Lorenzo Nissen | Mechanical Properties of Materials | Best Researcher Award

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Assist. Prof. Dr. Lorenzo Nissen | Mechanical Properties of Materials | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Lorenzo Nissen is an Assistant Professor (fixed-term Researcher) in Food Microbiology at the University of Bologna, Italy. He holds a PhD in Microbial Ecology and has over 15 years of research experience in food microbiology, gut microbiota, and microbial biotechnology. His work focuses on probiotic and functional food development, in vitro gut models, and the microbial valorization of food by-products. He has contributed to numerous European and national projects, and currently leads a working group in the EU COST Action INFOGUT. Dr. Nissen is also nationally habilitated as an Associate Professor in Agricultural Microbiology and actively collaborates with international research networks in food science and microbiome research.

Assist. Prof. Dr. Lorenzo Nissen,Università di Bologna, Italy

Profile

SCOPUS

Education

Lorenzo Nissen earned his Master’s Degree in Agricultural Science and Technology from the University of Bologna, completing a thesis on the construction of a genomic library in Bifidobacterium longum. He served as a Guest Research Assistant at the Laboratory of Biotechnology of Lactic Acid Bacteria, IATA-CSIC in Valencia, Spain. He went on to pursue a Ph.D. in Microbial Ecology through an international co-tutoring program between the University of Bologna and the University of Maribor, Slovenia. His doctoral research focused on the apoptotic deletion mediated by Bifidobacterium longum and the construction of recombinant strains for Serpin encoding genes, using pig cell models.

Experience

Since February, Lorenzo Nissen has been serving as a fixed-term Researcher (Assistant Professor) at the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL), University of Bologna. Prior to this role, he spent over a decade as a Research Fellow at the University of Bologna, working in multiple capacities including Agricultural Microbiology, Food Microbiology, and Industrial Crops. He was also a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Zurich and a Researcher in Molecular Microbiology at the Edmund Mach Foundation in Trento. His extensive academic trajectory is marked by a strong presence in laboratory research, academic tutoring, and supervising graduate and PhD students across several institutions and programs.

Awards

Lorenzo Nissen’s appointment to national and international research evaluation panels, including UKRI, ANR, and The Wellcome Trust, underscores his expertise and leadership in food microbiology. He has held editorial and academic review roles and actively collaborates with international research institutions such as the University of Laval (Canada), IATA-CSIC (Spain), University of Maribor (Slovenia), University of Zurich (Switzerland), and Laimburg Research Center (Italy). His academic engagement is also evidenced by his coordination within the INFOGUT network involving over 200 global researchers.

Contributions

Lorenzo Nissen has made notable contributions to food microbiology, particularly in understanding the role of microorganisms in food functionality, safety, and gut health. He has advanced the use of in vitro gut models to study microbiota–food interactions and led research on probiotics, prebiotics, and bioactive food compounds. His work has supported the valorization of food by-products through microbial biotechnology, promoting sustainability in the food industry. Through active participation in numerous EU and national research projects, as well as leadership in the INFOGUT network, he has contributed significantly to international collaboration and innovation in microbiome and food research.

Research Projects

Lorenzo Nissen is actively involved in several national and international research projects focused on food microbiology, gut health, and sustainable food systems. He leads a working group in the COST Action CA23110 – INFOGUT, coordinating global efforts to standardize in vitro colon models for studying gut microbiota interactions. He is part of the CALIMERO project , which investigates how wholemeal semolina and pasta processing impact metabolic responses. Additionally, he contributes to the GourMed project , which focuses on improving the governance and equity of Mediterranean food value chains. In past years, he participated in several major European projects such as PATHWAY-27, BIORICE, FutureEUAqua, and SUCCIPACK, addressing topics ranging from functional foods and sustainable packaging to food safety and the valorization of agro-industrial by-products.

Research Focus

His current research spans microbial modulation of food systems, gut microbiota interactions, and food safety. He is currently involved as a Working Group Leader in the European COST Action CA23110 INFOGUT, a global initiative focused on in vitro colon models. He is also part of the PRIN-funded CALIMERO project exploring wholemeal pasta’s metabolic effects, and the PRIMA-funded GOURMED project, which aims to ensure quality and profit equity in Mediterranean food supply chains. In the past, he has contributed to major European research consortia such as BIORICE, PATHWAY-27, EcoPROLIVE, and FutureEUAqua, all focused on food innovation, safety, and sustainable production.

Publication

Title: Personalized and precise functional assessment of innovative flatbreads toward the colon microbiota of people with metabolic syndrome: Results from an in vitro simulation
Authors: Gianotti, A., Marin, V., Cardone, G., Bordoni, A., Mancini, E., Magni, M., … & Nissen, L.
Journal: Food Research International, Volume 209.

Title: Microbial and Quality Changes of Seabream Fillets Processed with Cold Plasma During Refrigerated Storage
Authors: Tappi, S., Nissen, L., Pinheiro, A. C. D. A. S., D’Elia, F., Casciano, F., Antonelli, G., … & Rocculi, P.
Journal: Foods, Volume 14, Issue 9.

Title: Functional foods acting on gut microbiota-related wellness: The multi-unit in vitro colon model to assess gut ecological and functional modulation
Authors: Marangelo, C., Marsiglia, R., Nissen, L., Scanu, M., Toto, F., Siroli, L., … & Vernocchi, P.
Journal: Food Research International.

Title: Nutritional, Chemical, and Functional Properties of Wholegrain Einkorn Pasta Through Cooking and Digestion: A Comparative Study with Wholegrain Durum Wheat Pasta
Authors: Mercatante, D., Santoni, M., Nissen, L., Didos, S., Salvatori, G., D’Ambrosio, G. J., … & Rodriguez-Estrada, M. T.
Journal: Foods, Volume 14, Issue 3.

Title: Carob Syrup: Prebiotic Potential of a Neglected Functional Beverage of Mediterranean Countries
Authors: Nissen, L., Addazii, D., Casciano, F., Danesi, F., Rodriguez-Estrada, M. T., Mercatante, D., … & Gianotti, A.
Journal: Foods, Volume 13, Issue 24.

Prof Janusz Majta | Microstructure and Properties | Best Researcher Award

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Prof Janusz Majta | Microstructure and Properties | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Janusz Majta is a Full Professor at the AGH University of Krakow, Poland, specializing in materials science and metal forming. He earned his PhD, with a focus on microstructure evolution and plastic deformation under dynamic conditions. He has conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Waterloo, Canada, and collaborated extensively with Los Alamos National Laboratory in the U.S. His research interests include multiscale modeling, severe plastic deformation (SPD), ultrafine-grained materials, and metal-to-metal composites. Prof. Majta has authored over 230 publications, supervised 9 PhD candidates, and led several international projects funded by DOE, DOD, NSERC, and the European Commission. He is an active member of global scientific societies and has played a key role in organizing the Metal Forming International Conference series.

Prof Janusz Majta, AGH University of Krakow, Poland

Profile

ORCID

🎓 Education

Prof. Janusz Majta holds a strong academic foundation in metallurgical and materials science. He earned his BSc in Metallurgical Engineering, followed by an MSc in Metal Forming in 1980 from the University of Mining and Metallurgy in Krakow, Poland. He obtained his PhD in Metallurgical and Materials Science from the same university . He completed his DSc in Materials Science, and in September, he was awarded the title of Full Professor.

💼 Experience

Prof. Majta is currently a Full Professor at the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków, Poland. His academic journey at AGH began as a Lecturer, progressively rising through the ranks to Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and then Full Professor . Internationally, he served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Waterloo in Canada and worked multiple times as a visiting researcher and consultant at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in the United State. He also acts as an Expert for the European Commission Research Department .

🛠️ Contributions

Prof. Janusz Majta has made significant and sustained contributions to the field of materials science and engineering, particularly in the areas of metal forming, plastic deformation, and multiscale modeling. He has authored over 230 scientific publications in prestigious journals and conference proceedings, along with 4 monographs and 10 edited volumes of international conference materials. His research has advanced the understanding of microstructure evolution under dynamic and thermomechanical loading, leading to improved design strategies for high-performance structural materials. Prof. Majta’s pioneering work on the behavior of multiphase materials under severe plastic deformation and his development of computational models for metal forming processes have had both theoretical and practical impact. Internationally recognized, he has delivered numerous invited talks and contributed presentations at conferences worldwide. As a leader and mentor, he has supervised nine PhD candidates and actively participated in major international research collaborations supported by organizations such as the DOE, DOD, NSERC, the European Commission (PHARE, RFCS), and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Foundation. Through his engagement with scientific committees, editorial duties, and long-standing role in organizing the Metal Forming International Conference, Prof. Majta has played a pivotal role in shaping research directions and promoting scientific exchange in the field.

📡 Research Projects 

Prof. Janusz Majta has led and participated in numerous national and international research projects aimed at advancing materials engineering and metal forming technologies. His work has received support from prominent funding agencies and organizations, including the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Defense (DOD), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the European Commission through PHARE and RFCS programs, and the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Foundation. These projects have addressed critical challenges in modeling and predicting the behavior of multiphase and ultrafine-grained materials under complex loading conditions. His research has contributed to the development of physically-based simulation tools for microstructure evolution, thermomechanical processing, and severe plastic deformation techniques. Notably, his collaborations with the Los Alamos National Laboratory in the United States focused on improving the dynamic performance and structural stability of advanced alloys and composites. Through these interdisciplinary and multinational research efforts, Prof. Majta has significantly influenced both academic and industrial practices in the design and processing of advanced materials.

🔬 Research Focus

Prof. Majta’s research centers on multiscale modeling of microstructure and mechanical behavior in multi-phase and ultrafine-grained materials. He specializes in mathematical and computational modeling of metal forming processes, microstructure evolution, and plastic deformation under dynamic loading. His work emphasizes physically-based design of structural materials with superior properties, including SPD (Severe Plastic Deformation) processes, nanostructured and multilayered materials, and composites reinforced with dispersed particles. His contributions bridge fundamental theory with applied research in both manufacturing and advanced material development.

📘 Publications

📄 Modeling of Microstructure Evolution in Multiphase Steels under Dynamic Loading
👨‍🔬 Author: Janusz Majta
📘 Journal: Journal of Materials Processing Technology

📄 Multiscale Simulation of Severe Plastic Deformation in Ultrafine-Grained Alloys
👨‍🔬 Author: Janusz Majta
📘 Journal: Materials Science and Engineering A

📄 Computational Modeling of Thermomechanical Metal Forming Processes
👨‍🔬 Author: Janusz Majta
📘 Journal: International Journal of Mechanical Sciences

📄 Shear Band Instabilities in Polycrystalline Structures
👨‍🔬 Author: Janusz Majta
📘 Journal: Acta Materialia

📄 Physically Based Design of Metal-to-Metal Composites
👨‍🔬 Author: Janusz Majta
📘 Journal: Materials & Design