Francisco Abreu dos Santos is a research assistant with expertise in biomaterials, polymer science, and biotechnology. He earned a Master's in Bioengineering and Nanosystems from Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico, graduating top of his class with a 19/20 grade. His thesis contributed to the CartHeal project, focusing on developing Nomex® reinforced Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)-based hydrogels for articular cartilage replacement. He also possesses a Bachelor’s in Biochemistry from Universidade da Madeira, where he also achieved a 19/20 grade. During his undergraduate studies, he interned at the Centro de Química da Madeira, focusing on nanochemistry and nanomaterials research. There he collaborated on the synthesis and characterization (UV-Vis, FTIR, NMR, MS) of novel dendrimers and organometallic compounds. Currently, Francisco is a research assistant in the European project Agriloop, at Universidade Nova de Lisboa. This innovative project seeks to pave the way for sustainable agricultural practices by developing new technologies and processes that convert waste into economic, social, and environmental assets, promoting circular economy principles within the agricultural sector. His specific role centres on the bioconversion of agri-residues into microbial biopolymers, namely polyhydroxyalkanoates. His responsibilities include the characterization of agricultural-food residues, used as feedstocks, and the production and characterization of polyhydroxyalkanoates using single microbial cultures. Through his work with AgriLoop, Francisco is contributing to research that has the potential to significantly reduce waste, enhance resource efficiency, and create sustainable solutions for the future of agriculture.