Research ID: D-8303-2013
Orcid ID: 0000-0003-4000-1836
CiênciaVitae: 2813-8333-637F
Research Gate: Maria_Reis7
Chemistry Department
Education
(1991) PhD in Biological Engineering, NOVA FCT
(1979) Degree in Chemical Engineering (BSc and MSc – 5 years Portuguese “Licenciatura”, IST-UL
Research interests
Bioprocess engineering for the valorization of wastes and bioproducts, namely biodegradable polymers, at lab and pilot scales.
Academic Management Activities at NOVA FCT
President of the Pedagogical Committee of undergraduate course on Chemical Engineering;
Vice-President of the Pedagogical Council at NOVA FCT;
Member of the Committee responsible for the creation and structuring of the Master Course on “Food and Safe Technology” and integrated Master on Chemical and Biochemical Engineering;
Member of group for the elaboration of ”Self Evaluation Report of UNL”, European University Association (EUA) - Institutional Evaluation;
Vice-President of the FCT Scientific Council;
Member of the Scientific Committee of PhD course “Sustainable Chemistry” and “Chemical and Biochemical Engineering”;
Coordinator of the Chemical and Biochemical Engineering integrated Master course:
Member of the executive committee of the Research Center UCIBIO.
Member of the Chemistry Department Council.
Board Member of the Faculty Council, NOVA FCT.
Research accomplishments
Maria Reis is a full Professor of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at NOVA School of Science and Technology (NOVA FCT), Portugal. Her research activity is internationally recognized in the field of Environmental and Industrial Bioengineering, with a strong focus on the development of sustainable bioprocesses for the valorization of agro-industrial wastes into biopolymers and bulk chemicals, contributing to circular economy strategies.
Maria Reis is the founder of the Bioengineering Research Group at NOVA FCT (BIOENG). She has authored over 350 peer-reviewed scientific publications, co-authored 18 book chapters, and delivered more than 200 invited and contributed oral presentations at international conferences. She is co-author of 10 patents (4 national and 6 international) and has coordinated 30 international research projects—20 of them in the last decade—as well as participating in 34 national projects, eight of which were co-funded by industrial partners, reflecting her strong engagement at the academia–industry interface.
She has extensive experience in advanced training, having co-supervised 30 PhD graduates and currently supervising 10 doctoral students. Her scientific and innovation capacity have been recognized through several awards, including the prestigious Solvay & Hovione Ideas Challenge (SHIC’08) – Solvay Prize. Maria Reis was elected to the Portuguese Academy of Engineering in 2009 and became an IWA Fellow in 2010. She also served for 20 years as Editor of Water Research (Elsevier), one of the leading journals in environmental sciences and engineering.