Meirielly Jesus holds a degree in biological sciences, a master's degree in industrial biotechnology, and a Ph.D. in chemical and biological engineering from the University of Minho. In her academic career, she optimized environmentally friendly techniques for the integral recovery of agro-industrial waste, following the concept of a biorefinery. Additionally, she has experience advancing sustainable practices in the fractionation of high-value products derived from algae towards their utilization in foods and pharmaceuticals, aligning with the principles of blue biotechnology. She is currently a researcher at CISAS-IPVC, Center for Research and Development in Agrifood Systems and Sustainability, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo.
Dr. Joana Santos is a Professor at the CISAS (Center for Research and Development in Agrifood Systems and Sustainability), Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Portugal. She received her Ph.D. degree from the University of Nottingham in 2006. Her main research focuses on food and water safety, food and water microbiology, and foodborne and waterborne pathogens. She is also a member of the European Association for Integrating Food Science and Engineering Knowledge into the Food Chain.
Dr. Preciosa Pires is a full professor at the Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo and is a member of CISAS. She received her bachelor’s degree in industrial chemistry from Coimbra University in 1990, and she obtained her Ph.D. degree in organic chemistry from Liverpool University in 1995. She worked in the Malaria Research Laboratories at Hoffman la Roche in Basel, Switzerland, in 1991. Since 1995, she became a member of the academic staff at ESTG-IPVC. Her area of interests mainly include the applications of organic chemistry and analytical chemistry in food and environmental research.
Dr. Manuela Vaz Velho is a Coordinator Professor at the Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo (IPVC) and a Director of the Center for Research and Development in Agrifood Systems and Sustainability
(CISAS-IPVC). She has a bachelor's degree in Aquatic Sciences, a master’s degree in Food Studies Post-Harvest Technology, and a Ph.D. degree in Food Science and Engineering. She has participated in 18 International and 22 national R&DT projects and evaluated 17 EU project proposals (ERA and COST). With more than 100 papers published in international and national peer-reviewed journals, she is also a
co-author of 40 books and 14 book chapters and a reviewer of more than 30 international scientific journals and has given about 300 presentations at various national and international congresses. She is a member of the group “Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy” of the Horizon 2020 Programme Committee, and a member of CEN/TC 454 of Instituto Português da Qualidade (IPQ) and the CEN European Committee for Standardization. Her current research areas of interest include the development of new food products and the valorization of poorly exploited food sources, waste, and by-products.
Dr. Denise Santos Ruzene is a Professor/Researcher at the Department of Chemical Engineering (DEQ/UFS) of the Federal University of Sergipe. She is currently a permanent professor of the Stricto Sensu Postgraduate Program in the Northeast Biotechnology Network, acting as a co-supervisor in other postgraduate studies programs, especially in the areas of engineering and biotechnology. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Faculty of Chemical Engineering of Lorena (FAENQUIL; currently, the School of Engineering of Lorena (EEL/USP)) in 1994–1998, and her master’s degree in biotechnology from FAENQUIL in 2001 (FAPESP scholarship holder), and Ph.D. degree in biotechnology from FAENQUIL in 2005 (FAPESP scholarship holder). She completed her doctorate in 2005 with FAPESP financial support, and post-Doctorate in 2009 with FCT/Government of Portugal financial support in the area of chemical and biological engineering at the Center for Biological Engineering at the University of Minho in Portugal (CEB/UMINHO). Her current research interests mainly include the interactions between the areas of chemical engineering, biochemistry, and biology, aiming to better utilize agricultural/agro-industrial waste; alternative processes for obtaining biofuels; as well as new process concepts for the treatment of water, among other lines of research.
