FinnCERES

Job Alert: We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher in surface chemistry of lignocellulosics! Are you interested in joining our great team? Check the ad and apply now: https://lnkd.in/ejAbrReM

Meet Isaac Yair Miranda Valdez: Innovating Materials with #MachineLearning and Soft Matter Science Isaac Miranda Valdez, a doctoral researcher at Aalto University, is advancing sustainable material development by integrating experimental research, #computational modeling, and open-source tools. His focus is on bio-based materials like #cellulose and #lignin, which he optimizes using machine learning techniques such as Bayesian optimization. This approach allows Isaac to tackle challenges where material properties are dependent on multiple parameters - such as processing parameters, and material properties - too complex for humans to analyze manually. Machine learning identifies relationships between these variables and material properties, guiding experiments toward optimal results. This process not only accelerates material discovery but also significantly reduces trial-and-error lab, saving both time and resources. Isaac’s work enables the creation of high-performance alternatives to #plastics for applications like #packaging, #construction, and #acoustic insulation, directly supporting global sustainability goals. Isaac’s research also delves into the physics and #rheology of #viscoelastic materials, particularly cellulose-based #hydrogels. He studies how these hydrogels deform under stress to understand their microscopic structures, which is critical for applications in medical scaffolds, energy storage devices, and food industry. To support the scientific community, Isaac is developing an open-source Python tool that simplifies the modeling and analysis of these complex material behaviors. This tool eliminates the need for extensive programming knowledge, making it easier for researchers to analyze and model experimental data efficiently. 👇 Read more in some of his publications: 👇 💡 Accelerated design of solid bio-based foams for plastics substitutes https://lnkd.in/d3biXDvS 💡 Bio-Based Foams to Function as Future Plastic Substitutes by Biomimicry: Inducing Hydrophobicity with Lignin https://lnkd.in/dMBtA2jR 💡 A simple approach to produce hydrophobic biobased coatings using methylcellulose and organosolv ligninhttps://lnkd.in/dJ3jtT7u 💡 Fractional rheology of colloidal hydrogels with cellulose nanofibers https://lnkd.in/dnDa3pQg 💡 Viscoelastic phenomena in methylcellulose aqueous systems: Application of fractional calculushttps://lnkd.in/dXDbVD8p 💡 Cellulose foams as scalable templates for phase change materials https://lnkd.in/dTms5pqN 💫 FinnCERES is a Research Council of Finland | Suomen Akatemia Flagship Programme, jointly formed by Aalto University  and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland in the area of materials #bioeconomy. #FinnishFlagships #research #science

Job Alert! Are you passionate about biorefining, plant resources, pulping and technology? Are you looking for a possibility to have an impact on the development of biomass refining concepts? If so, join us at Bio2: https://lnkd.in/diNyyh_5 https://lnkd.in/djRqDQV8

Follow the SUPER Co-Innovation Project on LinkedIn for updates on the exciting research in the project. SUPER aims to transform the latest scientific breakthroughs of FinnCERES into a competitive edge for the Finnish industry by: 1️⃣ Boosting the performance of recycled fibres 2️⃣ Tailoring pulp fibres for innovative bio-based products 3️⃣ Developing cellulose-based porous materials for water purification and composite applications 4️⃣ Enhancing the durability and moisture resistance of textile fibres and fabrics 💡 #Sustainability #BiobasedInnovation #SUPERproject #FutureMaterials #CircularEconomy #Bioeconomy

Doctoral researcher Aleksi Zitting has investigated the nanostructure of #wood cell walls and their water interactions using X-ray and #neutronscattering, and dynamic vapor sorption. Complementing Aleksi's work, Antti Paajanen at VTT has developed #molecularmodels of the investigated structures. The combination of scattering and modeling has led to new understanding of the swelling of #cellulose microfibril bundles in response to moisture uptake in wood. Another intriguing finding is how drying leads to reversible changes in the crystalline structure of the #microfibrils. Aleksi has also examined the role of #lignin in wood-water interactions, concluding that while the removal of lignin introduces nanoscale pores within the cell wall structure, it does not fundamentally change the moisture response of the microfibril network. In addition to X-ray scattering, Aleksi has studied wood using neutron scattering methods at the D11 beamline at ILL - Institut Laue Langevin, France. Aleksi's research is crucial for understanding the mechanisms underlying wood-water interactions, which play a significant role in most wood-based applications. Aleksis doctoral thesis work has been funded by FinnCERES 👉 Read his latest publication: https://lnkd.in/dmBFKDf3

Today, we had the pleasure of hosting Sirpa Välimaa, Head of Business Segment Pulp, Paper, and Board Industry, and Jukka Rantanen, Business Development Manager from Sulzer Pumps Finland, at our monthly FinnCERES Flagship meeting. Sirpa shared valuable insights on the challenges encountered by the bio-based industries in today's operational environment, as well as tips on transitioning from laboratory scale work to industrial application. Thank you for sharing your insights!

📢 Doctoral Researcher Position in Hydrophobic Modification of Bio-Based Surfaces. The position is under the #CIMANET Doctoral Education Network program and within the vibrant LIBER Centre of Excellence and FinnCERES Flagship communities. The call is open until 24 October 2024. The starting date of the position is 1st January 2025 at the latest. The research will be conducted at Aalto University, Department of Applied Physics, in the Soft Matter and Wetting group, under the supervision of Prof. Robin Ras. This project deals with chemical modification or micro/nanostructuring of lignocellulosic materials e.g. paperboard to develop durable coatings that are water-repellent, dirt-repellent, and anti-fogging. https://lnkd.in/du2qRBky

🔬 Harnessing the Power of #Enzymes: Unlocking #Biomass Potential in the Entity Project at VTT and Aalto University The FinnCERES funded Entity project is studying the covalent cross-links between #lignin and #hemicelluloses in lignin-carbohydrate complexes, so called LCCs. The goal is to uncover the secret of how #nature is able to blend 💦 water-repellent and water-attracting components to generate remarkable properties in 🌿 natural materials. By leveraging enzymes—nature’s own catalysts—the Entity team is able to unlock the value hidden in untapped biomass. This could bridge the gap between #hydrophobic and #hydrophilic surfaces, offering new possibilities for coatings and composites. Advances in molecular modeling and #bioengineering are helping the team predict and refine processes, creating #sustainable materials that offer #antimicrobial, #antioxidant, and even #antiradiation properties. Read more about the work done by Kaisa Marjamaa, Emma Master and Maria Sammalkorpi 👉 here: https://lnkd.in/dEQ4qwSq #MaterialsScience #FinnCERES #LigninCarbohydrateComplexes #Sustainability #Innovation #Biotech #Molecularmodeling

Curious to see in real life #Blackwood - the record breaking #superblack solid wood material? Created by the FinnCERES team Bruno D. Mattos, Bin Zhao from Aalto University and Alexey Khakalo from VTT - this unique material is now possible to experience until Oct 3rd at #CoolerPlanet exhibition in the new📍#Marsio building in Otaniemi. Read more about the exhibition at: https://lnkd.in/dVQRQj6j #FinnCERES #CoolerPlanet #Bioeconomy #WoodInnovation #Sustainability #FutureTech #Exhibition #Otaniemi #Research Research Council of Finland | Suomen Akatemia Flagship Programme

We are recruiting 👉 Several #Doctoral positions open 🇫🇮 Welcome to Finland 👉 The Circular Materials #Bioeconomy Network (CIMANET) was funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture with 17 M€, offering a 67 doctoral researcher positions across nine Finnish universities. CIMANET is coordinated by Aalto University and the research lines are supported by the strong foundation built in the FinnCERES Flagship. We are now hiring the first students to join our network. ✅ Read more and apply: https://lnkd.in/d_2Ka2_C