Prof. Antonio Jesús Meléndez Martínez is a Standford University’s World’s 2% Scientist since 2020.

His main research interest deals with. the sustainable production of health-promoting foods, with a strong focus on carotenoids and derivatives in the context of agro-food, health and cosmetics.

He obtained his PhD in Pharmacy in 2005 at Universidad de Sevilla. He has also conducted research at University of Liverpool, Royal Holloway University of London (UK) and USDA-Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University (USA).

He was the coordinator of two large international networks on carotenoids, one Iberoamerican funded by the CYTED (IBERCAROT network) and another European funded by COST (COST Action EUROCAROTEN). Altogether scientists from more than 50 countries were involved.

Some awards and recognitions:

• Extraordinary Prize of Doctorate.
• International Carotenoid Society George Britton Award for Young Researcher.
• Fellow of the International Carotenoid Society.
• Manuel Losada Award to Excellence in Agro-food Research.
• Iberoamerican Academy of Pharmacy Award.
• Induction into the scientific honour society Sigma Xi.

He has been a fellow of very competitive programmes, such as Marie Curie, Juan de la Cierva and Ramón y Cajal.

He has published over 100 research papers, 10 book chapters and edited a free book on carotenoids (https://idus.us.es/xmlui/handle/11441/68953).

He has been an invited speaker at many scientific events (Pigment in Foods, Symposium of Carotenoids, Green Extraction of Natural Products Congress, Gordon Research Conference, Brain and Ocular Nutrition Conference etc.) and at industry-oriented events (Nutraceuticals Europe, Vitafoods Europe, Nutrevent).

He has been involved in the organization of communication activities such as the infoday “Raising awareness about the socioeconomic importance of carotenoids” in Brussels (2019).

He has also produced informative videos in non-technical lenguage about the importance of carotenoids (Informative videos about carotenoids).

Dr. Meléndez-Martínez has also delivered talks at R+D+I policymakers-oriented events.