Who will I learn from?

Meet the Educators who developed the course:

Claudio Medana is full professor of Analytical Chemistry at the Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino. He is in charge of the Unit of Mass Spectrometry of the department and his recent research activity is focused on the development of analytical mass spectrometry methods for the identification and determination of bioactive molecules (metabolites, drugs, toxics).

Giorgio Merlo is associate professor of Developmental Biology and Genetics, at the Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino. He runs research programs in development of the brain and of the endocrine system, with a specific interest in gonadotropic hormones. Recently his activity focuses also on some genetic determinants of intellectual disability.

Patrizia Bovolin is associate professor of Comparative Anatomy and Neurobiology at the Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino. Her research focuses on the impact of endocrine disrupting chemicals (i.e., some plasticizers used in food-contact materials) on adipocytes and neural cells. Recently she has also been studying the role of the endocannabinoid system in neuronal development, focusing on the neurons controlling food intake and reproduction.

Natalia Drabinska is a scientist at the Department of Chemistry and Biodynamics of Food of the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of Polish Academy of Sciences. She graduated her PhD in human nutrition, and her research concentrated on supplementation of a gluten-free diet with prebiotics in children with celiac disease. Recently her activity focuses on the effects of diets on the human body, metabolomics as well as analysis of volatile organic compounds for diagnostic purposes

Amparo Lopez-Rubio is a permanent scientist at the Packaging Group from the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA-CSIC) in Valencia, Spain. She has broad experience in the development and characterization of materials for food applications and some of her research activities deal with the study of new biopolymer sources which can be used to develop bio-based and biodegradable packaging structures for food packaging applications.

Antonio Martínez-Abad is a postdoctoral researcher from the Packaging Group from the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA-CSIC) in Valencia, Spain. He has a broad expertise in several fields, including the development of novel biodegradable food packaging materials from renewable resources, having a unique knowledge on glycomic sequencing of carbohydrate fractions, of special interest in this type of applications.

Maria José Fabra is a postdoctoral researcher also from the Packaging Group from the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA-CSIC) in Valencia, Spain. She has extensively work with biopolymers for food applications, specifically for use as coating materials for increasing postharvest quality of fresh produce. She also works on developing active food packaging structures through different strategies.

Marta Martínez-Sanz is a postdoctoral researcher from the Packaging Group from the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA-CSIC) in Valencia, Spain. Her expertise is focused on bio-based materials obtained from plant-derived resources, especially cellulose-based materials and she has unique knowledge on advanced characterization tools applied to food related materials.

Isabel Hoffmann Hoffmann is the CEO of Tellspec, a disruptive company that offers rapid non-destructive sensors for food quality and safety. She has presented at conferences around the world and her awards in technology and entrepreneurship include the 2018 EIT Women in Innovation award presented by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology.

Top tips

If you’re new to the FutureLearn platform, here are some tips you may find useful to help you prepare:

• Take a look ahead to see what is coming up in the following Weeks.
• Each video also has a transcript which you can read by clicking ‘view transcript’ found underneath each video.
• To turn on video subtitles or captions, click the CC button in the video player’s bottom toolbar. In the menu that appears, select the caption or subtitle track you’d like to see.
• As you work through the course, mark each Step as complete to help keep track of your progress.
• Hold down the shift key when clicking on a web link. This will open the link in a separate window so you don’t lose the page that you’re working through.
• Look out for any further reading which can be found at the bottom of the Steps under the heading ‘See also’ and supporting documents listed under ‘Downloads’.

If you have any questions about how the site works, you may find FutureLearn’s start guide and FAQ pages helpful.