Dr. Ricardo C. Calhelha is an Assistant Researcher at the Mountain Research Center (CIMO-IPB) and has a degree in Biotechnological Engineering obtained at Instituto Politécnico de Bragança in 2003. After completing his PhD in Sciences, specialising in Chemistry ( 2010), in which he dedicated himself to the synthesis of new heterocyclic compounds with potential biological activity, he focused his research on the culture of animal cells. At the Mountain Research Center (CIMO), he has implemented several techniques using animal cell culture. His work was innovative at this institution, where he supervised the implantation of the animal cell culture laboratory and all the equipment in it. It should be noted that most of the projects are collaborations between CIMO and enterprises of the agrifood sector. He is also a member of the editorial board of the Molecules journal, a high impact factor (3.267) journal in the field of his main interests. He was involved in the organization of the first animal cell culture workshop (2012), which has been repeated annually. In addition, he accompanied several doctoral, master's, undergraduate, and technological specialization students at the animal cell culture laboratory, where they developed part of their thesis works. He also acts as a referee, reviewing several manuscripts for high-impact factor journals. Finally, he is also responsible for teaching several degree and master courses related to biological activities and bioassays.
Dr. Isabel C.F.R. Ferreira is a Full Professor at the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (Portugal), of which she was Vice-President, Director of the Mountain Research Center and Mentor of the MORE and AQUAValor Collaborative Laboratories. Former President of the Scientific Council of Natural and Environmental Sciences of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), President of the Chromatography Group of the Portuguese Society of Chemistry, member of the Steering Committee "Strategic Basic Research" Foundation Flanders (FWO) and member of the Committee of Experts monitoring the European Framework Programmes H2020 and Horizon Europe. She obtained her Degree in Biochemistry (1996) at the University of Porto (Portugal); Master in Sciences (1999), PhD in Sciences- Chemistry (2003), and “Aggregation” in Sciences- Chemistry (2011) at the University of Minho (Portugal). She is one of the most cited researchers in the world (top 1%). She received several distinctions such as the Gulbenkian Prize for Stimulating Scientific Research; the recognition for the dissemination of Portuguese science in the world, and mentioned by Ciência Viva – National Agency for Scientific and Technological Culture, in the book Women in Science; In 2019 she received the European Social Innovation Award from the European Commission; in 2022 she was distinguished by Superbrands as a personality of excellence in the area of Science.
Lillian Barros is Principal Researcher at the Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança and vice-coordinator of CIMO and vice-director of the Associate Laboratory SusTEC. She obtained her degree in Biotechnology Engineering (2002) at the Institute Polytechnic of Bragança and obtained her PhD “Doctor Europeus” in Pharmacy (Nutrition and Bromatology) at the University of Salamanca (2008). She has published more than 700 indexed papers, within the highest impact factor journals in the area of Food Science and Technology and has a 80 h‐index. She has edited several books and book chapters, registered national and international patents, and is the principal researcher of several national and international projects. Her scientific work has raised interest and has led to the supervision of several post-doc, PhD and master students. She has received awards from several different organizations. L.B scientific production has been very relevant and has reached top positions in the world rankings (Highly Cited Researcher in Clarivate since 2016). Her research targets are mainly in the identification, separation, and recovery of functional molecules from different natural products.
Prof. Dr. Spyridon A. Petropoulos received his PhD in Agricultural Sciences from the Agricultural University of Athens in 2006, an MSc in Vegetable Production in 2001, and a BSc in Crop Production in 1998. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Vegetable Production in the Department of Agriculture, Crop Production and Rural Environment of the University of Thessaly, Greece. His research interests include the essential oils of herbs and medicinal plants, the quality of vegetable products (aroma profile, nitrate content, vitamins, phenolic compounds, color, etc.), nutrition of horticultural plants, plant physiology under stress, valorization of local vegetable landraces and wild edible species.
