**About the Editors**

#### **Manuela Pintado**

Associate Professor Manuela Pintado works at the Faculty of Biotechnology of the Portuguese Catholic University (ESB-UCP). She is also the Associate Director of ESB-UCP and the Director of the Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (CBQF), a research unit and Associate Laboratory of ESB-UCP. Manuela Pintado is also the President of the European Biotechnology Research Institute (EBRI). In 1991, she earned her B.Sc. in Pharmacy (Clinical Analysis and Pharmacy) from the University of Porto. In 1999, she completed her Ph.D. in Biotechnology (in Food Science and Engineering) from the Portuguese Catholic University. Manuela Pintado leads the Bioactive and Bioproducts Research Laboratory. Her research focuses on developing and validating bioactive ingredients, by-products and new resources valorization and applying these developments to other biotechnological fields. Her goal is to develop high-value bioproducts, including novel functional foods. She is a prestigious author of high impact in her scientific area, with over 550 published articles in refereed international journals, 88 handbook chapters, and 62 patents. (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0760-3184).

#### **Ezequiel Coscueta**

Ezequiel Coscueta is a Junior Researcher at CBQF and an Invited Assistant Professor at ESB-UCP. He earned his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the Universidad Nacional de Rosario in 2018 and his B.Sc. in Biotechnology from the Universidad Nacional del Litoral in 2013. Ezequiel Coscueta focuses on developing sustainable technologies for the Bioactive and Bioproducts Research Laboratory at CBQF, specifically interested in the circular economy approach, green chemistry, peptidomics, and nanotechnology, all applied to the food and nutraceutical industries, with a focus on gastrointestinal health. He has authored over 25 international peer-reviewed articles, contributed to five handbook chapters, edited four high-impact international journal issues, and holds one patent. Ezequiel Coscueta has also led groups and work teams related to innovation and sustainable development, such as Smart Waste Young Professionals. (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4496-2001).

#### **Mar´ıa Emilia Brassesco**

Mar´ıa Emilia Brassesco is a Junior Researcher at CBQF with a Ph.D. in Chemical Sciences (awarded in 2019) and a B.Sc. in Biotechnology (completed in 2014). She is the Project Manager for European Projects at the Bioactive and Bioproducts Research Laboratory at CBQF. She has authored 17 articles in peer-reviewed international journals and contributed four chapters to handbooks. Mar´ıa Emilia Brassesco was the Editor of three special issues in high-impact international journals. Her expertise lies in biotechnology processes, particularly protein purification and bioactive compounds, with experience in the food and nutraceutical industries. Her main interests are in green chemistry and the circular economy approach. (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9027-4643).
