**About the Editors**

**Hanna Mazur-Marzec** (Prof. Dr.) is a researcher and lecturer at the Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk where she leads the Division of Marine Biotechnology. She studied organic ´ chemistry and did her Ph.D. in marine chemistry at the University of Gdansk. In 2017–2019, she was ´ also employed as a professor at the Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Science. Throughout her whole research career, she has been involved in studies on bioactive metabolites produced by microorganisms. Initially, she worked on plant growth regulators in microalgae. Then, she became interested in cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins. Her current research interests extend to other bioactive cyanometabolites, especially peptides of pharmaceutical potential. Hanna Mazur-Marzec has published over 80 research articles, reviews and book chapters and has delivered several invited and plenary lectures. In 2019, she won the Polish Award of Smart Growth in the category of scientist of the future. In 2020, she was nominated for the prize of Ambassador of Innovation, awarded by the European Centre of Economy Development in Poland.

**Anna Toru ´nska-Sitarz** is currently a researcher, academic teacher and tutor in the Division of Marine Biotechnology at the Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk (Poland). From 2020, ´ she has also been employed at the Marine Research Institute (Klaipeda University, Lithuania). She received her M.Sc. in oceanography, and her Ph.D. in environmental sciences. Her research interests lie in the area of microbial diversity and marine antibacterial compounds. Anna Torunska- ´ Sitarz has co-authored more than 20 research articles and book chapters. She is also actively involved in various other activities of the academic community, as a conference organizer, reviewer and member of scientific societies
