Miriam Sánchez Ordóñez exemplifies the qualities of a high-potential early-career scientist 👩🔬. At just 30 years old, she has already demonstrated academic excellence, research leadership, and innovative thinking in the field of Food Science and Technology. With honors distinctions in both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Extremadura, she is currently pursuing her Ph.D. through a competitive pre-doctoral fellowship granted by the Ministry of Science and Innovation 🇪🇸. Her dynamic involvement in cutting-edge R&D projects, including AGROSUSTMEAT and SMARTCURING, shows her drive to bridge sustainability and applied food innovation.
📘 Education & Experience
Miriam earned her degree in Food Science and Technology 🎓 from the University of Extremadura in 2017, graduating with honors 🏅. She further pursued a master’s in Management and Traceability of Food of Plant Origin in 2020, again achieving distinction 🥇. Her academic journey laid the groundwork for her Ph.D. in Food Science and Technology, supported by the Ministry of Science and Innovation under the PRE2021-097662 grant 📘. Professionally, Miriam has held roles in quality control and laboratory analysis 🧫 at Laban Laboratories, TOMALIA S.C.U., Crown, and Olives & Pickles 🧪. Since 2022, she has served full-time as a pre-doctoral researcher at INTAEX-CICYTEX, engaging in cutting-edge research on sustainable meat preservation technologies 🥩. With hands-on experience in R&D projects and publications in top-tier journals, her trajectory is marked by consistent academic excellence and practical expertise in food science and agri-food innovation. 🌽👩🔬
📈 Professional Development
Miriam Sánchez Ordóñez’s professional development is anchored in a blend of academic rigor 📚 and applied research innovation 🔬. As a full-time pre-doctoral researcher at CICYTEX, she has actively contributed to high-level R&D projects such as AGROSUSTMEAT and SMARTCURING, addressing sustainability, traceability, and meat product enhancement 🥓. Her roles have involved physical-chemical analysis, sensor technology applications, and data analytics 📊. She regularly presents at international conferences like INCONUBI and EFFoST, broadening her scientific network 🌐 and refining her communication skills. As a corresponding author on several peer-reviewed articles, she demonstrates leadership in disseminating research findings ✍️. Through these efforts, she’s gaining expertise in bioactive packaging, by-product valorization, and novel food preservation strategies 💡. Miriam also actively collaborates with cross-disciplinary teams, boosting her adaptability and collaborative skills, key traits for a modern agri-food technologist 👩🔬. Her continuous learning journey reflects her drive to innovate and elevate sustainable food systems. 🌿
Miriam’s primary research area centers on agricultural and food sciences, with a strong emphasis on sustainable meat technology and circular economy practices ♻️🥩. She investigates the valorization of by-products from the local agri-food industry for meat preservation, aiming to reduce waste and develop bioactive packaging solutions 🧴🍇. Her Ph.D. project within the AGROSUSTMEAT initiative focuses on integrating natural ingredients—like grape pomace, red pepper, and plums—into meat products to extend shelf life and enhance nutritional value 🌶️🍑. Miriam is also involved in the SMARTCURING project, which combines sensorization and data modeling to optimize ham curing processes using big data and predictive analytics 📡📈. She explores high-pressure processing and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) as innovative tools for product authentication and quality control 📷. Her multidisciplinary approach addresses food safety, quality, and sustainability, aligning with modern challenges in food production and consumer health 🥗🌍.
Awards and Honors 🏆🎖️
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🏅 Honors Degree in Bachelor’s Thesis, Food Science and Technology (University of Extremadura)
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🎖️ Honors Degree in Master’s Thesis on Plant-Based Food Traceability
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🧑🔬 Pre-doctoral Grant Recipient (PRE2021-097662) from the Ministry of Science and Innovation
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📚 Corresponding Author for 4 high-impact international scientific journal articles
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🗣️ Invited Speaker/Presenter at top international conferences (INCONUBI, EFFoST, CYTA-CESIA)
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📝 Co-author of 8 Scientific Publications in indexed journals
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🌍 Contributor to major EU and nationally funded agri-food R&D projects
Publications & Citations 📚
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📅 2024 – Development of a functional ingredient from grape pomace for the preservation of pork burgers 🍇🍔 – Nutrients – 📑 Cited by: N/A
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📅 2024 – Effect of High Hydrostatic Pressure (HHP) treatments for the valuation of red pepper by-products 🌶️💧 – Nutrients – 📑 Cited by: N/A
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📅 2024 – Valorisation of plums to obtain bioactive compounds 🍑🧪 – Nutrients – 📑 Cited by: N/A
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📅 2022 – Sensory evaluation of goat burgers with cherry (var. Pico negro) 🐐🍒 – Eurocarne – 📑 Cited by: N/A
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📅 2022 – Physicochemical and sensory properties of Iberian lomito 🐖🥩 – Livestock Science (Elsevier) – 📑 Cited by: N/A
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📅 2022 – Use of Near Infrared Spectroscopy for pork loin authentication 🔬🐖 – AIDA-ITEA – 📑 Cited by: N/A
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📅 2022 – Classification of lamb burgers with cherry via NIR 🍒🐑 – Applied Food Research (Elsevier) – 📑 Cited by: N/A
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📅 2021 – Effects of pre-cure freezing on Iberian lomito quality ❄️🥩 – Foods (MDPI) – 📑 Cited by: N/A
🔍 Conclusion:
Miriam Sánchez Ordóñez is a compelling candidate for the Young Researcher Award, standing out for her scientific rigor, innovation in food sustainability, and publication achievements at an early career stage 📈. Her impactful research, international exposure, and vision for sustainable agri-food systems align with the award’s goal of recognizing rising stars in science. With a rapidly growing academic profile, she is poised to become a leader in the global food technology and sustainability arena 🌍.