Maria Dermiki

Maria Dermiki is a Lecturer in Food Product Development at Atlantic Technological University's Department of Health and Nutritional Sciences, where she also serves as Principal Investigator at the Health and Biomedical Research Centre (HEAL). Her qualifications include a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Reading, an MSc in Food Safety and Nutrition from the University of Ioannina, and a BSc in Chemical Engineering from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Her research program focuses on sustainable food innovation with three primary pillars:

• Developing foods from plant-based proteins and sustainable sources like insects
• Valorizing food processing side-streams to reduce waste
• Creating age-specific foods addressing sensory perception changes

Dr. Dermiki leads significant educational initiatives including program development for MSc in Food Regulatory Affairs and Sustainable Food Systems. She currently supervises three PhD students and multiple Erasmus scholars working on protein hydrolysates, circular food systems, and insect supply chains. Her teaching spans food processing regulations, sustainability in supply chains, and agri-food waste management across undergraduate and postgraduate levels.