Susana Simal Florindo

Susana Simal Florindo is a Full Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), where she is a key member of the Agrofood Engineering Research Group (GEA). Her academic work spans teaching in chemical engineering, food process modeling, and quality management at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Her research focuses on intensification of mass transfer processes, ultrasound applications in food processing, mathematical modeling of agro-food systems, valorization of agro-food by-products, and sensory analysis of products with Appellation of Origin. She has published 147 JCR-indexed articles, with an h-index of 41, and has authored books, book chapters, and reviews in her field.

The 15 most recent articles reflect a consistent trend in sustainable food processing, with emphasis on ultrasound technology, mathematical modeling of food processes, by-product valorization, and quality analysis of Mediterranean food products such as olive oil and Pimentón de Mallorca. Her work bridges fundamental research with industrial applications, particularly in the context of circular economy and green processing.

• 5 research merits (sexenios) from CNEAI (last in 2021)
• Recognition of research activity and excellence by AQUIB, Govern Balear
• Reviewer for over 25 international journals and multiple research agencies (AGAUR, National Science Centre Poland, European Science Foundation, etc.)
• Technical expert for ENAC and Technical Manager for Oli de Mallorca and Pimentón de Mallorca regulatory councils

She has supervised 9 completed doctoral theses and currently advises 2 more. She has led numerous research projects, including 3 as principal investigator in the National Plan Program and 9 in contracts with private companies. Her international engagement includes research stays at UC Davis, University of Salerno, and AgroParisTech, and she coordinates framework agreements between UIB and several European institutions. She is currently the coordinator of the PhD Program in Chemical Science and Technology at UIB.

She is actively involved in research dissemination, having delivered over 25 outreach lectures and participated in 149 scientific congresses, including plenary and keynote roles. She also contributes to innovation through a patented method to prevent olive oil crystallization during cold storage.