Biological tailors
HYBER combines research groups with a broad knowledge of physical and chemical materials science to create a multidisciplinary and creative research environment. We merge materials science with biology and molecular engineering to understand and develop new concepts for materials and programmable systems.
HYBER's Research Topics
Professor Olli Ikkala (Director of HYBER)
Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University
The multidisciplinary Molecular Materials group consists of physicists and chemists aiming to generate functional materials based on self-assembly and its hierarchies. We use polymers, conjugated polymers, polypeptides, liquid crystals, cellulose nanofibers and other carbon-based materials as structural units in supramolecular assemblies.
Professor Markus Linder (Vice Director of HYBER)
Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University
The Biomolecular materials group seeks to understand and utilize biological design strategies for materials.
Professor Orlando Rojas
Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University
The Bio-based Colloids and Materials group works in the area of natural polymers, nanocellulose, and the assembly behaviour of natural surfactants and biopolymers. We study adsorption, adhesion, and interfacial phenomena in lignocellulose and renewable systems.
Professor Merja Penttilä, VTT
VTT / Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University
VTT Industrial Biotechnology develops novel biotechnological production concepts for bioproducts. By developing more efficient production strains, enzymes, and processes, we create added value for our partners. VTT has expertise in the whole value chain from biomass to products, and versatile facilities for process scale-up and piloting. Our solutions for sustainable production are based on renewable resources.
Organization
Research in the HYBER Centre of Excellence is organized into three broad research areas:
- Composites: developing fundamental scientific understanding of biomolecular design, supramolecular engineering, and the methods needed for molecular genetics and biological production to create the next generation of strong, tough, and lightweight materials.
- Colloids: developing concepts for supracolloidal assemblies based on one-dimensional topochemically tailored nanocellulose colloidal rods and spherical colloids involving proteins, viruses, dendrimers, and nanoparticles, ultimately bridging the gap between the molecular level structures of supramolecular chemistry and macroscopic structures.
- Dynamics: exploring dynamic materials using two different approaches. In one, the focus is on a physical approach to achieve a fundamental understanding of “the onset of complexity” using simple model systems. In the other approach, we make use of molecular biology, where through synthetic biology we will use the programmability of genetic systems to achieve not only control of the structure of gene products but also their expression in time and position.
Research areas, sub-themes & main investigators.
Other HYBER members :
Biohybrid Materials Professor Mauri Kostiainen
Soft Matter and Wetting Professor Robin Ras
Active Matter Professor Jaakko Timonen
Nanomicroscopy Center Professor Janne Ruokolainen
Affiliated HYBER Members:
Folding with Halogen Bonding
- Visiting Professor Pierangelo Metrangolo. Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano
Plant Cells for Materials
- Prof. Janne Laine (Former PI). Dean of Aalto University School of Chemical Engineering
Nanostructures and Materials
- Prof. Päivi Laaksonen, Häme University of Applied Sciences
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