Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vesna Vučurović | Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technology Novi Sad, Department of Biotechnology, Serbia.

Prof. Vesna Vučurović is a distinguished researcher in bioethanol technology, food biotechnology, yeast technology, adsorption, and biomaterial characterization. she is currently an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Technology Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad. With extensive expertise in microbiological processes and industrial biotechnology, she has significantly contributed to the advancement of renewable energy sources, fermentation technologies, and sustainable material development.

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🎓 Education

Prof. Vesna Vučurović earned her BSc & MSc in Technological Engineering (1996-2003) from the University of Novi Sad, researching beer barley quality. She completed her Magister degree (2003-2007) with a thesis on bioethanol production from grains, achieving a perfect score (10.00). Her PhD (2007-2012) focused on optimizing alcoholic fermentation of molasses and sugar beet juice using immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells, contributing to advancements in bioethanol technology and sustainable fuel production.

🏢 Experience

Prof. Vesna Vučurović has been a dedicated academic at the Faculty of Technology, University of Novi Sad since 2003. She began as a Senior Technical Assistant & Teaching Assistant (2003-2005), progressing to Trainee Teaching Associate (2005-2008) and Teaching Associate (2008-2014). She was later promoted to Assistant Professor (2014-2019) and currently serves as an Associate Professor (2019-Present).

🔬 Research Interests

Bioethanol Technology – Renewable energy production and biofuels

Food Biotechnology – Fermentation processes and food processing innovations

Yeast Technology – Yeast cultivation and metabolic engineering

Adsorption – Applications in environmental remediation and material development

Biomaterial Characterization – Enhancing materials for industrial and medical use

🏆 Awards & Recognitions

Contributor to multiple national and international research grants

Peer reviewer for high-impact journals like Journal of Cleaner Production, Waste and Biomass Valorization, Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, Fermentation (MDPI), Foods (MDPI), Polymers (MDPI), and Environmental Engineering and Management Journal

Member of the Serbian Chemical Society, Chemical Society of Vojvodina, and Serbian Society for Microbiology

📚 Selected Publications

🔹 Bioethanol Production from A-Starch Milk and B-Starch Milk as Intermediates of Industrial Wet-Milling Wheat Processing
Fermentation, 2024-03 | DOI: 10.3390/fermentation10030144
Contributors: Aleksandra Katanski, Vesna Vučurović, Damjan Vucurovic, Bojana Bajić, Žana Šaranović, Zita Šereš, Siniša Dodić

🔹 Influence of yeast extract enrichment on fermentative activity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and technological properties of spelt bread
Chemical Industry and Chemical Engineering Quarterly, 2022 | DOI: 10.2298/ciceq200915016v
Contributors: Vesna Vučurović, Vesna Radovanovic, Jelena Filipović, Vladimir Filipovic, Milenko Kosutic, Nebojsa Novkovic, Vuk Radojevic

🔹 Bioethanol Production from Spent Sugar Beet Pulp—Process Modeling and Cost Analysis
Fermentation, 2022-03 | DOI: 10.3390/fermentation8030114
Contributors: Damjan Vucurovic, Bojana Bajić, Vesna Vučurović, Rada Jevtić-Mučibabić, Siniša Dodić

🔹 The impact of enological products for tartaric stabilization on wine filterability
Chemical Industry and Chemical Engineering Quarterly, 2021 | DOI: 10.2298/ciceq200913003p
Contributors: Vladimir Puskas, Uroš Miljić, Vesna Vučurović

🔹 The effect of yeast extract addition on bread quality parameters
Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society, 2020 | DOI: 10.2298/jsc191024137f
Contributors: Vesna Vučurović, Vladimir Filipovic, Jelena Filipovic, Vesna Vucurovic, Vesna Radovanovic, Milenko Kosutic, Nebojsa Novkovic, Natasa Vukelic

Prof. Estefanía García-Luque | Agricultural and biological sciences | Women Researcher Award

EVEGA/Granxa D’Outeiro, Spain.

Estefanía García Luque is a passionate molecular biologist, researcher, and scientific disseminator. She has focused her research on the application of molecular techniques to study genetic diversity, biotechnology in the food industry, and biodiversity conservation. Estefanía has worked with prestigious institutions like the University of Malaga and the Galapagos Biosecurity and Quarantine Agency. As a founder and CEO of GrowMeat, an innovative startup focused on sustainable lab-grown meat production, she is committed to advancing science for a sustainable future.

Profile

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Education 🎓

Estefanía holds a Degree in Biology and a Master’s in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Malaga, where she completed her Master's Thesis on tumor cell lines of the NCI-60 panel. She further expanded her expertise with a Master’s in Biological Diversity and Environment, focusing on genetic diversity through molecular techniques.

Experience 💼

Estefanía García Luque has made significant contributions through her diverse roles in the scientific community. As a Researcher at EVEGA (Galician Viticulture and Enology Station), she collaborated with the company Granxa D'Outeiro to identify and isolate autochthonous yeasts, aiming to enhance the production of unique wines that reflect the local terroir. As the Founder and CEO of GrowMeat, she leads an innovative startup dedicated to producing lab-grown meat, providing a more sustainable and efficient food source. Estefanía also contributes to environmental sustainability through her work as a Researcher at the University of Malaga’s SmartCampus Project, where she helps bring the university's scientific initiatives to the public. Furthermore, as an International Collaborator at the Galapagos Biosecurity and Quarantine Agency (ABG), she has been involved in biodiversity conservation efforts, utilizing molecular techniques to identify invasive species that pose a threat to the delicate ecosystem of the Galapagos Islands.

Research Interests 🔬

Molecular Biology

Estefanía’s work in molecular biology focuses on the application of advanced techniques to understand the underlying mechanisms in living organisms, particularly in the context of genetic diversity and environmental adaptation.

Genetic Diversity

Her research explores the vast diversity within species, studying how genetic variations contribute to the survival and resilience of organisms in changing environments. This work has important implications for biodiversity conservation and agricultural applications.

Biotechnology

Estefanía is committed to leveraging biotechnology to develop solutions for a wide range of industries, including food production, health, and environmental management. Her focus is on using molecular techniques to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of biotechnological processes.

Biodiversity Conservation

As a strong advocate for biodiversity, Estefanía contributes to conservation efforts through innovative research. She has worked on projects such as the identification of invasive species in the Galapagos Islands, aiming to protect the unique ecosystems there.

Food Biotechnology

Estefanía’s interest in food biotechnology focuses on developing sustainable and efficient food production methods, such as lab-grown meat, which offer solutions to global food security and environmental challenges by reducing reliance on traditional farming practices.

Awards 🏆

SpinOff 2023 Award for her startup GrowMeat.

First Prize in Flash Session Hackathon for innovative projects.

Berkeley Method of Entrepreneurship Bootcamp at the University of California.

International Cooperation Scholarship for her work in the Galapagos Islands.

Publications 📚

"Using Active Learning Methodologies to Teach Sequence Analysis and Molecular Phylogeny"

Journal: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education

Published: 2025, 53(1), pp. 21–32

"Diversity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Yeast Strains in Granxa D’Outeiro Winery (DOP Ribeiro, NW Spain): Oenological Potential"

Journal: Fermentation

Published: 2024, 10(9), 475