Prof. ahmed Masmoudi has obtained his Master degree in Molecular and cellular Biology, University Louis Pasteur of Strasbourg France in June 1985. Following in 1988, he obtained his PhD degree in Molecular and cellular Biology. His main researches were performed in the Laboratory Professor Paul Mandel in CNRS Strasbourg. He was recruited as Assistant in 1989 and then Maître Assistant in1992 in Medical school Monastir Tunisia. He obtained his “Doctorat d’état” in 1993. In 1997 he was promoted Professor in biochemistry and molecular biology in the sciences faculty of Monastir Tunisia. In 2003 his was promoted as full professor in the institute biotechnology university of Monastir. In September 2012, he was muted to the Higher Institute for Biotechnology; University of Manouba; BiotechPole Sidi Thabet, 2020, Sidi Thabet, Ariana, Tunisia. The current research activities of Prof. A.S. Masmoudi focus on several aspects of Molecular biology, this includes (i) post translational modification of proteins such as poly ADP ribosylation and phosphorylation of proteins (ii) Purification and characterization of protein Kinase C in the nucleus (iii) Many aspect of dystrophin and protein associated dystophin.in Tunisian and French childhood. Finally some aspect of polymorphism of lipids associated proteins implicated in diabetes. Since 2004 the main topic research was focused on biotechnological aspects.
Ameur Cherif
Prof. Ameur CHERIF graduated in Natural Sciences at the Faculty of Sciences of Tunis (FST), University of Tunis El Manar in June 1995. Following his Master degree in Genetics and Molecular Biology in 1997, he obtained in 2001, his PhD degree in Microbiology. He was recruited as Assistant in 2001 and then Maître Assistant. He obtained his “Habilitation Universitaire, HDR” in 2007 and passed as Associate Professor in Microbiology at the Higher Institute for Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet (ISBST, University of Manouba) where he was elected twice as Director of the Institute (2010-2014). He is the head of a research laboratory “Biotechnology and Bio-Geo Resources valorization” at the ISBST. In December 2012, he was promoted as full professor in the ISBST. In 2017 he held the position of Vice President of University of Manouba (2017-2024) and in July 2024 he was elected President of the University of Manouba. The current research activities of Prof. CHERIF focuses on several aspects of Molecular Microbial Ecology and Biotechnology; this includes (i) Phylogeny and ecology of extremophilic microbes, particularly from deserts, marine sediments and saline systems (Chott and Sebkha); (ii) Microbial ecology of symbionts, commensal and pathogen microbiota in different hosts, and development of symbiotic biological control approach (arthropods); and (iii) biotechnological applications of active biomolecules such as bacteriocins, antibiotics, esterase, several enzymes and biosurfactants, and microbial resources management for plant growth promotion and bioremediation. Prof. CHERIF represented Tunisia in European Cost Action FA 0701, partner member in several EU FP7, Tempus, Erasmus, H2020, PRIMA and bilateral projects, and serves on various review and editorial committees. In his research career, Prof. Cherif has published over 170 peer reviewed articles and several book chapters.
Ahmed Slehedine Masmoudi
Habib Chouchane is currently working at Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet as professor in molecular and cellular biology, University of Manouba. His main research activities focus on several aspects of Microbial Biotechnology; this includes i) biotechnological applications of microbial active molecules such as biopolymers, biosurfactants and extremozymes with valuable applications in bioremediation and health, and ii) microbial electrochemical systems with potential energy coupled to wastewater treatment. Dr. Chouchane has published more than 50 peer reviewed papers.
Mouna Mahjoubi
Mouna MAHJOUBI is a postdoctoral researcher at the Laboratory of Biotechnology and Bio-Geo Resources Valorization (LR11ES31), Higher Institute for Biotechnology, University of Manouba, Tunisia. She obtained her PhD in Biotechnological Sciences from the Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte (FSB), University of Carthage, Tunisia, in 2018. Her current research activities focus on several aspects of Molecular Microbial Ecology and Biotechnology, particularly i) the characterization of microbial community dynamics and the bioremediation potential of hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria in marine polluted ecosystems through genomic and analytical analysis and ii) the ecology of extremophilic microorganisms. Dr. Mahjoubi has published 30 peer reviewed papers with an h-index of 15.
Olfa Bousselmi
Olfa Bousselmi, graduated with Master’s degree in Biotechnology and Industrial development of health products from the Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet (Tunisia). Olfa holds several certificates in entrepreneurship and project management and is co-inventor of two patents. Since 8 years Olfa has been project manager and member of the research laboratory « Biotechnology Research and Valorization of Bio-Geo Resources », at the Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet – University of Manouba (UMA). Since entering the professional world, she has been interested in promoting the results of its research, particularly in terms of extracting active biomolecules from food waste, microalgae and other natural materials. This has earned him several national awards in the field of entrepreneurship.
Rania Ouertani
Rania OUERTANI is a postdoctoral researcher at the laboratory of Biotechnology and Bio-Geo Resources Valorization (LR11ES31), Higher Institute for Biotechnology, University of Manouba, Tunisia. She obtained her PhD in Biological Sciences from the Faculty of Sciences of Tunis (FST), the University of Tunis El-Manar in 2022. Her research focuses on the microbial diversity in industrial environment and bioprocessing, Extremozymes and their industrial and biotechnological applications and bioremediation of industrial wastewaters.
Yasmine Souissi
Holding an Engineering degree in Applied Sciences and Technologies and a master’s degree in sciences, Technologies and Health, Dr. Yasmine Souissi obtained her PhD in Chemistry in the field of Environmental Sciences from the Ecole Polytechnique in France. Her research and teaching interests are at the intersection of Environmental Engineering, Biological Sciences and Analytical Chemistry with a focus on sustainable and eco-friendly approaches and practices. Scientific and technical activities are in the scope of environmental biotechnology, applied microbiology, environmental pollutants analysis, monitoring and characterization, environmental risk assessment, ecotoxicology and toxicology, water and wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse technologies, biotechnological resources valorization as well as sustainable development. Dr. Souissi published over 36 articles with impact factors in reputed journals (494 citations, h-index 15, Scopus, August 2024). She is Coordinator, Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator in several international projects. Also collaborating extensively in scientific committees, advisory panels and consulting work from academic, research and innovation perspective with the expertise in bridging the gap between Research and Academia and the Industries.
Rim Driouich Chaouachi
For Rim DRIOUICH CHAOUACHI, laureate of Japanese Monbusho scholarship 1999, life’s challenges have been surmounted through a combination of her passion for scientific research, solving problems, and resourcefulness, along with leadership focused on working with teams to achieve goals.
Beginning her carrier as an analytical chemistry engineer, Rim’s carrier has advanced from her initial role as quality assurance and pharmaceutical products control to culminate a series of expert roles for developing processes, standards guidelines and green transformation. Thereafter, she started her carrier as a scientific researcher and she moved to Japan where she obtained her Ph.D degree at Okayama University on 2003. She was also awarded the Research Fund, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University (2002).
She is actually an Associate Professor and co-founder of the research laboratory of Biotechnology & Valorization of Bio-Geo Ressources (LR11ES31)-Higher Institute of Biotechnology of SidiThabet (ISBST- University of Manouba). She has been teaching chemistry at ISBST since 2004. Since that time, through a series of executive roles, such as executive scientific board, chair of the Quality Commission and Head of the Studies and the Internships Office, Rim has been the helm of visionary strategies, acquisitions, integrations pivotal initiatives in ISBST, as well as the development of its various specific curricula programmes.
She is actually elected Director of the Higher Institute of Biotechnology of SidiThabet since 2020, where she is making significant contribution to the Institute’s outreach, fundraising for collaborative projects and ranking. She has published in prestigious conferences and leading journals such as Elsevier, Wiley and Spinger as well as patent registration. In 2016, she and her research team were awarded the GIST-Net/VENTUREWELL ‘Global Innovation through Science and Technology’ prize for their project on the extraction of biomolecules and recovery of agri-food waste. Its research focuses on the development of new molecular entities with biological and/or therapeutic activities based on structure-activity relationships.
