Silvia Fanina holds a PhD in Chemical Sciences from the University of Naples Federico II (Italy), where her research focused on polysaccharides from marine bacteria, microalgae, and macroalgae and their potential as bioactive compounds. During her PhD, she gained experience in microbial and microalgal cultivation, biomass processing, extraction, purification, and analytical characterization. She further developed her interest in microalgal biotechnology and bioprocessing during a research stay at NOVA University Lisbon, where she worked with laboratory-scale bioreactors and different microalgal cultivation strategies to produce high-value biomolecules. Her international experience also includes participation in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) “Hidden No More”, focused on women in STEM and international professional exchange. Silvia joined GreenCoLab as a Biorefinery Specialist, where she contributes to the recovery and valorization of high-value compounds from algal biomass.