Dr. Ernesta Malinauskyte earned her PhD in Chemical Engineering from Kaunas University of Technology (Lithuania). With nine years of experience in hair science, she currently serves as Hair Research Director at TRI Princeton, leading a team exploring how hair chemistry shapes mechanical properties and fiber interactions with treatments and environmental factors. Her team also develops innovative methods for claims substantiation and expands research into analytical sciences, textiles, and make-up and nail care.

Ernesta actively contributes to the research community through publications and presentations across academia, industry, and hairdresser networks. She also serves on the editorial board of International Journal of Cosmetic Science.