Manfred Eggersdorfer
Senior Vice President/ Professor
DSM Nutritional Products/ University of Groningen
Switzerland
Biography
Manfred Eggersdorfer is Senior Vice President for Nutrition Science & Advocacy at DSM Nutritional Products. He studied chemistry at the Technical University Munich and did his PhD in organic chemistry in the field of synthesis and characterization of unusual amino acid. He was post-doc at the Stanford-University,California working with Carl Djerassi on the isolation and characterization of sterols from marine origin. Manfred Eggersdorfer is active as professor for Healthy Ageing at the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of Groningen. He is member of the Advisory Board of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Curatorial for Innovation, and affiliate of various other organizations.
Research Interest
Manfred Eggersdorfer is Senior Vice President for Nutrition Science & Advocacy at DSM Nutritional Products. He studied chemistry at the Technical University Munich and did his PhD in organic chemistry in the field of synthesis and characterization of unusual amino acid. He was post-doc at the Stanford-University,California working with Carl Djerassi on the isolation and characterization of sterols from marine origin. Manfred Eggersdorfer is active as professor for Healthy Ageing at the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of Groningen. He is member of the Advisory Board of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Curatorial for Innovation, and affiliate of various other organizations.
Yiannis Kourkoutas
Head of Laboratory/Associate Professor
Democritus University of Thrace
Greece
Biography
Associate Professor Yiannis Kourkoutas is Head of the Laboratory of Applied Microbiology & Biotechnology at the Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, at Alexandroupolis, Greece. He obtained his first degree in Chemistry in 1997 and his PhD in Food Biotechnology in 2002, both from the University of Patras, Greece. He further continued for Post-Doctoral studies at the University of Ulster, UK. His current main research focus is on bioprocesses, novel food product development and nutrition (novel functional foods with potential health benefits, exploitation of agro-industrial wastes, high-added value products, etc). He has more than 200 publications/communications, including 77 papers in peer-reviewed journals, 14 chapters in books, 105 conference proceedings and 4 patents (citations>1400; h-factor: 20). He has been invited as a plenary keynote lecturer and has served as chairman in several conferences. He has participated in many research projects (totaling more than 3,850,000€), coordinating most of them. His funds derive from EU (7th FP), National Grants (Generally Secretary of Research and Technology, Greece) and the Food/Agriculture Industry. He has also served as Associate Editor in scientific journals, as Lead Guest Editor in many special issues, as reviewer in a high number of scientific journals and as evaluator of research proposals in national and European calls.
Research Interest
His works focus its action on the subjects of food and environmental biotechnology and nutrition, with the aim of developing innovative technologies for the production of (a) new functional foods with potential beneficial effects on health (probiotics and prebiotics, natural products with positive effects, pharmaceuticals food, etc.) and (b) high added value products through the exploitation of various waste from the agro-industry by combining modern applications of Biotechnology.
SANDRA POIRIER
Professor Middle Tennessee State University
Middle Tennessee State University
USA
Biography
Dr. Sandra Poirier has been employed at Middle Tennessee State University, USA, since 2005. She received her B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Family and Consumer Sciences from Florida State University and University of Arizona respectively. Her doctorate was received in 1998 from Florida International University in Miami, Florida with her dissertation in the area of health-related quality of life. Prior to coming to MTSU, Dr. Poirier taught three years at Zayed University in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Additionally, she has worked at the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Florida International University, Florida Atlantic University, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Service, and the Provincial Government of Alberta, Canada.
Research Interest
Dr. Poirier has more than 15 years of international teaching experience working in culturally diverse environments. Her strengths include creating innovative educational programs with a focus on food and culture, identifying appropriate outreach efforts to solve community problems, and empowering students for successful careers. She has been recognized for her ability to create and teach online courses, work as an advisor for student organizations, and creating positive educational environments for optimal learning. She has published over 25 journal articles and been invited to speak in Malaysia, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Austria, Puerto Rico, and the Andros Island in the Caribbean.
