Luciano Eduardo Rodrigues dos Santos has developed his academic path at the intersection of biochemistry, marine biotechnology, and fish nutrition, with a particular focus on the valorization of agro-food by-products and the development of sustainable aquaculture feeds. He completed his BSc in Biochemistry at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto (2020), where he conducted a final research project on the catalytic mechanism of an enzyme that is a drug target of neurodegenerative therapies, using molecular modelling and hybrid QM/MM simulations. This work sparked his interest in computational approaches applied to complex biological systems. During his MSc in Biochemistry (FCUP, University of Porto, 2022), he developed a novel synthetic methodology for melanostatin macrocyclic derivatives, a neuropeptide with anti-Parkinson activity. The dissertation involved organic synthesis, chromatographic purification, and structural characterization by NMR and HRMS, consolidating advanced experimental skills and reinforcing the link between structural chemistry and biological activity. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Animal Science (major in Nutrition) at the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, developed within a non-academic research environment. His doctoral project, entitled “Innovative hydrolysates as functional nutritional supplements to promote seabass robustness and flesh quality addressing the European zero-waste strategy,” explores how locally sourced protein hydrolysates from agro-food by-products can enhance growth performance, metabolic resilience, and fillet quality in European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax). The research combines zootechnical, histological, microbiological, transcriptomic, and metabolomic approaches, integrating biochemistry and physiology to assess the metabolic robustness of fish under sustainable feeding strategies. In parallel, he collaborates in the Blue Bioeconomy Pact – Vertical FEED, an industry-driven initiative aimed at improving aquaculture feed efficiency and promoting the blue economy through the development of innovative, nationally sourced feed ingredients. These collaborations have strengthened his ability to connect academic research with industrial application, reinforcing his commitment to the valorization of local resources and alignment with the Portuguese Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) and European zero-waste strategy. In the long term, his vision is to foster stronger integration between academia and industry, driving the development of high-value, science-based ingredients that enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of aquaculture. He aims to translate research outputs into industrial innovation, promoting a resilient blue bioeconomy capable of reducing dependency on imported raw materials while generating socioeconomic value from local resources.