Assist. Prof. Dr. Emanuela Drago | Health Safety and Environment | Best Academic Researcher Award
Assistant Professor at University of Genoa | Italy
Emanuela Drago is a dedicated researcher in chemical and process engineering, specializing in sustainable materials and innovative active food packaging technologies. Currently serving as a Researcher (RTDA) at the University of Genoa, she integrates expertise in polymer science, green processing, and bioengineering. Her international research experience includes a visiting position at Imperial College London, where she developed biodegradable sensors for food quality monitoring. Through extensive collaborations across Europe and the U.S., she has contributed to advancing biodegradable polymers, supercritical fluid technologies, and biosensor integration in packaging. Her work bridges environmental sustainability with industrial applicability, earning recognition for innovation and scientific excellence.
Profile
Scopus
Education
Emanuela Drago earned her Ph.D. in Chemical, Materials and Process Engineering from the University of Genoa in 2023, focusing on the development of innovative active food packaging biomaterials through eco-friendly technologies. She holds a Master’s degree in Chemical and Process Engineering, where she explored microparticle production via spray drying and computational fluid dynamics simulation. Her Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering (2015) involved studying functional foods and probiotic applications. Earlier, she completed a Classical Studies high school diploma, enhancing her analytical and multidisciplinary thinking. This robust academic foundation underpins her research in sustainable materials, food packaging, and advanced process engineering.
Experience
Emanuela Drago has amassed diverse research and academic experience in chemical engineering, bioengineering, and materials science. She is currently an RTDA researcher at the University of Genoa and has served as a postdoctoral fellow on systemic resilience models for pandemic-related risk management. Internationally, she was a Visiting Researcher at Imperial College London, developing biodegradable sensors for agri-food applications. Her collaborative projects span sustainable packaging, supercritical fluid processing, and bio-based polymers. She has co-supervised multiple theses, contributed to European Commission-funded initiatives, and served as a reviewer for scientific journals. Her work consistently integrates innovation, sustainability, and industrial problem-solving.
Research Interest
Emanuela’s research interests center on sustainable materials engineering, particularly active and smart food packaging systems. She specializes in biodegradable polymers, supercritical fluid processing, biosensors, and the valorization of agri-food waste into functional materials. Her work explores the interplay between material science and process optimization to enhance packaging performance, food safety, and environmental sustainability. She is also interested in green processing technologies that align with circular economy principles. Beyond packaging, she engages in interdisciplinary research that intersects bioethics, process engineering, and environmental impact assessment, ensuring that her innovations contribute to both technological advancement and societal benefit.
Award
In January 2024, Emanuela Drago received the ESG Challenge Iren Award for the Best Ph.D. Thesis on sustainability and ESG challenges, recognizing her outstanding contribution to developing eco-friendly active packaging solutions. This award highlights her commitment to integrating environmental responsibility into engineering innovation. Her research outcomes not only advance academic knowledge but also provide scalable, industry-ready solutions for food preservation and waste reduction. This achievement underscores her ability to address global sustainability goals through practical and scientifically rigorous methods, positioning her as an emerging leader in sustainable chemical and process engineering.
Publication Top Notes
Title: Enhanced hydrophilicity and aging resistance of zein via low-pressure oxygen Plasma: Role of localized plasticizing effects
Year: 2025
Title: Sustainable Development of Biodegradable Antimicrobial Electro-spun Membranes for Active Food Packaging and Economic Analysis
Year: 2024
Title: Improvement of Natural Polymeric Films Properties by Blend Formulation for Sustainable Active Food Packaging
Year: 2023
Title: Zein and Spent Coffee Grounds Extract as a Green Combination for Sustainable Food Active Packaging Production: An Investigation on the Effects of the Production Processes
Year: 2022
Title: Unsteadiness and resolution effects in experimentally verified simulations of a spray drying process
Year: 2022
Conclusion
Emanuela Drago’s career demonstrates a strong fusion of scientific excellence, environmental responsibility, and industrial relevance. Her academic achievements, research collaborations, and award-winning work in sustainable food packaging reflect a consistent drive to address pressing global challenges. With expertise spanning materials science, process engineering, and green technologies, she has made significant contributions to advancing the circular economy and food safety. Through publications, international collaborations, and mentorship roles, she continues to inspire innovation in chemical engineering. Her trajectory positions her as a rising leader whose work will have enduring impact on both industry and academia.