Marina Stramarkou | Chemical Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Marina Stramarkou | Chemical Engineering | Best Researcher Award

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellow at National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos” Greece.

Dr. Marina Stramarkou is a multidisciplinary researcher in food engineering and nanotechnology, currently serving as a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at Teagasc, Ireland. She earned her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, where she was awarded for the best doctoral thesis with industrial interest. Her work bridges academia and industry, focusing on smart materials, functional foods, sustainable packaging, and personalized nutrition systems. Her contributions have been recognized with multiple awards including the Dimitris N. Chorafas Prize and Thomaides Publication Awards for eight consecutive years.

Publication Profile

ORCID

Scopus

Education

Dr. Marina Stramarkou holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), completed in collaboration with the National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos” (2016–2022). Her doctoral research focused on the development of smart packaging systems using electronic sensors on flexible substrates to activate encapsulated food bioactive compounds, supported by an industrial research fellowship from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. She also earned a Master’s degree in “Techno-economic Systems” (8.84/10) through a joint program by NTUA’s School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the University of Piraeus (2018–2020). Her academic foundation is a Diploma in Chemical Engineering (equivalent to an integrated Master’s, Grade: 7.98/10) from NTUA, completed in 2016.

Currently, Dr. Stramarkou is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow (2025–2027) at Teagasc – Agriculture and Food Development Authority in Dublin, Ireland, where her research involves the design of personalized emulsions for controlled omega-3 delivery and flavor improvement.

Professional Experience

Dr. Stramarkou has extensive experience in leading and contributing to multidisciplinary European and national research projects across the fields of food innovation, smart packaging, environmental sustainability, and nanotechnology. Notable roles include Project Manager for CONVERT2GREEN and RECOFFEE, and Visiting Researcher for the VALIAS project at Teagasc. She has contributed to the development of innovative functional foods, biodegradable materials, and bio-based packaging systems in projects such as VEGAN BURGER, PERIOROU, OLIVIA, SAFEBAG, and TASTESTEVIA.

Her technical competencies include advanced encapsulation techniques (e.g., electrospinning, spray drying), sensor fabrication, food and material characterization (e.g., HPLC, GC-MS, SEM), and environmental impact assessments through Life Cycle Assessment and Costing. She has also contributed to final product development including smart food packaging, antimicrobial plastics, and novel food formulations.

Research Interest 

Dr. Stramarkou’s research spans food nanotechnology, smart packaging, bioactive delivery systems, circular economy solutions, encapsulation of nutraceuticals, sensor technology, and techno-economic and environmental assessments. She is particularly interested in functional food innovation, sustainable processing technologies, and value-added utilization of food waste and by-products.

Author Metrics

  • Publications: 10+ peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals

  • Citations: ~200+ (as of April 2025)

  • h-index: 7🥇📚🌍.

Awards & Fellowships

  • Chorafas Prize for Best Doctoral Dissertation, NTUA (2023)

  • Best Doctoral Thesis in Industrial Applications, School of Chemical Engineering, NTUA (2023)

  • Thomaides Award for Scientific Publications (2016–2023)

  • SNF Industrial PhD Fellowship, Stavros Niarchos Foundation (2018–2022)

  • Eurobank EFG Award, for top high school graduation marks (2010)

Top Noted Publication

Title: Fabrication of ZnO Thin Films Doped with Na at Different Percentages for Sensing CO₂ in Small Quantities at Room Temperature
Journal: Sensors
Publication Date: 2025-04-24
DOI: 10.3390/s25092705
Authors: Marina Stramarkou, Achilleas Bardakas, Magdalini Krokida, Christos Tsamis
Summary: This study focuses on the development of Na-doped ZnO thin films optimized for detecting low concentrations of CO₂ at room temperature, aiming for applications in environmental monitoring and smart packaging.

Title: A Comprehensive Review of the Latest Trends in Spray Freeze Drying and Comparative Insights with Conventional Technologies
Journal: Pharmaceutics
Publication Date: 2024-11-29
DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16121533
Authors: Maria Ioannou Sartzi, Dimitrios Drettas, Marina Stramarkou, Magdalini Krokida
Summary: This review critically compares spray freeze drying (SFD) to conventional drying techniques, highlighting advances in the pharmaceutical field, product stability, and encapsulation efficiency.

Title: Optimization of Encapsulation of Stevia Glycosides through Electrospraying and Spray Drying
Journal: Food Hydrocolloids
Publication Date: 2022-10
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2022.107854
Authors: Vasiliki Oikonomopoulou, Marina Stramarkou, Artemis Plakida, Magdalini Krokida
Summary: This paper presents optimization studies on the encapsulation of stevia glycosides using electrospraying and spray drying, aiming to improve their stability and release properties in functional food applications.

Title: Comparative Analysis of Different Drying Techniques Based on the Qualitative Characteristics of Spirulina platensis Biomass
Journal: Journal of Aquatic Food Product Technology
Publication Date: 2021-05-28
DOI: 10.1080/10498850.2021.1900969
Authors: Marina Stramarkou, Sofia Papadaki, Konstantina Kyriakopoulou, Ioannis Tzovenis, Marios Chronis, Magdalini Krokida
Summary: The study compares multiple drying methods (spray drying, freeze drying, convective drying) for Spirulina platensis, evaluating impacts on color, protein content, antioxidant activity, and rehydration properties.

Title: Encapsulation of Rosemary Essential Oil into Biodegradable Polymers for Application in Crop Management
Journal: Journal of Polymers and the Environment
Publication Date: 2020-08
DOI: 10.1007/s10924-020-01760-5
Authors: Marina Stramarkou, Vasiliki Oikonomopoulou, Theodora Missirli, Ioanna Thanassoulia, Magdalini Krokida
Summary: The work explores the encapsulation of rosemary essential oil into biodegradable polymers, aiming to create sustainable crop management solutions with slow-release antimicrobial activity.

Conclusion

Dr. Marina Stramarkou is highly suitable for the Best Researcher Award. Her trajectory reflects an emerging research leader with interdisciplinary strengths, industrial relevance, and a drive for innovation in sustainable materials and functional foods. Her work stands out for its originality, technical sophistication, and societal relevance, making her a compelling candidate for this recognition. With continued publication momentum and expanded global impact, her research legacy is poised for even greater recognition.

 

Liguo Shen | Chemical engineering | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Liguo Shen | Chemical engineering | Best Researcher Award

Professor, Zhejiang Normal University, China

Prof. Dr. Liguo Shen, a distinguished researcher at Zhejiang Normal University, has made remarkable contributions to environmental science and engineering, particularly in membrane separation processes for water pollution control. Holding a PhD from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and additional training at the Max Planck Society, Dr. Shen has earned accolades such as the IAAM Scientists Award and recognition as a VEBLEO Fellow.

Publication Profile

Google Scholar

Academic and Professional Background 🌟📚

Prof. Dr. Liguo Shen earned his PhD from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with additional training at the Max Planck Society. He is a recipient of prestigious honors, including the IAAM Scientist Award, World’s Top 2% Scientist recognition, and Fellowships from IAAM and VEBLEO. 🌍🔬 Over decades, his research has focused on developing innovative membrane separation processes for water pollution control. 💧♻️ He has published over 190 SCI papers in top-tier journals like Chemical Society Reviews, Nano Energy, and Science Bulletin, with 27 highly cited papers and 12 hotspot papers. His work, cited over 9,000 times, boasts an impressive h-index of 58. 📈✨

Research and Innovations

Prof. Dr. Liguo Shen’s groundbreaking research combines theoretical and technical innovations in membrane technology. 🧠📊 He developed a mathematical model for membrane surface morphology and clarified contamination mechanisms through thermodynamics, integrating XDLVO theory, CFD methods, and neural network technology. 🔍📈 On the technical front, he pioneered the in situ micro-aerated membrane separation system, achieving efficient suppression of membrane pollution. 💡🔧 Additionally, he designed advanced two-dimensional materials for membrane construction, enabling the effective treatment of diverse types of sewage. 🌿💧 These innovations represent significant progress in water purification and environmental sustainability. 🌍♻️

Areas of Research

Prof. Dr. Liguo Shen’s research spans across multiple fields, including Environmental Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, and Chemistry. His work focuses on developing innovative membrane separation techniques, specifically for water purification. 🌊💧 By advancing materials science, he has designed cutting-edge materials to improve the efficiency of membrane processes in water treatment. His expertise in chemical engineering and chemistry further drives the creation of sustainable solutions for environmental pollution control, particularly in addressing water contamination and promoting cleaner water resources. 🌱🔬

Publication Top Notes

  • Preparation and characterization of ZnO/polyethersulfone (PES) hybrid membranes – Desalination, 265 citations, 2012 📄
  • Membrane fouling in a submerged membrane bioreactor: Impacts of floc size – Chemical Engineering Journal, 243 citations, 2015 💧
  • Membrane fouling caused by biological foams in a submerged membrane bioreactor: Mechanism insights – Water Research, 237 citations, 2020 🧪
  • Fabrication of high-performance composite nanofiltration membranes for dye wastewater treatment: Mussel-inspired layer-by-layer self-assembly – Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 205 citations, 2020 🧫
  • Facile synthesis of 2D TiO2@ MXene composite membrane with enhanced separation and antifouling performance – Journal of Membrane Science, 196 citations, 2021 🔬
  • Mechanistic insights into alginate fouling caused by calcium ions based on terahertz time-domain spectra analyses and DFT calculations – Water Research, 186 citations, 2018 🧬
  • Inkjet printing of dopamine followed by UV light irradiation to modify mussel-inspired PVDF membrane for efficient oil-water separation – Journal of Membrane Science, 182 citations, 2021 💧🖋️
  • Enhanced permeability and antifouling performance of polyether sulfone (PES) membrane via elevating magnetic Ni@ MXene nanoparticles to upper layer in phase inversion process – Journal of Membrane Science, 170 citations, 2021 🧲
  • Effect of calcium ions on fouling properties of alginate solution and its mechanisms – Journal of Membrane Science, 154 citations, 2017 🧪
  • How to increase maize production without extra nitrogen input – Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 138 citations, 2020 🌾