Catalin ZAHARIA profile

I am a Full Professor of Polymer Science in the Department of Bioresources and Polymer Science at the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, within the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology. My research focuses on advancing knowledge in the realm of polymeric biomaterials, particularly those derived from natural and synthetic compounds with applications in biomedicine. These include hydrogels, polymeric micro- and nanoparticles, hybrid biomaterials, and composite materials used in drug delivery systems, tissue engineering, cancer therapy, and more. I hold a particular fascination for 3D printing technologies such as FDM, SLA, and bioprinting, as well as organ-on-a-chip platforms. I hold a Ph.D. in Engineering Sciences, which I earned from UPB in 2007. My doctoral thesis, titled “Studies regarding the synthesis and characterization of new biopolymers for bone implants,” focused on advancing the understanding of biopolymers in the context of bone implantation. Additionally, I obtained a Ph.D. in Cell Biology from the University of Angers, Faculty of Medicine, in 2009. Over the course of my career, I have been actively involved in numerous research projects, serving in roles ranging from coordinator and director to team member, totaling over 50 projects. These projects have primarily focused on the science and engineering of polymers. I have held the position of Head of the Laboratory of Advanced Processing Methods for Polymers and Nanomaterials (LMAPPN) L1M1 since 2016, concurrently serving as the Head of the Department of Bioresources and Polymer Science since the same year. In 2024, I was appointed as a Senate member of Politehnica University. Additionally, I have been serving as the Scientific Director of the Advanced Polymer Materials Group since 2021. My research portfolio comprises 90 ISI quoted papers, along with authored books covering various aspects of polymeric materials, biomaterials, solar cells, polymer processing, and additives for polymer processing.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7522-467X https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=U2Jms5gAAAAJ&hl=en