BiCMat members
BiCMat Group Leader Prof. Orlando Rojas
Professor, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto School of Chemical Engineering
Affiliated Professor, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto School of Science
Co-PI Centre of Excellence in "Molecular Engineering of Bio-synthetic Hybrid Materials", Aalto University Chair of the Materials Platform
2018 Anselme Payen Award, one of the highest recognition in the area of cellulose and renewable materials.
Elected Foreign Member of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters, 2017
Elected with the distinction of Fellow of the American Chemical Society, July 2013.
ERC Advanced Grant recipient
Tappi Nanotechnology Division Award, 2015
Imerys FiberLean Prize, 2015
Elected Chair of Aalto’s Materials Platform (2017-)
CONTACT: Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering and
PO Box 16300, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
Visiting address: Vuorimiehentie 1 (Office 211), Espoo
Tel: +358 50 512 4227, Email: orlando.rojas [at] aalto [dot] fi, Skype: ojrojas2006
Webs in Aalto and external / ResearcherID / Google Scholar / ORCID
2018 Group Members
2018 Postdoctoral fellows
Blaise Tardy, surfactants and supracolloids
Maryam Borghei, Hybrid materials, carbon nanomaterials
Miettunen Kati, Academy Fellow, Energy harvesting.
Bai Long, Biocolloid-stabilized emulsions, food emulsions
Huan Siqi, 3D printing, composites
Guillermo Reyes Torres, Ionic liquids and bio-welding (until July 2018)
Sanna Hokkanen, Lipid chemistry
Bruno Mattos, Supracolloids, controlled release
Nugroho Robertus, Biocolloidal powders
Johanna Majoinen, Supracolloids and surface functionalization
Jukka Hassinen, Project Manager Materials Platform Flagship
2018 PhD Students
Alvaro Gonzalez Vogel, Electrodialysis in fiber lines
Annamari Jukkola, Separation of biocolloids, MFGM
Annika Ketola, Solid-stabilized foams
Janika Lehtonen, Bacterial cellulose and biofabrication
Karoliina Helanto, Barrier solutions with biocolloids
Ling Wang, Carbonized lignin filaments
Luiz Greca Garcia, Lignin for advanced applications
Meri Lundahl, Rheology and wet-spining of nanocelluloses
Rubina Ajdary, Superabsorbency and 3D printing
Klockars Konrad, structural color with CNC
Tero Kämäräinen, Analytical biocolloid characterization
Wenchao Xiang, Particle co-stabilized foams
Solin Katariina, smart nanocellulose films
Ya Zhu, Preparation and characterization of stimuli-responsive cellulose foams
Anurodh Tripathi (defended July 2018), Cellulose esters aerogels and complex structures (co-advisor Prof. S. Khan, Chemical & Biomolecular Eng., NCSU, USA)
Emily Facchine, rheology of nanocellulose suspensions (co-advisor Prof. S. Khan, Chemical & Biomolecular Eng., NCSU, USA)
Soo Ah Jin , nanocellulose coatings (co-advisor Profs. R. Spontak and S. Khan, Chemical & Biomolecular Eng., NCSU, USA)
Prajesh Adhikari (defended Jan 2018), meltblown nonwovens for filtration (co-advisor Prof. S. Khan, Chemical & Biomolecular Eng., NCSU, USA)
Joe Lavoie (defended Feb. 2018), electret phenomena (co-advisor Prof. S. Khan and Kim, Chemical & Biomolecular Eng., NCSU, USA)
2018 Master and Summer students
Bioproducts and Biosystems, Chem. Eng, Aalto University, Finland:
Mikko Laine, MS student, Biofabrication (co-advised with Prof. A. Frey)
Riikka Virtanen (defended April 2018), MS student, biotechnology of alginates (co-advised with Prof. A. Frey)
Ishfaq Amal, MS student, Foam phenomena
Noora Yau, ART Color & Material Design, Summer Researcher (advisor: Prof. J. Beidler)
Mahdi Rafiee, Piezo materials, Summer Researcher
Michael Rale, Fat colloids, Summer Researcher
Olli-Pekka Lehtinen, Licentiate thesis
2018 Visiting Scholars
Prof. Michael Tam (Sabbatical Visiting Professor), University of Waterloo, Canada
Gabriela L. Berto, 1 y, Universidade de São Paulo. High shear, high solids deconstruction of biomass.
Carlos Eduardo Silveira da Silva, 1 y, Ciências Ambientais e Florestais, Brazil. Green biorefinery of industrial waste
Nabila Febriani, 5 mo, Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Japan. Nanocellulose in polyolefin spinning
Antonio Maria Borrero Lopez, 3 mo (Erasmus), Universidad de Huelva, Spain. Lignins for nanoparticles, oleogels and biofilms
Carmen Hervés, 2 mo, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia, Spain. Nanocellulose hybrids for energy applications
Yang Meng, 1 y, Beijing Forestry University. Phase changing materials from lignocellulose
Xiao Zhang, 2 y, College of Material Science and Engineering, NFU, Design functionalized lignin supramolecular microparticles
Niu Xun, 6 mo, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University. Modification and application of nanocellulose
Prof. Haiming Li, Dalian Polytechnic University, Nanocellulose in 3D printing, 1 year
Dr. Rafael Grande, Universidade de São Paulo - USP Departamento de Engenharia de Materiais, Brazil, 1 year
Joice Kaschuk (finished Feb 2018), Ph.D. student, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil, Solar cells, 6 months
Liang Liu, Ph.D. student (finished Feb 2018), Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Biotechnology, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China, chitin nanofibers, 1 year
Okada Keisuke (finished May 2018), Visiting Researcher from Arakawa Chemical, Osaka, nanocellulose in Papermaking, Japan, 2 years
Imani Monireh, Ph.D. student, College of Wood and Paper Engineering, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Iran, Printing electronics, 1 year
Alumni (PhD)
Prajesh Adhikari – Ph.D., Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NCSU: Developing New Multicomponent Systems: From Coatings, Gels to Nanofiller Composites, January 2018.
Ahsan Uddin– Ph.D., Chem. Eng, Aalto University: Nanocellulose for control synthesis of nanoparticles and antimicrobial applications, 2018
Miika Nikinmaa – Ph.D., College of Textile, Fiber and Polymer Science, NCSU: Wet-lay of Synthetic Fibers with Complex Fluids, 2017.
Alexey Khalalo – Ph.D., Bioproducts and Biosystems, Chem. Eng, Aalto University: Advanced structures and compositions for 3d forming of cellulosic fibers, 2017.
Majia Vuoriluoto – Ph.D., Bioproducts and Biosystems, Chem. Eng, Aalto University: Engineering Nanocellulose Biointerfaces Toward Bioactivity and Strength, 2017
Jiaqi Guo – Ph.D., Bioproducts and Biosystems, Chem. Eng, Aalto University: Covalent modification of nanocellulose towards advanced functional materials, 2017.
Fatima Vargas Gonzalez, – Ph.D. Química Inorgánica e Ingeniería Química, Universidad de Cordoba, Spain: Biorrefinería de residuos de la industria agroalimentaria: Valorización de paja de cereals, 2017.
Parham Tayeb – Ph.D. Forest Biomaterials, NCSU: Controlling the Hydrophobic Interactions in Papermaking Colloidal Systems by Soy Proteins and Lipoxygenases, 2016.
Consuelo Fritz – Ph.D. Forest Biomaterials, NCSU: Lignocellulosic Materials and their Interactions with Proteins and Surface Active Molecules, 2016.
Xioamin Lu – Ph.D. Forest Biomaterials, NCSU: Nanocellulose as additive and reinforcing agent in melt spinning of polyethylene and polypropylene, 2016.
Shuai Li – Ph.D. Forest Biomaterials, NCSU: Valorization of lignins for use in multi-phase systems, 2015.
Markus Korhonen– Ph.D. Forest Products Technology, Aalto University: Flocculation of cellulosic materials, polyelectrolyte complexes and mineral particles (advisor), 2015.
Carlos Carrillo (now with Invista) – Ph.D. Forest Biomaterials, NCSU: Application of Complex Fluids in Lignocellulose Processing, 2014
Arboleda, Julio (now with Colorquimica) – Ph.D. Forest Biomaterials, NCSU: Chemical and Physical Characteristics of Soy Proteins for New Industrial Applications, 2014.
Carlos Salas (now with Georgia Pacific) – Ph.D. Forest Biomaterials, NCSU: Soy-based Polymers for Surface Modification and Interactions with Lignocellulosic Materials, 2014
Laura Taajamaa– Ph.D. Forest Products Technology, Aalto University, Supported ultrathin films and non-woven fibre mats from polysaccharide containing bicomponent polymer blends (advisor), 2014.
Abdelrahman Abdelgawad (now with NCSU) – Ph.D. Fiber & Polymer Science, NCSU: Antimicrobial Wound Dressing Nanofiber Mats from Multicomponent (chitosan/silver-NPs/polyvinyl alcohol) Systems, 2013.
Nafisa Islam (now with Bangladesh University of Engineering) – Ph.D. Chemical & Biomelecular Engineering, NCSU: Surface plasmon resonance studies of the specific interactions of hexamer peptide ligands with human immunoglobulin G, 2013.
Junyeong Park (now with NCSU) – Ph.D. Forest Biomaterials, NCSU: Structural and Chemical Characterization of Thermally-Treated Woody Biomass, 2013.
Kiran Goli (now with Intel) – Ph.D. Materials Science & Engineering, NCSU: Functional Coatings Based on Denaturation and Adsorption of Proteins, 2012.
Xiaomeng Liu (now with Syngenta) – Ph.D. Forest Biomaterials, NCSU: Partitioning of Amphiphilic and Charged Molecules on Polymeric Surfaces by Physisorption, 2011.
Ingrid Hoeger (now with Kimberly Clark Corporation) – Ph.D. Forest Biomaterials, NCSU: Ultrathin films of cellulose and lignin for studies on interfacial phenomena, 2011.
Justin Zoppe (now with Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) – Ph.D. Forest Biomaterials, NCSU: Surface Modification of Nanocellulose Substrates, 2011.
Maria Soledad Peresin (now with Auburn University, USA) – Ph.D. Forest Biomaterials, NCSU: Novel Lignocellulosic Composites, 2011.
Mir Quddus (now with Whirpool) –Ph.D. Fiber & Polymer Science, NCSU: A systematic study of fatty acids interacting with crystalline cellulose surfaces via molecular dynamics simulations, 2011.
Spence, Kelley (now with EPA) – Ph.D. Forest Biomaterials, NCSU: Processing and Properties of Microfibrillated Cellulose, 2010.
Gang Hu (now with Georgia Tech) – Ph.D. Forest Biomaterials, NCSU: Adsorption and activity of cellulase enzymes on various cellulose substrates, 2009.
Hongyi Liu (now with Cornell University) – Ph.D. Fiber & Polymer Science, NCSU: Fiber Lubrication: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study, 2009.
Junlong Song (now with Nanjing Forestry University, China) – Ph.D. Forest Biomaterials, NCSU: Adsorption of Amphoteric and Nonionic Polymers on Organic Thin Films, 2008.
Alumni (M.Sc)
Vilja Kauntola– M.S., Bioproducts and Biosystems, Chem. Eng, Aalto University: oxidative stability of emulsions with pseudo cereal protein, 2016.
Ben Jeuck (current) – M.S. Forest Biomaterials, NCSU
Rubina Ajdary– M.S., Bioproducts and Biosystems, Chem. Eng, Aalto University: Fiber-based Superabsorbents, 2017.
Lauri Matikainen– M.S., Bioproducts and Biosystems, Chem. Eng, Aalto University: Nanocellulose as barrier coating deposited using a laboratory rod coater, 2017.
Laocharoen Nikorn– M.S., Aalto Univ., Synthesis of cellulose filament for recycled fiber reinforcement, 2016.
Xi Chen– M.S., Bioproducts and Biosystems, Chem. Eng, Aalto University: Paper-based plasmon-enhanced protein sensing by controlled nucleation of silver nanoparticles on cellulose, 2016.
Haishu Lin – M.S., Bioproducts and Biosystems, Chem. Eng, Aalto University: Cellulose-based conductive polymers, 2015.
Ling Wang – M.S., Bioproducts and Biosystems, Chem. Eng, Aalto University: Nanocellulose, Pectin and Lignin Biomimetic Composite Filaments by Wet Spinning, 2015.
Janika Lehtonen – M.S., Bioproducts and Biosystems, Chem. Eng, Aalto University: Filtration Properties of Bacterial Cellulose Membranes, 2015.
Wenchao Xiang – M.S., Bioproducts and Biosystems, Chem. Eng, Aalto University: Silver Nanoparticles Formation on Fibres and Po-tential for Optical Sensing, 2014.
Miika Nikinmaa– M.Sc., Nanocellulose/ polyester composite stabilized by inter-material reactions, Forest Products Technology, Aalto University, 2013.
Peter Jin – M.Sc. Forest Biomaterials, NCSU: The Use of Soy Protein as a Dry Strength Additive in Papermaking, 2012.
Ning Wu (now with RTP, Raleigh) – M.Sc. Forest Biomaterials, NCSU: Adsorption and Diffusion of Highly Charged Cationic Polyeletrolyte into Silica Gel Particles, 2009.
Marianelly Esquivel Alfaro, Efecto del tratamiento térmico de fibras kraft sobre los factores que determinan la resistencia mecánica en papeles de alto desempeño, Maestría en Ciencia de los Productos Forestales, Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico, August, 2008.
Chang Woo Jeong (now with Samsung, South Korea)– M.Sc. Forest Biomaterials, NCSU: Interfacial Phenomena on Polymeric Thin Films, 2006.
Katarina Tornqvist – M.Sc. Polymer and Fiber Science, KTH
Fermin Moncada – M.Sc. Pulp and Paper Eng., ULA
Bethsy Lezema – M.Sc. Pulp and Paper Eng. , ULA
Ricardo Martin (now with AVTCP) – M.Sc. Pulp and Paper Eng., ULA
Manuel Costero – M.Sc. Pulp and Paper Eng., ULA
Edgardo Araque (now with Universidad Nacional Experimental de Guayana)– M.Sc. Pulp and Paper Eng., ULA
Amparo Andres– M.Sc. Pulp and Paper Eng. , ULA
Luis Gómez – M.Sc. Pulp and Paper Eng. , ULA
Antonio Aguilera (now with Universidad de Los Andes) – M.Sc. Pulp and Paper Eng. , ULA
Franklin Salazar (now with Universidad de Los Andes) – M.Sc. Chemical Engineering, ULA
Prof. Guihua Yang, Qilu University, China, Nanocomposites, 3 months.
Dr. Marco Beaumont, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria, Cellulsoe Nanoparticles, 2 months
Dr. Oriol Cusola, UPC Spain, Lignin Nanoparticle Coatings, 6 monhs
Dr. Kyujeong, Sim, Seoul National University, Capacitive separation, 6 months
Bruno Mattos, Ph.D. Student, Materials Science and Engineering, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil, Suracolloids, 6 months.
Liang Liu, Ph.D. student, Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Biotechnology, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China, chitin nanofibers, 1 year
Diego Gómez-Maldonado, M.S. student, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana – Cuajimalpa, México, Quartz microgravimetry, 2 months
Prof. Vaidyanathan (Ravi) Subramanian, University of Nevada-Reno, 2016
Prof. Shingo Yokota, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Japan
Prof. Junyong (J.Y.) Zhu, US Forest Service R&D and Uiversity of Wisconsin, Madison, 2016
Prof. Cristina Pena, Escuela de Ingeniería de Guipúzcoa, Spain
Prof. Hironori Izawa, Tottori Univ, Japan, 2014
Prof. William Gacitua, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Chile, 2015
Prof. Adriana Restrepo, Universidad Pontifica Bolivariana, Colombia (2013, 2014)
Prof. Cristina Castro, Universidad Pontifica Bolivariana, Colombia (2012)
Prof. Junlong Song, Naijing University, 2014
Prof. Mariko Ago, Tokushima Bunri University, Japan, 2011, 2012, 2014
Prof. Levente Csoka, West Hungary University, Jan-July 2010
Prof. Juan Pereira: July 16, 2009 - September 15, 2009
Prof. Jinhua Yan, Guangdong Industry College, China, 2013-2014
Prof. Huiyu Bai, Jiangnan University, China, 2013-2014
Prof. Henry Bock, Harriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, 2013
Prof. Fredy Ysambert, Univ. del Zulia, Venezuela,
Prof. Yalitza Figueroa, Univ. de Carabobo, 2005
Prof. Ana Forgiarini, Universidad de Los Andes, Venezuela.
Dr. Marco Beaumont, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria, 2017
Dr. Kyujeong Sim, Seoul National University, 2016
Dr. Mehrez Elsayed Elsayed El-Naggar, National Research Centre, Egypt.
Dr. Wael Eisa, National Research Centre, Egypt.
Dr. Jose Luis Chiara, Fulbright Scholar, Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
Dr. Young-Jun Lee, Visiting Scholar, Hansol, Korea (with Dr. Pawlak)
Dr. Takashi Yamaguchi, Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd, Japan
Dr. Maria Vallejos, Fulbright scholar, October 01, 2009 to December/31/2009
Dr. Jose Maria Carbajo, Univ. Complutense de Madrid.
Ph.D. Student Joice Jaqueline Kaschuk, Solar cells, 2017
Ph.D. Student Liang Liu, Nanjing Forestry University, 2017 (one year)
Ph.D. Student Bruno Mattos, Materials Science and Engineering, Universidade Federal do Paraná, UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil (six months, 2017)
Ph.D. Student Javier Abraham Hernández Díaz, Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico, 2016.
Ph.D. Student Isabel Carrillo, Universidad de Concepcion, Chile, 2016
Ph.D. Student Siqi Huan, September 2016 (Northeast Forestry University, Harbin)
M.S. Diego Gómez Maldonado, Maestría del Posgrado de Ciencias Naturales e Ingeniería de la Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Cuajimalpa, Mexico, 2017.
M.S. Monir Imani, Starting in Aug six months, printing, 2017
M.S. Keisuke Okada, two years, 2017
Ph.D. student Patricia E. Oliveira Martins, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Chile, 2015
Ph.D. student Dimitrios Tsalagkas, West Hungary University, 2015
Ph.D. student Antonio Pereira, CSIC, Spain, 2014.
Ph.D. student Juliana Da Silva, Universidad Federal de Viscosa, Brasil, 2014
Ph.D. student Amanda Araujo, University of Sao Paulo, Brasil, 2014
Ph.D. student Alexey Khakalo, Aalto University, 2014
Ph.D. student De-zhan Ye, Sichuan University, China, 2013
Ph.D. student Tiina Nypelo, Aalto University, Finland , 2012
Ph.D. student Rosana Rojas-Reyna, Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden
Ph.D. student Oriol Cusola, ETSEIAT – UPC, Terrassa Spain, 2012
Ph.D. student Luis Morales, University of Helsinki, July 2012-present
Ph.D. student Laura Taajamaa, Aalto University, 2010
Ph.D. student Karoliina Junka, Aalto University, 2013
Ph.D. student Juana Suseth, Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico.
Ph.D. student Jordi Garcia, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Spain. July-Dec, 2009
Ph.D. student João Vinícios Wirbitzki, Fulbright Scholar, UNICAMP, Brazil, 2011-2012
Ph.D. student Hannes Orelma, Aalto University, Finland, June 2010 – January 2011
Ph.D. student Fatima Vargas, Univ. Cordoba, Spain, 2013
Ph.D. student Elisabet Quintana, Universidad Politécnica de Terrassa, Spain, 2011
Ph.D. student Elisabet Quintana, Universidad Politécnica de Terrassa, Spain, 2015
Ph.D. student Cristina Castro, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Colombia, 2011
Ph.D. student Arja-Helena Vesterinen, Aalto University, Finland, May – Sept. 2010
Ph.D. student Angelica Grandon, University of Concepcion, Chile, 2012
Ph.D. student Ana Ferrer, Universidad de Cordoba, Spain, 2011
Ph.D. candidate Deusanilde J. Silva, Chemical Engineering, Polytechnic School-USP, Brazil
M.Sc. Luis G. Castillo, Universidad de Guadalajara
M.Sc. Catalina Alvarez: 02/01-07/31/2009
M.Sc. Belkis Sulbaran: 3/30 - 6/30/2009
M.S. Raquel Martin: August 12, 2009- December 2, 2009
M.S. Miika Nikinmaa, Aalto University, Finland, October 2013-April 2014