Dr. Bruna Carbas | Spectroscopy
| Best Researcher Award

Senior Technician | Mountain Research Center | Portugal

Dr. Bruna Carbas is a food scientist with a PhD in Agricultural Production Chains – from farm to fork, a Master’s in Food Safety, and a Bachelor’s in Food Science. Her career bridges advanced research and practical applications in food safety, nutrition, and cereal and legume science. She has worked with leading institutions such as the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, and the National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research. With expertise spanning nutritional and functional characterization, rheological profiling, and chromatographic analysis, she has contributed to innovation in food quality assessment. Bruna also brings consulting and teaching experience, supporting both academia and the agri-food industry.

Professional Profile

 Scopus | ORCID

Education

Dr. Bruna Carbas has a comprehensive academic background in food science and safety. She earned her PhD in Agricultural Production Chains – from farm to fork from the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), where she specialized in phytochemical and nutritional analysis of legumes using innovative infrared spectroscopy methods. Prior to her doctorate, she completed a Master’s degree in Food Safety, gaining strong expertise in microbiology, hygiene, and food quality assurance. Her academic foundation began with a Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, which provided core training in chemistry, biochemistry, and food technology. This progressive academic journey, combining theoretical knowledge and advanced analytical skills, has equipped her to excel in research, consultancy, and teaching across the agri-food sector.

Professional Experience

Dr. Bruna Carbas has over a decade of professional experience across research, academia, and consultancy. She has served as a Senior Technician at ESA-IPB, supporting laboratory classes in biochemistry, chemistry, and pharmaceutical sciences while participating in research and service analyses. As a Consultant at ADIVAT, she has guided agri-food companies in quality management and food safety compliance. Her research expertise was strengthened at INIAV, where she evaluated nutritional, rheological, and sensory properties of cereals and legumes, and at CITAB, where she analyzed phytochemicals and developed predictive models for food quality. She has also lectured at multiple polytechnic institutes, teaching food science, biotechnology, and safety. Her diverse experience reflects her leadership in both applied and academic food sciences.

Awards 

Dr. Bruna Carbas has been recognized with competitive research fellowships and academic appointments that highlight her scientific excellence. She was awarded a doctoral fellowship at CITAB (UTAD), where her work on legumes and infrared spectroscopy was highly regarded. She has also held long-term research fellowships at INIAV, contributing significantly to national projects on food quality and safety. Her selection as a guest lecturer at prestigious Portuguese polytechnic institutes further reflects recognition of her academic and professional merit. Additionally, her consultancy work with agri-food companies demonstrates her standing as a trusted expert in food safety. These honors collectively demonstrate her sustained impact on research, education, and industry, positioning her as a leader in food science.

Research Interests 

Dr. Bruna Carbas’s research focuses on the nutritional, functional, and rheological characterization of cereals and legumes, addressing both fundamental science and industrial applications. She has developed and implemented advanced analytical methodologies, including liquid chromatography, spectrophotometry, and infrared spectroscopy, to assess food quality parameters. Her work also emphasizes the construction of predictive models to evaluate nutritional value, anti-nutritional factors, and phytochemical composition, supporting innovation in food safety and product development. In addition to laboratory research, she has contributed to food safety assurance and hygiene practices, ensuring that findings benefit real-world agri-food systems. Her interdisciplinary research bridges chemistry, food technology, and nutrition, ultimately supporting healthier, safer, and more sustainable food production chains.

Publication Top Notes

• • Comparative Analysis of Maize Physico-Chemical Parameters and Mycotoxin Levels in Dual Environments .

  • Year: 2024

  • Development of Prediction Models for the Pasting Parameters of Rice Based on Near-Infrared and Machine Learning Tools .

  • Year: 2023

  • Assessment of Agricultural Practices for Controlling Fusarium and Mycotoxins Contamination on Maize Grains: Exploratory Study in Maize Farms .

  • Year: 2023

  • Potential of Legumes: Nutritional Value, Bioactive Properties, Innovative Food Products, and Application of Eco-friendly Tools for Their Assessment .

  • Year: 2023

  • Evaluation of Biobased Solutions for Mycotoxin Mitigation on Stored Maize.

  • Year: 2022

  • Assessment of Regulated Mycotoxins in Maize Harvested in Portugal .

  • Year: 2021

Conclusion 

Dr. Bruna Carbas is a highly qualified researcher whose academic achievements, practical innovations, and contributions to food safety and quality position her as a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award. Her work reflects a meaningful balance between fundamental research and industrial application, particularly in food quality and safety critical areas in today’s global food system. With further emphasis on expanding international collaborations and increasing her research visibility, she has the potential to achieve even greater recognition as a leader in agricultural and food science research.