Alexios Vardakas | Innovative food products | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Alexios Vardakas – Innovative food products  – Best Researcher Award

GAEA Products SM SA | Greece

      Profiles

Orcid

📍Current Position

Dr. Alexios Vardakas is an accomplished researcher and academic scholar specializing in food technology, with a deep focus on green bioprocesses and sustainable methods for utilizing agri-food by-products. His work is a testament to his dedication to improving food preservation techniques and ensuring sustainable practices within the industry. This detailed exploration of his academic journey, professional achievements, and research contributions will highlight his ongoing efforts in the field and showcase why he is considered one of the most promising experts in food technology.

 

📝Publication Achievements 

Dr. Vardakas has an extensive publication record, contributing significantly to the field of food technology. His research has been featured in various prestigious journals, including the Journal of Balkan Ecology, European Food Research and Technology, and Waste and Biomass Valorization. Some of his notable works include:

“A new process for enzyme-assisted subcritical water extraction of rice husk polyphenols” (2020)

“Optimization of the enzyme-assisted extraction of polyphenols from saffron tepals” (2021)

“Combining Enzymatic and Subcritical Water Treatments for Green Extraction of Polyphenolic Co-pigments from Saffron Tepals” (2024)

 

🔍Ongoing Research

Dr. Vardakas’ ongoing research revolves around the development of green bioprocesses, particularly focusing on the chemical technologies for utilizing olive processing by-products. His work aims to enhance the sustainability of food production processes, reduce waste, and create new applications for by-products in the food industry. Currently, he serves as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Patras, Greece, in the Department of Food Science and Technologies. His research explores innovative ways to utilize by-products like rose petals and olive leaves, tapping into their potential for creating bioactive compounds that can be applied in food preservation and processing.

 

🔬 Research Interests

Throughout his academic career, Dr. Vardakas has earned several accolades and scholarships that highlight his expertise and contributions to the field of food technology. These recognitions have provided him with opportunities to further his research, participate in high-profile conferences, and collaborate with other renowned experts in the field.

 

🎓Academic Background

Dr. Alexios Vardakas earned his Ph.D. in Food Technologies from the University of Food Technologies, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, completing his thesis on the “Valorization of agri-food industry by-products through polyphenols application in fruit processing” in 2021. His doctoral research focused on sustainable and innovative approaches to processing fruit while leveraging polyphenols from food by-products, which has become a significant part of his ongoing research. Prior to his Ph.D., he pursued an M.Sc. in the Analysis and Control of Food Products at the Technological Education Institute of Western Macedonia, Greece, where he honed his expertise in food safety and quality assurance. Additionally, he holds a B.Sc. in Agricultural Technology from the Technological Education Institute of Mesolonghi, where his foundational knowledge of greenhouse crops and floriculture was established.

 

🏆Scholarships and Awards 

Throughout his academic career, Dr. Vardakas has earned several accolades and scholarships that highlight his expertise and contributions to the field of food technology. These recognitions have provided him with opportunities to further his research, participate in high-profile conferences, and collaborate with other renowned experts in the field.

 

🧬Bioinformatics 

Dr. Vardakas is also actively involved in the application of bioinformatics within his research. His work includes analyzing the complex interactions of polyphenols in food processing and exploring the molecular-level benefits of bioactive compounds derived from by-products.

 

🌐Professional Associations 

He is a reviewer for international scientific journals, including the World Journal of Food Science and Technology and Chemical Papers. His editorial contributions further emphasize his standing as a thought leader in the industry.

 

 📚Training & Workshops 

Dr. Vardakas has continuously enhanced his professional skills through participation in various seminars and workshops. He has completed certifications in food defense, organoleptic evaluation of olive oils, and project management, all of which complement his research endeavors. His involvement in training programs underscores his commitment to staying abreast of the latest advancements in food science and technology.

 

🎤Oral Presentations and🗣️Thought Leadership 

Dr. Vardakas has presented his research findings at several international conferences. For example, at the 1st International Applied Scientific Conference in Plovdiv, Bulgaria (2021), he delivered an oral presentation on the role of polyphenols from plant by-products in fruit processing. He was also a guest speaker at the SafeFood4EU Final Conference in 2024, where he shared his insights on sustainable olive production and the challenges and best practices associated with it. These presentations have allowed him to share his expertise with peers and industry professionals.

 

🧑‍🔬Tasks Completed as a Researcher 

As a researcher, Dr. Vardakas has taken on numerous responsibilities, from leading research projects to collaborating with interdisciplinary teams. His role in developing new product innovations for GAEA Product S.M. S.A., specifically in the area of sustainability management, is noteworthy. He has also contributed to the creation of quality assurance systems and helped drive corporate projects focused on environmental and social governance (ESG).

 

🚀Success Factors 

Dr. Vardakas’ success can be attributed to his innovative approach to problem-solving, particularly in developing sustainable technologies for food processing. His research into polyphenols and bioactive compounds has opened new avenues for the valorization of agri-food by-products, making him a pioneer in the field of green food technologies.

 

🧪Publications & Laboratory Experience

Dr. Vardakas has extensive laboratory experience, having worked on enzyme-assisted extraction techniques and the development of polyphenol-rich food products. His contributions to the literature on green bioprocessing have significantly advanced our understanding of how by-products can be utilized in food technology.

 

🔍 Conclusion

Dr. Alexios Vardakas is a remarkable scholar whose contributions to food technology, particularly in the sustainable utilization of agri-food by-products, position him as a leader in the field. His academic background, ongoing research, and professional achievements underscore his dedication to innovation and sustainability in food processing. His work not only drives forward scientific knowledge but also provides practical solutions for creating a more sustainable future.

📚Publications

Sustainable Development of an Innovative Spreadable Plant-Based Product of High Added Value through the Valorization of an Agro-Food By-Product

      Authors:  Alexios Vardakas; Aris E. Giannakas; Maria Dimitrakouda; Amarildo Ndreka; Christiana Chaintari; George   Iordanidis;  Nikolaos Vaggeli; Tarsizia Angelari; Kalliopi Almpounioti; Panagiota Potsaki et al.

      Journal: Applied Sciences

Optimization of Enzymatic Assisted Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Olea europaea Leaves

      Authors: Alexios Vardakas; Achilleas Kechagias; Nikolay Penov; Aris E. Giannakas

      Journal: Biomass

Valorization of rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) by-product: polyphenolic characterization and potential food application

      Authors: Rada Dinkova; Alexios Vardakas; Eva Dimitrova; Fabian Weber; Maike Passon; Vasil Shikov; Andreas Schieber; Kiril Mihalev

      Journal: European Food Research and Technology

Yukthakiran Matla | Food and Beverage Industry | Global Business Strategy Titan Award

Mr. Lungelo Ntobongwana – Food and Beverage Industry – Global Business Strategy Titan Award  

Campbellsville University | United States

      Profiles

scholar

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📍Current Position

Yukthakiran Matla is pursuing a Master of Science in Computer Science at Campbellsville University, Louisville, KY. Alongside his academic journey, he recently completed a Data & AI Internship with Neudesic, an IBM company in May 2023, where he worked on advanced data analysis projects, specializing in Power BI report building. Prior to this, Yukthakiran served as an Associate Consultant in the Data & AI division at Neudesic Technologies Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad, India, from June 2021 to June 2022. In this role, he gained hands-on experience in data management, analysis, and system integration.

 

📝Publication Achievements 

Yukthakiran has published a research paper in the renowned MDPI journal titled “Globalising Food Items Based on Ingredient Consumption” (January 2024 – August 2024). His innovative study employed LSTM neural networks with genetic algorithm (GA) optimization to predict food performance based on ingredient consumption data. This research was a significant contribution to understanding how ingredients impact food globalization by using Power BI for data visualization and analysis.

 

🔍Ongoing Research

Yukthakiran is currently exploring machine learning algorithms for data analysis in food science. His ongoing work includes improving his ML models to predict food item consumption patterns across global markets. she is focusing on enhancing the hyperparameter optimization in his ML models to better predict revenue impacts by analyzing different ingredient combinations, making significant strides toward food globalization.

 

🔬 Research Interests

Yukthakiran’s primary research interests lie in: Machine Learning & Data Analysis 🌐 Artificial Intelligence in Food Science 🍽️Azure Cloud Technology ☁️Big Data Processing 🔄Database Management 🗄️

 

🎓Academic Background

  • Master of Science in Computer Science | Campbellsville University, Louisville, KY
    (January 2023 – Present)
    Yukthakiran is advancing his knowledge in computer science, focusing on AI, data engineering, and cloud computing.
  • Bachelor of Technology in Electronics & Communication Engineering | Sreenidhi Institute of Science and Technology, Ghatkesar, India
    His undergraduate studies provided a strong foundation in electronics, communication technologies, and programming languages like Python, C++, and SQL.

🏆Scholarships and Awards 

Yukthakiran has been recognized for his academic excellence with multiple scholarships during her studies, as well as awards for her contributions to cloud technology and data management.

 

🧬Bioinformatics 

Yukthakiran has expressed a growing interest in bioinformatics, particularly in its application within data science and machine learning. Her background in data analysis and machine learning has allowed him to explore bioinformatics, contributing to various research fields that analyze large biological datasets.

 

🌐Professional Associations 

As a rising professional in AI and data science, Yukthakiran is affiliated with several notable associations: IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)

 

 📚Training & Workshops 

Throughout her academic and professional career, Yukthakiran has completed certifications and training workshops, including: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals (DP-900) ,,Advanced Power BI and SQL Management

 

🎤Oral Presentations and🗣️Thought Leadership 

Yukthakiran has delivered several presentations, including a detailed analysis of his research on food globalization and its predictive analysis using ML models. Her presentations have been appreciated for their clarity, depth, and technical detail.

 

🧑‍🔬Tasks Completed as a Researcher 

As part of her academic and professional journey, Yukthakiran has: Performed feature engineering on large datasets for analysis and ML model training. Developed stored procedures in SQL for maintaining privacy and ensuring data security. Created data visualization dashboards using Power BI for business intelligence reports. Conducted data cleansing and modifications in multi-warehouse environments to ensure seamless data integration.

 

🚀Success Factors 

Yukthakiran’s key success factors include: Adaptability: Quick learning of new technologies and methodologies. Team Collaboration: A strong team player who has worked effectively across different project environments. Problem-Solving Ability: Proficient in resolving technical challenges, especially in SQL and data integration tasks. Leadership: Demonstrated leadership in organizing team-building activities, enhancing team cohesion and productivity.

 

🧪Publications & Laboratory Experience

Yukthakiran’s publication at MDPI is a highlight of his research career, showcasing his ability to integrate machine learning algorithms and data visualization tools for practical, real-world applications. His laboratory experience includes: Data Analysis using Python and SQLML Algorithm Development using LSTM neural networks .Data Integration from multiple sources using Azure Data Factory and SSIS

 

🔍 Conclusion

Yukthakiran Matla is a dynamic and ambitious professional, excelling in the fields of machine learning, data analytics, and cloud computing. Her diverse experience, from academic research to hands-on industry projects, positions him as a versatile talent. Whether through his work on global food consumption predictions or his technical expertise with Azure tools, Yukthakiran consistently demonstrates a commitment to pushing boundaries in data science and AI. Her adaptability, strong technical foundation, and proactive attitude make him a valuable asset to any organization.

 

📚Publications

Globalizing Food Items Based on Ingredient Consumption

     Authors:  Y Matla, RR Yannamaneni, G Pappas
     Journal: Sustainability