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STSMs

We are happy to announce that Fur4sustain awarded STSMs to:

Biography

Ms Xanthopoulou is a Chemist and PhD candidate in Industrial Chemistry (University of Ioannina). She received her MSc degree in chemical technology and Industrial applications with specialization in chemistry and technology of polymers and nanocomposite materials, in 2020 and her bachelor’s degree in 2018 from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH). Her research interests focus on the synthesis and characterization of biobased polymers, especially based on lignocellulosic biomass, and their future applications. She currently works on the synthesis of biobased and biodegradable monomers, homopolyesters and copolyesters as well as the preparation of nanocomposites for packaging and structural applications and drug delivery systems. She is an author of nine publications in peer-reviewed international journals and nine posters in international conferences with proceedings. In 2021, she was a holder of the VM Grant upon COST Action.

Biography

Dr. Atıf Emre Demet currently works as an assistant professor at the Department of Energy Systems Engineering at Necmettin Erbakan University in Konya, Turkey. He did his Ph.D. in Sustainable and Industrial Chemistry (SINCHEM), which is an Erasmus Mundus Joint Programme coordinated by University of Bologna. He obtained his Ph.D. degrees in Engineering and Chemistry of Materials, with the thesis of “Biomass Valorization for the Production of Value-Added Chemicals and Bio-Fuels” from the University of Messina, Italy, and the National School of Chemistry Montpellier (ENSCM), France. During and after his doctoral studies, he also had experience at the Department of Technology Intelligence, TOTAL Research and Technology Feluy in Belgium. His research interests mainly cover the topics such as materials for energy storage, catalysis, lignocellulosic biomass upgrading, marine mucilage, circular economy, and intellectual property rights. He has several completed and ongoing national and international projects.

Biography

My name is Simão Vidinha Pandeirada, I am 22 years old and I am currently living in Aveiro, Portugal. In 2017, I began my academic career in the University of Aveiro, where I earned my BSc. degree in Biochemistry. A few months later, I started my MSc. degree also in Biochemistry at the same university, where I’m currently working. At present, I am working on my Master’s thesis, which is based on the synthesis and characterization of 3,4-PEF, a bio-based FDCA polymer. This project made me to become deeply interested in the paradigm of climate change and sustainability and, consequently, in the field of Green Chemistry, which is the main reason for my application for this Grant.

Biography

I am a PhD student in Material Science in the Department of Technical Physics at West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin (ZUT) and I belong to the group of Prof. Szymczyk, who is also the supervisor of my doctoral dissertation. I got my BSc in Nanotechnology and MSc in Material Science at ZUT in 2016 and 2017 respectively. In my MA thesis, I worked on polymer nanocomposites. My doctoral research centers on the synthesis and characterization of furan-based polyesters and copolymers

Biography

Dmitrii Razinkov is Ph.D. student at the Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Iceland. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Organic chemistry from the Southwest State University, Russia (2014) and a Master’s degree in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Iceland (2020). Since 2020 he has conducted Ph.D. studies at the University of Iceland. During his time at the University of Iceland, he has been working as a research assistant and assistant teacher

Dmitirii’s research interests are Inorganic chemistry, coordination chemistry, catalysis, synthesis of sustainable polymers, and advanced optical materials. He joined several conferences and was a co-author of peer-reviewed articles. “

Biography

Ms. Eleni Psochia is a chemist and a PhD candidate in Chemical Technology and Industrial Chemistry, in the Department of Chemistry, in Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Chemistry in 2018 and her Master’s degree in Chemical Technology and Industrial Applications, with a specialization in Chemistry and Technology of Polymers and Nanocomposite Materials, in 2020 from the Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. During her Master’s studies, she conducted an Erasmus internship, in the Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) in Barcelona, Spain. She’s currently working on biomass valorization for the isolation of biobased monomers and polymers, focusing on the synthesis and the production of green, nanocomposite polymeric materials. She participated in several national and international conferences and is an author of peer-reviewed international journals.

Biography

Lucie is a 2nd year PhD candidate in Material Chemistry at Université côte d’azur (UCA) under the supervision of Pr. Nicolas Sbirrazzuoli and Dr. Nathanaël Guigo.

After receiving her bachelor’s degree in Chemistry in 2019 she started her master’s degree in Green chemistry at the University of Strasbourg, which she completed in 2021.

After her Master 2 internship with Dr. Nathanaël Guigo she integrated the team as a PhD candidate focusing on valorizing suberin and other cork side product to create eco-compatible materials.

Biography

Beatriz Agostinho is a PhD student of Chemical Engineering at the University of Aveiro. Her studies are focused on finding new sustainable approaches for eco-recycling polyester wastes into novel (bio)degradable polyesters. In 2020 she joined the COST Action FUR4Sustain and has been part of the science communication group and the organization of multiple COST events.

Biography

Enrico Bianchi is a PhD student in Materials Engineering at the Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, from the University of Bologna (Italy), where he also graduated in Industrial Chemistry in 2020, with a particular interest in Polymer Chemistry and Technology. His current research mainly focuses on the synthesis and characterization of new furan-based and bio-based polyesters for the ecodesign of flexible, monolayer, easily recyclable or compostable, sustainable food packaging. To date, much of his work has been carried out in collaboration with the Institute for Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity (Italy), the University of Catania (Italy), the Wageningen Food & Biobased Research Institute (The Netherlands), the Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research (Germany), and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece).

Biography

I obtained my master’s degree in Chemistry and Sustainable Technology from Ca’Foscari University of Venice (IT) in 2019 working on the synthesis and reactivity of a new class of compounds, the mustard carbonates and their application as pharmaceutical precursor.

After master’s degree, I continued my research in a new research field, bio-refinery. I engaged in the abroad experience “Erasmus + Internship” in Universidad de Malaga Facultad de Ciencias (2020), where I worked on synthesis of alkyl levulinates.

Biography

Maria Lazaridou is a PhD candidate at the Chemistry Department of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and  member of professor Bikiaris’ research group. She received her master in Polymer Chemistry and Technology from Aristotle University in 2018. During this period with the group, Maria became a co-author of 16 articles in international peer-reviewed journals and participated in more than 15 national and international conferences. Her research interests focus on the synthesis and characterization of biobased polymers for 3D printing and electrospinning applications. She currently works on the development of biocompatible polymers based on chitosan derivatives for drug delivery applications and tissue engineering. In 2023, she joined the Cost Action FUR4SUSTAIN as a member of Working Group 2.

Biography

Mr. Ioannidis is a chemist and doctoral candidate at the Aristotle of University Thessaloniki (AUTH), Department of Chemistry, at the Laboratory of Chemistry and Technology of Polymers and Dyes in Greece. He obtained a master’s degree in Industrial Chemistry from the University of Ioannina (UOI) at the Department of Chemistry in Greece in 2022, focusing on the synthesis and characterization of furan-based copolymers and his bachelor’s degree in 2020 from the same department. Ioannidis’s research focuses on the synthesis and characterization of bio-based and biodegradable copolymers, their nanocomposites, and applications. He participated at national conferences and is a co-author of international peer-reviewed publications.

Biography

Izabela Irska is a PhD candidate and research assistant in the Department of Materials Technologies at the West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin (Poland). Her current research interests focus on the synthesis and characterization of bio-based polyesters and copolymers, including materials based on 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). The main objective of Iza’s PhD thesis is to establish the impact of the extent of reactive blending on the chemical structure, the supramolecular structure, and finally functional properties of aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters. She is the co-author of over 40 international peer-reviewed publications and participated in numerous research projects in the field of polymer synthesis and modification.

Biography

Dr Alexandra Zamboulis is currently working as a postdoc in the research group of Pr. Dimitrios Bikiaris at the Chemistry Department of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece). She obtained her PhD on the synthesis of hybrid organosilicas for asymmetric organocatalysis from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Montpellier (ENSCM). Her current research interests focus on the synthesis and characterization of biobased polymers and the preparation of biocompatible polymers for drug delivery.

Dr Alexandra Zamboulis
Sara Faoro

Biography

Sara Faoro is Master’s student at the University of Bologna, specializing in Low Carbon Technologies and Sustainable Chemistry. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of at Padova and is currently doing her Erasmus+ internship at the University of Groningen in the group of Macromolecular Chemistry and New Polymeric Materials. Her research interests include sustainable polymers and biobased reversible thermosets.

Biography

Luan Moreira Grilo is a chemical engineer who graduated from the Engineering School of Lorena, University of São Paulo (EEL-USP, Brazil). He is currently a double degree Ph.D. candidate at EEL-USP and the University of Groningen (UG, The Netherlands), focused on researching renewable polymers based on furanic monomers.

Luan Moreira Grilo
Zoi-Lina Koutsogianni

Biography

Ms. Zoi-Lina Koutsogianni obtained her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in 2019 and in 2022, she completed her Master’s degree in Chemical Technology and Industrial Applications, with a specialization in Chemical and Environmental Technology. She is currently a PhD student, in Chemistry Department of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, focusing on the synthesis and UV curing of bio-based epoxy and epoxy-acrylate resins and she has participated in several national and international conferences.

Biography

Nikolaos Bikiaris is a graduate of Chemistry Department of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. During his undergraduate thesis, he has worked on the preparation of oil- in-water emulsions with encapsulated pomegranate juice in neat and modified chitosan for skin applications. He has thoroughly investigated the rheological behavior and Ph stability as well as the sun protection factor, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activity of the prepared creams. During his MSc thesis, he has worked on the synthesis of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) with various molecular weights using ring opening polymerization for the preparation of electrospun scaffolds for drug delivery. In addition, he has thoroughly educated on mechanical, thermal, and structural characterization of materials with FTIR, NMR, XRD, Viscometry, DSC, TGA, GPC, SEM and stereomicroscope. Finally, he has worked on the fabrication polymeric particles via spray-drying technique as well as the preparation of copolymers via melt-mixing extruder. Currently, he is a PhD student at the Department of Pharmaceutics of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Nikolaos Bikiaris

SHORT TERM SCIENTIFIC MISSIONS

STSMs are exchange visits for Researchers within FUR4Sustain Action. They are a really great opportunity for Researchers to gain skills, knowledge, and experience, as well as to share techniques that may not be available at their home institution or laboratory!

The host institution must be located in a different country than the country of affiliation (for Affiliation, see COST | European Cooperation in Science and Technology) of the Researcher or Innovator for the specific work to be carried out and for a determined period of time.

When to apply?
Calls for STSM applications will be opened several times during this Grant Period:
For further inquiries please contact The Grant Awarding Coordinator (rupert.kargl@tugraz.at)
How to apply?
1- Applicants must create an e-COST profile at https://e-services.cost.eu;
2-After registration, applicants can encode a new application by pressing “Apply for grant”.
3- After encoding the Grant application form by filling all sections, the applicant also needs to upload the actual application template completed which shall be previously downloaded from the application page. The applicant will need to upload additional supporting documentation;
STSM – supporting documentation:

  • STSM grant Application (based on e-COST template)
  • Confirmation of the host on the agreement from the host institution in receiving the applicant
  • Other documents required by the Action

4- After adding the supporting document(s), the applicant can submit the grant application.
For more information: https://www.cost.eu
And now What?
Start looking for a host institution that could broaden the horizons of your research and apply!

What did I earn with my STSM?

My STSM in Groningen (The Netherlands) allowed me to develop more sustainable and environmentally friendly processing alternatives for furan- based polymers. In the end, I got to visit and explore a new country, meet amazing people, and learn new approaches and techniques that'll allow me to grow as a researcher.

Beatriz Agostinho
PhD student
CICECO and Chemistry Department
University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago
Portugal

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Contact us
University Of Aveiro andreiafs@ua.pt