Andreea-Teodora IACOB | Biomedical Applications of polymeric materials | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Andreea-Teodora IACOB | Biomedical Applications of polymeric materials | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Andreea-Teodora Iacob is a dedicated Lecturer PhD and Specialist Pharmacist at the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iași, Romania. She has established a remarkable profile in the fields of pharmaceutical chemistry, drug design, and advanced polymeric systems for biomedical applications. With an impressive academic and professional trajectory, Dr. Iacob has contributed extensively to multidisciplinary research on heterocyclic compounds, nanostructured drug delivery systems, and wound healing materials. She holds multiple specialist certifications in pharmaceutical laboratory, clinical pharmacy, and the pharmaceutical-cosmetic industry. She has co-authored over 47 ISI-indexed publications, edited scientific volumes, and has been awarded several national and international accolades for her scientific contributions. Passionate about research, teaching, and collaboration, Dr. Iacob actively mentors students and serves as an editor and reviewer for reputed journals, while also engaging in national and international collaborative projects across pharmaceutical sciences.

Profile

🎓 Education

Dr. Iacob’s academic formation is grounded in pharmaceutical sciences, with a progressive specialization in both academic and clinical domains. She completed her Doctorate in Pharmaceutical Chemistry with research focusing on innovative biomaterials for wound management. In 2018, she earned certification as a Specialist Pharmacist in Pharmaceutical Laboratory from “Saint Spiridon” Clinical Hospital, Iași. In 2021, she added a second specialty in Clinical Pharmacy, and in 2025, she will complete her third specialty in Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Industry. She enriched her academic background with a postdoctoral research fellowship (2019–2021) at the Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science in Bucharest, developing novel chitosan/PEO-based films for wound healing. Her academic journey is further enhanced by intensive involvement in national doctoral and postdoctoral training projects. Her education is marked by a continuous commitment to learning, research innovation, and application of chemistry and pharmacology for therapeutic benefit, laying the foundation for her dynamic research and teaching career.

🧪 Experience

Dr. Andreea-Teodora Iacob has over a decade of rich academic and clinical experience. Since February 2020, she serves as a Lecturer PhD in Pharmaceutical and Therapeutic Chemistry at UMF Iași, where she contributes to both undergraduate and postgraduate education. She began her clinical specialization as a pharmacist in 2018 and evolved through additional specializations in clinical pharmacy and pharmaceutical industries. From August 2019 to January 2021, she pursued postdoctoral research in chemical engineering, focusing on polymeric wound dressings. Her expertise spans drug synthesis, physicochemical characterization, nanotechnology, and biomedical formulations. Dr. Iacob has also participated in several European-funded training programs aimed at developing applied research and entrepreneurship skills. Her work encompasses laboratory management, student supervision, and interdisciplinary research. Additionally, she contributes to curriculum development and academic publishing, while maintaining active collaborations with national and international institutions. Her balanced experience in teaching, clinical practice, and research distinguishes her as a versatile pharmaceutical professional.

🏅 Awards and Honors

Dr. Iacob has received wide recognition for her innovative research. She won the Bronze and Silver Medals at EuroINVENT 2025 in Iași, acknowledging her contributions to wound healing and pharmaceutical formulations. She was among the five winners of the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Young Talents Romania Program 2023, a prestigious award that supports early-career female researchers. Her papers have earned Best Paper Awards at multiple International Scientific Conferences, including “Applications of Chemistry in Nanosciences and Biomaterials Engineering.” With an H-index of 13 (WOS) and 16 (Google Scholar), her work has been cited over 1000 times, highlighting her influence in the scientific community. She also serves as a Guest Editor for Polymers and Pharmaceutics, and as a substitute member of the COST EU Action CA19140, promoting advanced ion technologies. These honors showcase her dedication to impactful research, leadership in academia, and commitment to promoting women in science.

🔬 Research Focus

Dr. Iacob’s research bridges pharmaceutical chemistry, nanotechnology, and regenerative medicine. Her expertise centers on the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds (azetidin-2-ones, thiazolidine-4-ones, azomethines, hydrazones) with therapeutic potential, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities. She is also deeply involved in the design and evaluation of polymeric biomaterials such as hydrogels, sponges, and films, especially chitosan-based systems, for skin and wound therapy. She has pioneered work on electrospun nanofibers and niosomes, exploring their structural, functional, and biological characteristics for use in chronic wound healing. Her work integrates advanced synthesis methods, spectral analysis (IR, NMR, HRMS), and in vitro biological evaluation. She contributes to eight national and two international research projects and collaborates with leading institutions across Europe. Her multidisciplinary research reflects a commitment to translational science, bridging fundamental chemistry with practical medical applications, especially in skin regeneration, controlled drug delivery, and therapeutic polymer design.

Conclusion

Dr. Andreea-Teodora Iacob is an accomplished pharmaceutical chemist and educator whose impactful contributions in heterocyclic drug design, nanostructured wound therapies, and polymeric biomaterials—supported by high-impact publications, patents, national and international projects, and prestigious awards—make her a leading figure in pharmaceutical research and an outstanding nominee for the Best Researcher/Women Research Award.

Publications

Guadalupe Gabriel Flores-Rojas | Smart polymers | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Guadalupe Gabriel Flores-Rojas | Smart polymers | Best Researcher Award

Guadalupe Gabriel Flores Rojas is a highly accomplished chemical scientist with expertise in synthesizing materials with antimicrobial and photophysical properties. With a PhD in Chemical Sciences from UNAM, his research spans enzyme immobilization, nanomaterials, dendritic polymers, and drug delivery systems. He has contributed significantly to radiation-induced polymerization, organometallic chemistry, and environmental remediation. Dr. Flores Rojas has held postdoctoral fellowships at top Mexican research institutions and currently serves at the University Center for Exact Sciences and Engineering (UDG). His prolific publication record and editorial roles demonstrate his commitment to advancing polymer science, nanotechnology, and bioactive materials.

Profile

Education 🎓

Guadalupe Gabriel Flores Rojas earned a PhD in Chemical Sciences from UNAM’s Institute of Nuclear Sciences (2014–2018), with a thesis on antimicrobial biomaterials for enzyme immobilization. He completed an MSc in Chemistry at UNAM’s Institute of Chemistry (2010–2012), focusing on Pd(II) catalysts for C–C coupling. He holds a bachelor’s in Industrial Chemistry with a macromolecules specialization from UNAM’s Cuautitlán campus (2006–2010), where he synthesized dendrimers for photonic applications. Earlier, he obtained his Chemical Technician diploma and a Microcomputer Operation diploma from CETIS No. 32 (2003–2006), building a strong foundation in analytical techniques and computer literacy for scientific applications.

Experience 👨‍🏫

Dr. Flores Rojas currently holds a postdoctoral fellowship at UDG, focusing on antimicrobial polymeric materials and nanoparticle-loaded systems for wastewater treatment. He previously worked at UNAM’s Materials Research Institute (2018–2020), designing dendritic photophysical compounds, and at the Institute of Nuclear Sciences (2018), synthesizing biopolymeric materials for controlled drug delivery via gamma radiation. His experience includes evaluating polymer mechanics, SEM/AFM imaging, EPR/NMR/MS spectroscopy, and supervising students. Earlier, he taught mathematics at CETIS No. 32 (2008), demonstrating strong analytical instruction skills. Across roles, he contributes as a journal reviewer, guest editor, and mentor while publishing extensively in international journals.

Awards & Recognitions 🏅

Dr. Flores Rojas has received recognition through prestigious postdoctoral fellowships from Mexico’s top institutions including UNAM and UDG. He serves as a guest editor at MDPI’s Polymers journal and actively reviews for international journals, reflecting peer recognition of his expertise. His leadership roles in scientific conferences like POLYMAT 2019 and his involvement in editorial contributions highlight his professional reputation. With over 15 indexed publications in high-impact journals such as Polymers, Cellulose, Macromol, and Inorganica Chimica Acta, his contributions to materials science, drug delivery, and nanotechnology have earned acclaim from the global scientific community and research peers.

Research Interests 🔬

Dr. Flores Rojas’s research centers on the synthesis and engineering of advanced materials with antimicrobial and photophysical properties. He explores gamma radiation and chemical polymerization to develop functionalized biomaterials, nanocomposites, and dendritic compounds for drug delivery, environmental cleanup, and energy transfer. His work on enzyme immobilization, organometallic catalysis, and core-shell nanoparticles integrates polymer chemistry with biomedical and environmental applications. He actively investigates biocompatibility, mechanical behavior, and surface morphology of polymers. With a multidisciplinary approach, he aims to develop smart, responsive materials for industrial, clinical, and energy-based innovations, contributing to sustainable and efficient material science solutions.

Publications