Committee

Stephane Bruzaud is Full Professor at the University of South Brittany (UBS) located in Lorient (France). He was graduated as MSc from Chemistry Department at University of Bordeaux. He received his Ph.D. degree in 1995 from the same university. His current research focuses on the development of biobased and/or biodegradable polymers, from their production to their end of life. He leads a research group specializing in biopolymer engineering. This involves implementing virtuous approaches for the elaboration (through biotechnological processes using classical biobased carbon substrates or wastes derived from agroindustrial by-products, for example) and the formulation (blending with other biopolymers and/or incorporation of natural fillers) of bioplastics, as well as studying their (bio)degradation. Stéphane Bruzaud is involved in numerous academic and industrial collaborations, with contracts funded by Europe, ANR, the French Minister of Environment, CNRS, ADEME, Brittany region, TASSILI and industrial partners. He has supervised 22 Ph.D. students and authored over 120 papers in peer reviewed journals and 07 book chapters.

Ms. Eng. Liliana Rubio, MSc in Chemical Engineering, Master in Project Management, MBA in Business Administration, MBA in Management and Innovation, and Polymer Specialist. Over 25 years of experience in new business development, R&D, and international marketing. Member of the scientific committee on innovation and sustainability at conferences and major trade shows in the polymer and nanotechnology industry in Latin America, Europe, the USA, and Asia. Editorial board member of the Review of Cell Science Journal. Founder of PMO Polymer Business Intelligence, a project management consultancy based in São Paulo, Brazil, specializing in project management consulting and mentoring for innovation and circular economy projects.

Dr. Ganna Yanovska is an Associate Professor in the Theoretical and Applied Chemistry Department at Sumy State University, Ukraine, and an R&D Specialist at the Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland. Her research focuses on the synthesis and characterization of biopolymer-based materials for dentistry, bone tissue engineering, and sustainable agricultural applications. She has authored two book chapters and serves as a reviewer for international peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Yanovska's work combines advanced chemical synthesis with cutting-edge analytical techniques (SEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR) to design functional biomaterials. She has actively participated in national and international projects, including MSCA4Ukraine, Horizon Europe, DAAD, and Erasmus+ programs.

Dr. Miguel Nuno Miranda received the degree in Energetic Engineering (University Autonomous of Lisbon) in 1998 and the Ph.D. degree in Environmental Science (University of Aveiro) in 2009, Portugal. Dr. Miguel Miranda has authored more than 60 scientific works (including chapters, papers in international journals and book of proceedings, and poster presentations) and his commitment to working at interdisciplinary boundaries is evidenced by his involvement as Editorial Board Member of several scientific journals as well as in International Conferences as Organizing Committee Member. His main research interests include waste management and/or valorization of different materials through thermochemical conversion processes, production of fuels and biofuels and solar energy concentration (SEC) solutions towards the production of solar fuels.

Magnus S. Magnusson, Ph.D., Emeritus Research Professor, founder and director of the Human Behavior Laboratory (hbl.hi.is), University of Iceland. Author of the T-pattern, T-string, and T-system model and the corresponding detection algorithms and software THEMETM (PatternVision.com), initially focusing on the real-time organization of behavior. Co-directed DNA analysis. Numerous papers, talks, and keynotes in ethology, neuroscience, mathematics, religion, proteomics, mass spectrometry, A.I., robotics, and nanoscience. Deputy Director 1983-1988 in Museum of Mankind, National Museum of Natural History, Paris. Repeatedly invited Professor at the University of Paris, V, VIII, and XIII in psychology and the biology of behavior. Now works in formal collaboration between 32 European and American universities initiated in 1995 at the University Rene Descartes of Paris V, Sorbonne, based on “Magnusson’s analytical model”.

Prof. Catalin Zaharia is a Full Professor of Polymer Science in the Department of Bioresources and Polymer Science at the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, within the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology. His research focuses on polymers, biopolymers, biomaterials, composites, hybrid materials and advanced processing techniques, with particular expertise in 3D printing (FDM, SLA, bioprinting) and organ-on-a-chip technologies. He holds dual Ph.D. degrees in Engineering Sciences (POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 2007) and Cell Biology (University of Angers, 2009). Prof. Zaharia has coordinated and contributed to over 50 research projects and authored more than 100 ISI-indexed publications and several books. He leads the Laboratory of Advanced Processing Methods for Polymers and Nanomaterials (LMAPPN) and serves on multiple editorial and reviewer boards, contributing significantly to the global field of polymer and biomaterials research.

Pedro Fonte is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Algarve, Portugal. He is an Integrated Member of the Center for Marine Sciences (CCMAR) at the University of Algarve and a Collaborative Researcher at the Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences (iBB) at Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon. He has expertise on developing cutting-edge nanocarriers for drug delivery. His research is dedicated to pioneering targeted and controlled drug delivery systems that effectively cross biological barriers, enhancing treatment precision and efficacy. He is also a specialist in the lyophilization and solid-state characterization of pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals, ensuring the stability and bioactivity of drugs. Moreover, his expertise extends to the structural characterization of therapeutic proteins, vital for advancing biopharmaceutical innovations. Currently, his groundbreaking work is primarily focused on revolutionary applications in cancer, diabetes and wound healing. He has supervised many PhD and Master students and is considered a World's Top 2% Scientist by Stanford/Elsevier ranking.

Dr. Raul Campilho is a Permanent Auxiliary Professor at ISEP School of Engineering, Porto, Portugal. He holds a Degree in Mechanical Engineering (ISEP), a Master's in Mechanical Engineering (FEUP), a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (FEUP) and Habilitation in Mechanical Engineering (FEUP), all awarded with distinction. With over 20 years of teaching experience, he has lectured at ESEIG, ISEP, and ULP, covering subjects such as Finite Element Method, Mechanics of Materials, Machine Design, and Industrial Automation. He has supervised 6 Ph.D., 23 M.Sc., and 52 B.Sc. theses. Dr. Campilho is a prolific researcher, having published 380 international journal papers, 42 books, and 170 book chapters in renowned publishers such as Springer and CRC Press. His research focuses on fracture mechanics, composite materials, adhesive joints, and structural design. He has delivered 42 keynote talks and presented over 700 papers at international conferences. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Academia Materials Science Journal and has served as a guest editor for 18 special issues. Additionally, he has organized 8 international conferences, moderated over 120 technical sessions, and reviewed more than 140 papers for prestigious journals. A distinguished academic and researcher, Dr. Campilho continues to contribute significantly to mechanical engineering, composite materials, and structural design.