MMD team

Jaana Vapaavuori, D.Sc. (Applied physics), Assistant Professor in Functional Materials, MMD research group leader

Background: Prof. Vapaavuori received her PhD in Applied Physics in 2013 under supervision of Prof. Arri Priimägi and Prof. Matti Kaivola. During years 2014-2019, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher at multiple locations in Canada, the most important being the groups of Prof. Geraldine Bazuin and Prof. Christian Pellerin at University of Montreal, as well as groups of Prof. Emily Cranston and Prof. Jose Moran-Mirabal at McMaster University. During her postdoctoral career she was recipient of many highly-competitive fellowships, such as Excellent International Postdoctoral Fellow of Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et Technologies. 
Research area: Multifunctional materials with emphasis on sustainability and circular economy aspects. Prof. Vapaavuori’s research interests involve developing new designed materials for light-controllable nanostructures, liquid crystals, multifunctional porous materials, biomaterial-based light management layers for photovoltaics and sustainable material solutions for electrochemical devices. 
Accomplishments: She leads the Multifunctional Materials Design Group, established in 2019. She has received multiple recognitions, such as Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship (Canada), the Young Researcher of the Year 2020 award of Finnish Foundation of Technology Promotion, ERC Starting grant of European Research Council, and she is also the leader of a Nordic Network beyond e-Textiles.  ‬ 
Hobbies: Jaana enjoys both practicing and following performances of contemporary – especially improvisation-based – dance. She is also a passionate gardener as well as wild mushroom and plant collector 😊 
Contact information: [email protected]

Yazan Al Haj, M.Sc., Doctoral Candidate 

Background: M.Sc. Al Haj received his B.Sc. degree (2016) in Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering from the University of Sharjah (UOS), UAE. In 2019, he obtained his M.Sc. degree in the field of Energy Storage and Conversion Engineering from Chonbuk National University (CBNU), South Korea. 
Research area: M.Sc. Al Haj’s research interests focus on the synthesis and development of cellulose-based nanocomposites and their application in energy conversion, energy storage, and luminescence fields. Currently he is developing nanocellulose-based hydrogels/aerogels extracted from common biowaste for supercapacitors and batteries. In addition, he is working on the synthesis of transparent and luminescent nanocellulose-based films. 
Accomplishments: Google Scholar  ‬ 
Hobbies: traveling, playing and watching football, working out, and video games 
Contact information: [email protected] 

Fevzihan Basarir, Dr., Marie Curie Fellow (Senior Researcher)

Background: Dr. Basarir is working as Marie Curie Fellow in the ‘Multifunctional Materials Design’ research group. He is a materials chemist specialized in nanomaterials and their applications in electronic devices. After graduating from Chemical Engineering Department of Middle East Technical University, he obtained his MSc degree in polymer science and PhD degree in nanotechnology from Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology in South Korea. After obtaining his PhD degree, he joined Materials Institute of TUBITAK Marmara Research Center. During this period, he was involved in 11 national and international projects as project manager, work package leader or researcher. He is one of the founders of ‘Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Bioelectronics Center of Excellence’ which was supported by the Turkish Ministry of Development.
Dr. Basarir has experience of working in different R&D positions in textile, plastic, and chemical industry. Based on his R&D efforts, he has commercialized several key products. Dr. Basarir has published 3 patents, 28 SCI articles and 2 book chapters.
Research area: His current project is aiming to create a wearable sensor system that could be used for continuous monitoring of hypothermia in elderly people. Ageing makes an individual susceptible to hypothermia, as one’s body loses heat faster than it can be produced, and this may lead to a dangerously low body temperature. His solution would enable care for the elderly in private homes with the help of wearable sensors based on cellulose hydrogel and metallic nanowires, which measure ECG signal, skin temperature and muscle activities. The average age of the Europe’s population is growing year by year, constantly increasing the need for healthcare innovations in elderly care.  
Hobbies: reading, movies, swimming
Contact information: [email protected] 

Ligen Cha, M.Sc., Doctoral Candidate

Background: B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Environmental Engineering (China) 
Research area: M.Sc. Cha’s current research is related to wastewater treatment and resources recovery. 
Accomplishments:  
-Cha L, Wu Y, Fang P. Preparation of Fe crosslinked-oxidized-sodium-alginate modified electrode and its detection of lead [J]. Applied Chemical Industry (Chinese), 2018, 47(2):416   
-Wu Y, Cha L, Fan Y, et al. Activated Biochar Prepared by Pomelo Peel Using H3PO4 for the Adsorption of Hexavalent Chromium: Performance and Mechanism [J]. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 2017, 228(10):405. 
Hobbies: riding bike, reading   
Contact information: [email protected]

Linfan Cui, D.Sc., Postdoctoral Researcher

Background: Dr. Cui is now working for the EARMetal project in research groups of Prof. Mari Lundström and Prof. Jaana Vapaavuori. She received her PhD degree in Chemistry from Beijing Institute of Technology in China, under the supervision of Prof. Liangti Qu (visited Drexel University under the supervision of Prof. Yury Gogotsi), mainly focusing on the design/synthesis of multifunctional 2D and carbon nanomaterials for versatile applications. After obtaining the PhD degree, Dr. Cui started as a postdoc researcher in Prof. Harri Lipsanen’s group at Aalto University, working on 2D materials for optics and electronics.
Research area: multifunctional materials, 2D materials, carbon nanomaterials, energy storage and conversion, optoelectronics and photonics, electrochemistry, chemical vapor deposition 
Accomplishments: Google Scholar  
Hobbies: outdoor activities, exercise, cooking, building blocks, boarding and video games 
Contact information: [email protected]

Hamidreza Daghigh Shirazi, M.Sc., Doctoral Candidate

Background: M.Sc. Daghigh Shirazi started his PhD studies in the Multifunctional Materials Design (MMD) research group in September 2020. He obtained his B.Sc. degree in Metallurgy and Materials Engineering from the University of Tehran, which was followed by a M.Sc. degree with a major in Functional Materials from Aalto University. During his M.Sc. studies, Hamidreza had the privilege of working in the Advanced Functional Materials (AFM) group under the supervision of Prof. Simo-Pekka Hannula, gaining experience in a wide range of topics, from synthesis of semiconductor nanostructures for solar-cell applications to additive manufacturing, and doing his M.Sc. thesis in an industry-related project focusing on filter media at the request of Outotec Oyj. Currently, Hamidreza is conducting research on improving the efficiency and lifetime of solar cells and other optoeletronics by biopolymer-based light management layers, and in the meanwhile, he has supervised B.Sc. and M.Sc. theses of Aalto University students. 
Research area: https://research.aalto.fi/en/persons/hamidreza-daghigh-shirazi  
Accomplishments: M.Sc. Daghigh Shirazi was selected to receive FinnCERES Biomaterial economy funding for his doctoral research at Aalto CHEM (School of Chemical Engineering). He published his first PhD article in the esteemed journal of 'ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces' in March 2021. His publications and work outcomes can be found at: Google Scholar. 
Hobbies: playing musical instruments, volleyball, 3D-printing, comedy show 
Contact information: [email protected]   

Swarnalok De, D.Sc., Postdoctoral Researcher

Background: Dr. De obtained M.Sc. degree in Microbial Biotechnology from the Indian Institute of Technology (Kharagpur, India). He was selected to Erasmus Mundus BRAVE-Program (Plant Virology in the new era – Breeding for resistance) and did his PhD on plant virology as a student of the Doctoral Programme in Plant Sciences (DPPS) at the University of Helsinki in 2014-2019 (Plant-Virus Interactions group). The major focus of his doctoral research was to understand the molecular mechanisms behind different roles potyviral silencing suppressor HCPro plays during PVA infection cycle.   
In 2020 Dr. De received a one-year postdoctoral grant from The Ella and Georg Ehrnrooth Foundation and joined the ‘Multifunctional Materials Design’ research group to study material science aspects of potato virus A nanoparticles. 
Research area: Producing functional nano-structures with potato virus A particles via various self-assembly techniques (virus nanotechnology). 
Accomplishments: https://researchportal.helsinki.fi/en/persons/de-swarnalok/publications/ ; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9705-9946 
Hobbies: traveling, music, trying different foods, watching movies etc. 
Contact information: [email protected]  

Yujiao Dong, M.Sc., Doctoral Candidate

Background: MSc degree (Major in Functional Materials); MSc thesis focused on the microcrystalline cellulose applied in controlled drug delivery.
Research area: Functional Materials; Photo-active materials; Aerogel materials
Accomplishments: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yujiao-Dong
Contact information: [email protected]; LinkedIn

Reima Herrala, M.Sc., Doctoral Candidate

Background: M.Sc. Herrala obtained his Master’s degree in Functional Materials at Aalto University. Areas that he is most familiar with are electrochemistry and microfabrication. 
Research area: M.Sc. Herrala’s current research project is EARMetal which combines hydrometallurgy and functional surfaces. The aim is to use noble metals directly from industrial waste streams to functionalize surfaces.  
Hobbies: cooking 
Contact information: [email protected] 

Matteo Iannacchero, M.Sc., Doctoral Candidate 

Background: M.Sc. Iannacchero completed his Master’s Degree in Industrial Chemistry at the University of Milan (Italy) in 2021. His thesis about biopolymers and materials such as nanocellulose, gelatin and collagen, was carried out in collaboration with Uppsala University (Sweden) thanks to the Erasmus programme. 
Research area: M.Sc. Iannacchero’s current project AIyarn combines lab experiments and machine learning techniques to improve final properties of functional fibers for e-textiles by optimizing their starting conditions. 
Hobbies: trekking, psychology books, animes, board games, videogames and role-playing games. 
Contact information: [email protected]  

Joice Jaqueline Kaschuk, D.Sc., Postdoctoral Researcher

Background and research area: Dr. Kaschuk (Physical-Chemistry, University of São Paulo-São Carlos, Brazil) has an interest in the production of biobased materials and products from renewable sources such as wood and biomass. Her expertise goes around lignocellulosic treatments and conversion by acid, basic and enzymatic process, followed by physical-chemistry characterization of its products. She has been working at Aalto University (Postdoctoral Researcher, Espoo, Finland) with functionalized nanocellulose materials for advanced optical properties to improve the performance of optoelectronics. In this case, the functionalization is provided by nanoparticles from lignin and carbon dots which can absorb or/and convert UV-light. Currently, she is a visitor researcher at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada).
Accomplishments: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Joice-Kaschuk
Hobbies: cooking, photography, movies and TV shows
Contact information: [email protected]; LinkedIn

Marike Langhans, M.Sc., Doctoral Candidate

Background and research area: After graduating from high school, I first completed an apprenticeship as a carpenter and worked in this profession before I decided to study wood. The Bachelor's degree (University of Hamburg) aroused my interest in wood chemistry. I further deepened my interest in lignocellulose chemistry during my Master's degree, which I completed with my thesis on dyeing Ioncell textile fibres with pigments. In the next few years, I will pursue a PhD to study biomaterials and especially biowaste-based porous acoustic materials. 
Contact information: [email protected] 

Giulnara Launonen, M.S.Sc., Project Coordinator

Background: - Master of Social Sciences in Cultural Policy (Major in Social and Public Policy), University of Jyväskylä (Finland), 2015-2019;  
- Specialist degree in Crisis Management (Qualification: Economist, General Manager), Saint Petersburg State Electrotechnical University "LETI" (St. Petersburg, Russia), 2004-2009. 
Professional area and interests: project coordination, PR & communications, digital marketing, developing digital materials, social media, event management; sustainable development, circular economy; technology and innovations; intercultural relations.. 
Hobbies: travelling, music, movies, yoga, reading, photography.. 
Contact information: [email protected]; LinkedIn 

Zahra Madani, M.Sc., Doctoral Candidate

Background: Fiber and polymer engineering 
Research area: M.Sc. Madani’s research interests include polymer engineering, bio-based materials, smart textiles, and artificial muscles. She is a PhD student working on the ‘Beyond e-Textiles' project, and her current research is focused on developing novel yarn actuators for smart textile applications. 
Contact information: [email protected]  

Mithila Mohan, MA, Project Employee

Background: MA in Textile Design (Aalto University), Weaving and Material Designer, Freelance Surface and Print Designer 
Research area: Polymer Actuators, Textile integration of polymer actuators through weaving. Specializing in weave structures and material studies focusing on designing 3D woven textiles. 
Accomplishments: Third Prize, The 14th Istanbul 2021 iTHiB International Fabric Design Contest, Turkey * Finalist in Dorothy Waxman Competition, 2019, New York * Exhibited ‘Language of Weaves’ at Talking Textiles, New York * Exhibited ‘Woven Memories’ at Röhsska Museum, Gothenburg, Sweden * 
Exhibited ‘Floral Disperse’ as a part of apprenticeship at Fabric Workshop and Museum, Philadelphia 
Hobbies: Free time is mostly spent amongst plants and flowers, inadvertent adventures with her bike, playing with dogs, painting, reading and occasionally transferring thoughts to written verses. Love for old textiles, books and furniture leads to endless meandering through flea markets and vintage stores. Also, a committed devotee of luxurious naps and good coffee. 
Contact information: [email protected] 

Seyede Maryam Mousavi, M.Sc., Doctoral Candidate

Background: M.Sc. Mousavi started her PhD programme at Aalto University in May 2021. Previously she got her Bachelor's degree from Zanjan University (Iran) in 2017 and completed her Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering at Tarbiat Modares University (Iran) in 2019. Her Master’s programme was devoted to fabrication and lifetime improvement of perovskite (MAPbI3- based) solar cells. After the fabrication of efficient devices, solar cells lifetime improvement was achieved by using a solid-solid phase change material inside the absorber layer. 
Research area: M.Sc. Mousavi’s research interests mainly consist of photovoltaics, optoelectrical devices, as well as advanced materials. Her PhD programme focuses on fabrication of efficient and durable perovskite solar cells through interlayer engineering and aims at understanding how photoswitchable molecules can help the UV and thermal stability of perovskite solar cell devices. 
Accomplishments: In 2021 M.Sc. Mousavi received a personal grant from Fortum and Neste Foundation to conduct and continue her research in perovskite solar cells research area. In addition to submitting two manuscripts, in 2019 she participated in writing a comprehensive review about the stability of perovskite solar cells (DOI: 10.1039/C8TA10444A). 
Hobbies: In her free time Seyede Maryam enjoys being silly with her friends and sisters, as weel as cooking and dancing. 
Contact information: [email protected]; LinkedIn

Hoang M. Nguyen, M.Sc., Doctoral Candidate

Background: M.Sc. Nguyen completed his Master’s degree with a major in Advanced Materials Chemistry at Korea University. With the eagerness to learn and dive into the field, he has continued his studies as a doctoral student at the MMD research group led by professor Jaana Vapaavuori whose research theme and keen desire for scientific exploration perfectly matched Hoang’s motivation at the time. 
Research area: M.Sc. Nguyen’s main goal in the MMD group is to create a library of soft nano-patterned templates. These templates can be fabricated in a facile manner by combining dip-coating technique and self-assembly process of various types of materials, such as block copolymer, potato virus A, emulsified water droplets. Additionally, the nano-patterned templates can serve as the substrates for further plasmonic nanoparticles deposition, thus they have a great potential in sensing applications. 
Accomplishments: https://research.aalto.fi/en/persons/hoang-m-nguyen/publications/ 
Hobbies: Hoang is a dog person and loves fishing whenever he is not performing his research. Before starting grad school he used to play football quite a lot. 
Contact information: [email protected]  

Pedro E. S. Silva, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Researcher

Background: Ph.D. Silva received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Physics (2008 and 2010 respectively) and a Ph.D. in Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies (2018) at the University of Aveiro. He continued as a postdoc at the NOVA University Lisbon in 2018-2021. Starting from June 1st, 2021 Silva has been conducting his research as a postdoc in the MMD research group at Aalto University. 
Research area: Structural, functional and smart materials (with a focus on the bioinspired design of macro- and microscopic structures with helical architectures) 
Accomplishments: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8783-8740  
Hobbies: When not in the lab, Pedro likes to play music, running and long walks. 
Contact information: [email protected]; https://pedrosilva.page/ 

Maija Vaara, M.Ed., Project Employee

Background: Craft teacher and maker, freelancer writer and layout designer
Research area: Polymer actuators
Accomplishments: Armahimmat varšišomaset – Vienalaisten naisten kansanpukuja ja elämäntarinoita (book about folk costumes and life stories of Viena women)
Hobbies: hiking, pottery, reading, photography
Contact information: [email protected]  

Kirsi Yliniemi, D.Sc., University Lecturer, PhD student advisor

Background: D.Sc. in Chemistry (especially electrochemistry); University Lecturer in the field of Materials Science; Docent of Materials Chemistry at the University of Helsinki  
Research area: D.Sc. Yliniemi is interested in topics related to circular economy via electrochemistry and functional materials. Her main responsibilities include teaching materials science and functional materials at Aalto CHEM (School of Chemical Engineering) and advising PhD students/postdocs in different research projects, for example, Elmery (Business Finland, PI prof. Mari Lundström) and EARMetal (Academy of Finland, PIs prof. Mari Lundström and prof. Jaana Vapaavuori). 
Accomplishments: Scopus Author Index; Currently 46 publications, h-index 14 (Date: 02/08/2021); Educational action of the year 2020 (Aalto CHEM)
Hobbies: cooking and talking with friends about everything under the sun 
Contact information: [email protected] 

Fangxin Zou, D.Sc., Postdoctoral Researcher

Background: Research projects were focuses on the chemical synthesizing of functional polymers and fabrication of organic/bio-based porous materials for thermal insulation, liquid spreading, drug delivery, and oil-water separation etc. applications.   
Research area: Bio-based porous materials
Contact information: [email protected] 

SUMMER INTERNS 2023

Azin Alesafar (MSc student, Research assistant)
Research area: e-textiles and machine learning
Contact information: [email protected]

Furkan Aydoğan (BSc student, Research assistant)
Research area: automation of research setup for the triboelectric nanogenerators research; measurements using microprossesors for wearable nanosensors to understand onsets of hypothermia
Contact information: [email protected]

Mathis Garnier (Visiting student, Research assistant)
Research area: identifying the effects of different parameters on the recovery of gold in chloride solution (EARMetal project)
Contact information: [email protected]

Mariel Mylly (BSc student, Research assistant)
Research area: glucose sensing based on the EAR method deposited Pt and Au (EARMetal project)
Contact information: [email protected]

Rikhard Ranta (BSc student, Research assistant)
Research area: stability of perovskite solar cells
Contact information: [email protected]

Makoto Ueki (BA student, Research assistant)
Research area: acoustic modeling of porous biomaterial-based acoustic absorbents
Contact information: [email protected]

INTERNS 2022-2023

Laura Koskelo (BSc, Research assistant)
Research area: 
Contact information: [email protected]

Magnus Markkanen (MSc student, Research assistant)
Research area: perovskite solar cells 
Contact information: [email protected]

SUMMER INTERNS 2022

Noora Jäntti (BSc student, Research assistant)
Research area: research project 'Multifunctional superblack wood-based materials'
Contact information: [email protected]
 
Laura Koskelo (BSc student, Research assistant)
Research area: different techniques of card weaving and coils for machine learning
Contact information: [email protected]
 
Grégoire Mancel (Visiting student, Research assistant)
Research area: noble metals recovery with FTOs (fluorine-doped tin oxide)
 
Magnus Markkanen (MSc student, Research assistant)
Research area: perovskite solar cells 
Contact information: [email protected]

More information about summer interns' projects in MMD group in 2022

INTERNS 2021-2022

Noora Jäntti (BSc student, Research assistant)
Research area: research project 'Multifunctional superblack wood-based materials'

SUMMER INTERNS 2021

Derya Dilara Atas (MSc student, Research assistant)
Research area: research projects 'Highly electroconductive Pectin:CNTs:PDMS for sensor applications' and 'Conductive CNF:AgNWs:PDMS nanocomposite films for optoelectronics'

Noora Jäntti (BSc student, Research assistant)
Research area: research project 'Multifunctional superblack wood-based materials'

Pinja Kangas (MSc student, Research assistant)
Research area: research project focused on tailoring the morphology of biobased cryogels in order to obtain porous materials with interesting acoustic properties
 
Ottilia Romana (BSc student, Research assistant)
Research area: optimizing nylon coils and their actuation (annealing and heating tests; actuation stroke and force; vertical actuation)

Ifrah Sheikh (BSc student, Research assistant)
Research area: research project devoted to the interaction between different kinds of helical fibers 

Riia Vidgren (MSc student, Research assistant)
Research area: multidisciplinary study of soft nylon actuators and their design futures

Julia Vuorinen (BSc student, Research assistant)
Research area: icephobicity of vascular plants growing in the temperate zone

More information about summer interns' projects in MMD group in 2021

STUDENTS 2022-2023

Azin Alesafar (MSc studies-related PRA: e-textiles and machine learning)

Sabanur Mete (MSc studies-related PRA: cellulose-based transparent heaters)

Oona Mollberg (MSc studies-related PRA: creating carnauba wax microspheres in different solvents)

Aki Saarnio (MSc studies-related PRA: carbon nanodots and polymer films)

STUDENTS 2021-2022

More information about student projects 2021-2022

Thomas Boulmier (MSc studies-related PRA)

Mari Heikkinen (MSc studies-related PRA: Design and construction of low-cost Arduino based capacitive pressure sensor)

Xiang Hu (MSc studies-related PRA: Synthesis and purification of copper nanowires)

Pinja Kangas (MSc thesis worker) (Biomaterials/biocomposites: trying to find a biodegradable and bio-based binder for a hemp fibre-based insulation material for the construction industry)

Laura Koskelo (BSc thesis worker) (Fabricating helical structures through card (tablet) weaving) [http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202206284304]

Noora Kuusivaara (MSc studies-related PRA)

Tuomas Mannerkoski (MSc thesis worker)

Maxime Muller (MSc thesis worker) (ALD synthesis and characterization of crystalline thin films of TiO2 over cellulose-based materials) [http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202208285158]

Emily Oreste (MSc thesis worker) (Optimization of cellulose and graphene-based carbon aerogels for supercapacitors) [http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202208285106]

Aravind Srinivasachari (MSc studies-related PRA: Flurophore infused organic substrates for photovoltaic applications)

Riia Vidgren (MSc thesis worker) (Sustainability assessments for novel materials in development: crystalline nanocellulose from biowaste) [http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202208285183]

STUDENTS 2020-2021

Jenni Ahlstedt (MSc thesis worker) (Exploring the potential of the dip-coating process to control assembly of virus-based nanomaterials thin films on the substrate surfaces) [http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202109059016]

Derya Dilara Atas (MSc thesis worker) (Fabrication of cellulose-elastomer films for optoelectronics) [http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202109058991]

Ariane V. Mader(MSc thesis worker) (Fabrication of porous hierarchical multilevel composite thin films by combining different self-assembly processes) [http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202010255977]

Tuomas Mannerkoski (MSc thesis worker)

Candela Torres Romero (MSc thesis worker) (Light activated TiO2-based microswimmers: synthesis and characterization) [http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202109058960]

Riia Vidgren 

Katarzyna Wojdalska (MSc thesis worker) (Fabrication of wearable pressure and strain sensors) [http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202109058966]

VISITING STUDENTS 2022-2023

Arijeta Bafti (PhD student / University of Zagreb, Croatia) (Characterization of cellulose aerogel materials as convincing candidates for applications as acoustic insulators)

VISITING STUDENTS 2021-2022

Margarethe Hauck (PhD student / University of Kiel, Germany) (Micro-structured interpenetrating composites)