Curie granted short courses in nano-structured materials and membranes

As an educator, Dr. Papaioannou supervises PhD and MSc students in areas including membrane separation processes, biocatalytic transformation, fabrication of bio-renewable membranes, and eco-friendly purification methodologies. He currently serves as convenor for undergraduate modules in Mass Transfer and Catalytic and Bio-Reaction Engineering, and teaches across various chemical engineering courses. His current research projects include EU/UKRI-funded initiatives on green membrane bioseparation for circular economy and membranes as enablers for future biorefineries.

Dr. Papaioannou is also an active member of the Chemical Engineering Research Group and participates in various research networks including the Biomass Biorefinery Network (BBNet).