Maria Candel | Food Sector | Excellence in Research Award

Posted on by Food Scientist

Mrs. Maria Candel | Food Sector | Excellence in Research Award

pre-doctoral researcher | University of Cadiz | Spain

Mrs. Maria Candel is a dedicated Pre-doctoral Researcher with a strong foundational background in molecular genetics and biotechnology, currently focusing on Environmental Technologies and Sustainable Food Systems. Her professional experience centers on resource recovery from food-related waste streams, specifically the anaerobic co-digestion of slaughterhouse sludge and wastewater to enhance biomethane production for a circular economy approach. Her key research interest lies in optimizing the conditions of this critical bioprocess, demonstrating a superior biomethane yield under thermophilic (55 °C) conditions compared to mesophilic conditions. Her research skills encompass complex laboratory-scale experimentation, bioprocess optimization, data analysis, and bibliometric analysis to identify research trends and gaps in waste management technologies, as evidenced by a comparative study on biomethane from pig slurry and slaughterhouse wastewater. While her profile is still early-career, her impactful publication on the effect of temperature on anaerobic digestion (in Recycling journal) signals significant future potential in bioenergy research.

Profile: ORCID

Featured Publications:

Candel, M., Ballesteros, L., Fernandez-Rodriguez, J., Perez, M., & Solera, R. (2025). Study of the Effect of Temperature to Optimize the Anaerobic Digestion of Slaughterhouse Sludge by Co-Digestion with Slaughterhouse Wastewater. Recycling, 10(2), 47.

Candel, M., Fernández-Rodríguez, J., Solera, R., & Perez, M. (2025). Comparative Bibliometric Analysis of Biomethane Production from Anaerobic Digestion of Pig Slurry and Slaughterhouse Wastewater: Research Trends and Gaps.

Nafiseh Nematshahi | Plant Antioxidant | Best Researcher Award

Posted on by Food Scientist

Dr. Nafiseh Nematshahi | Plant Antioxidant | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Nafiseh Nematshahi | Plant Antioxidant | Lecturer & Researcher | Hakim Sabzevari University | Iran 

Dr. Nafiseh Nematshahi is a distinguished researcher and lecturer specializing in Plant Physiology, with extensive expertise in Medicinal Plants and Environmental Stress Physiology. She received her advanced research qualification from a prominent institution in Iran, establishing a foundational understanding of plant biology. Her professional experience includes roles as a Researcher and Lecturer at a reputable university, where she actively engages in both teaching and impactful scientific investigation. Dr. Nafiseh Nematshahi’s core research interests focus on the physiological and biochemical responses of valuable medicinal species, such as Salvia leriifolia and Lippia citriodora, to challenging environmental factors. Specifically, her work centers on Phytochemistry, investigating the production of vital phenolic acids and antioxidant compounds that are crucial for human nutrition and food science. Her key research skills include sophisticated analytical methods like High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for compound identification and Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) for molecular-level analysis. Noteworthy projects have involved examining the accumulation of heavy metals, such as chromium, in food crops and studying the age-dependent variations in plant secondary metabolites. While specific external awards and honors are not detailed, her consistent scholarly output and contributions to plant science literature demonstrate her recognition and impact within the field. In conclusion, Dr. Nafiseh Nematshahi is a highly capable plant physiologist whose rigorous research provides critical insights into optimizing the bioactive potential of natural resources for sustainable agricultural practices and the development of functional foods.

Profile:  Google scholar | ORCID

Featured Publications:

Nematshahi, N., Lahouti, M., & Ganjeali, A. (2012). Accumulation of chromium and its effect on growth of (Allium cepa cv. Hybrid). European Journal of Experimental Biology, 2(4), 969-974. (Cited by 121)

Nemat Shahi, M. M., Elhami Rad, A. H., Nemat Shahi, N., & Behnam Amin, M. R. (2016). Study of antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging power of Rheum Ribes flower extract. Journal of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, 8(3), 1164-1174. (Cited by 10)

Nemat Shahi, M. M., Elhami Rad, A. H., Pishvaei Nia, A., & Nemat Shahi, N. (2014). Study of antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging ability of lemon verbena (Lippia Citriodora). Advances in Natural and Applied Sciences, 8(10), 59-63. (Cited by 5)

Nematshahi, N., Lahouti, M., Ganjeali, A., & Ehsani, T. (2013). The effects of adding extracts of Ziziphora (Ziziphora tenuir) as flavoring to chewing gums and the study of the release of caffeine from these extracts. European Journal of Experimental Biology, 3(1), 307-312. (Cited by 5)

Nemat Shahi, M. M., Elhami Rad, R. A., Nemat Shahi, N., Pishvaei Nia, A., & Estiri, H. (2016). Study of antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging power of Physalis alkekengi flower extract. Journal of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, 8(2), 547-557. (Cited by 1)