Antxon Santamaría earned his BS and MS in Physics from the University of Navarra and his PhD from the University of the Basque Country. He was a Research Associate at the University of Tennessee in 1982. Since 1992 he is Full Professor of Applied Physics at the University of the Basque Contry. Vice-dean of the Faculty of Chemistry of San Sebastián from 1987 to 1989 and Director of the Department of Polymer Science and Technology from 1989 to 2009. President of the Spanish Polymer Group (GEP) from 1997 to 2003 and President of the Spanish Rheology Group (GER) from 2006 to 2015. Evaluator of prospective agencies, like Spanish ANEP, French AERES, ANPC of Argentina and European Science Foundation.

His research is focussed on basic and applied rheology of polymers and complex systems, in particular gels, copolymers, blends and nanocomposites. Viscoelastic properties are analysed with a double purpose: Characterize materials, for instance molecular architecture of polymer systems, and solve practical problems linked to processing and elaboration of new materials. The liaison between rheological features and ultimate properties, such adhesion and conductivity, is also one of the priorities. So far, approximately 25% of his research has been financed by industrial companies.

He has published 6 books (2 as an Editor), published more than 150 articles in international journals, given more than 60 oral communications and 14 invited lectures. He has directed 22 Doctoral Thesis and registered 3 patents.

Isabel Sousa

Isabel Sousa, PhD in Food Science by University of Nottingham UK, is associate professor with habilitation at the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering from the Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA) of the Universidade de Lisboa. Is head of the Eco-novel Food and Feed group of the LEAF (Linking Landscape Environment Agriculture and Food) research center at the Portuguese foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). Member of the Coordination Board of the F3 Food Farming & Forest College from the ULisboa (from 2015). Actual President of the Association for the Development of ISA - ADISA. Former Vice-President of ISA (2007-2009). Member of the ISA School Board (2013-2017). Expert and pioneer in Portugal on Food Texture and Rheology research and teaching.

Coordinator of several national and European projects with SMEs. With more than 60 ISI publications and several book chapters in Applied Food Rheology and functional foods. Expert evaluator for the Eureka Eurostar; the Research Executive Agency of EU and the Danish Agency for Science Technology and Innovation. Founder member of the Portuguese Society of Rheology (1^st Meeting on Feb 1999 at ISA) and former President (2006-2009)

José Muñoz

José Muñoz received his Ph.D. in Chemical Sciences at the University of Seville. He is Senior Lecturer at the same university and is accredited as Full Professor of Chemical Engineering. He is PERSAN Company Chair of Detergency at the University of Seville and Head of the Applied Rheology and Technology of Colloids Research Group. He was Head of the Chemical Engineering Department of the University of Seville from 2001 to 2002, Treasurer of the Spanish Group of Rheology (GER) from 1993 to 2006 and Member of the GER Council from 2006 to 2015. He was co-chairman of the Eurorheo 2002-1 Conference and member of the Organising Committees of the 4^th European Rheology Conference (1994) and Ibereo-2008 Conference. His research interests focus on applied rheology studies of surfactant-based materials (micelles, liquid crystals, vesicles, detergents, softeners), food hydrocolloids (polysaccharides, gums) suspensions, emulsions and suspoemulsions. He has published more than 80 papers and presented more than 150 communications. He has supervised 9 Ph.D. Thesis and registered 1 patent. He is currently involved in transfer of technology and has supervised research projects and training courses on rheology for PERSAN, CEPSA, Reckitt-Benckiser, Tioxide Europe, AICIA, Abengoa and others.