Maria Ricardo

Maria F. Duarte is a pioneering researcher driving social innovation through sustainable biotechnology. Her work at CEBAL and MED focuses on bioactive compounds extraction, as a source of ingredients for new applications towards human health promotion and agriculture resilience, promoting circular bioeconomy models. With over 70 publications, 3 patents, and leadership in 41 R&D projects, her impact bridges science, sustainability, and societal well-being.

Presently is also the Executive Director and the Vice-President of CEBAL Direction Board. Overall Career Achievements: (i) 68 publications in peer-reviewed journals with h-index of 28; 9 book chapters and 3 edition of a book; (ii) 41 R&D and technology transfer projects, being coordinator of 8 within different agro- and forestry-based-industry raw materials and residues; (iii) 3 international patents and 2 provisional application for patent; (iv) 14 national and international research and project awards, including a business accelerator program competition JumpStarter 2021. Main Academic Activities: (i) Supervision of students: 9 PhD students, 5 Post-Doc, and several BSc and MSc students; (ii) Participation in 8 PhD and various MSc juries; (iii) Lectures at Sciences Faculty Doctoral Plants for Life PhD Program; (iv) Participation in several International and National Conferences with multiple oral and poster presentations, organizing committee of 5 national/international conferences/workshops/national roadshows; (v)Part of FCT evaluation panel of Agricultural and Food Technologies Calls for PhD research scholarships (2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023); (vi) Referee in several journal including Journal of agricultural and food chemistry; Industrial crops and products; Journal of wood chemistry and technology; RSC Advances; Nutrients, Molecules; Processes; Journal of food science; Journal of food processing and preservation; Journal of analytical methods in chemistry; Separation and purification technology, among others; (vii) Guest editor of a special issue of Foods journal within the topic of biotechnological use of food phytochemicals; Applied Sciences within the special issue entitled "Biaoctive compounds: from extraction to application", and associated editor, of Frontiers in Nutrition, section nutrition and food sciences technology . Her scientific area of interest is the development of separation and extraction processes, environmentally more sustainable, and further exploitation of bioactivities to potentiate extracts bio-based applications within two major areas: i) human health promotion (cancer and inflammatory responses); and ii) plants protection (biocide formulations for new bioherbicides, and new polymeric matrices) under the concept of circular bioeconomy. Particularly interested in natural resources, has focused her research interest within terpenic fractions (namely sesquiterpene lactones and triterpenic acids). Also carries a research line within the topic of chemical profile of olive oils, as a source of phenolic compounds with impact of human health (chemical profiles from different olive varieties, ripening stages and pragues susceptibilities), as well the development of sustainable processes and methodologies (lab- and pilot scale) with the topic of olive oil research.