Introducing our MSc student Sinna Lampinen who is currently working with the synthesis of sodalites. The laboratory’s X-Ray diffractometer has been in heavy use during the fall. At home keeping her busy is a small sheep farm focusing on traditional landscape management in cooperation with the local nature conservation assosiation. Some hobbies include birdwatching, music, gym and yoga – whenever she finds time for them!

Meet Ella-Roosa Suni, familiarly Ellis. She’s a third-year student currently doing her BSc lab work where she synthesizes luminescent nanoparticles. Ellis’ hobbies include riding horses, outdoor activities, baking, and having boardgame evenings with her friends.

Introducing Melanie Wals, a BSc exchange student from the University of Regensburg, Germany. She’s in her third year and staying for this semester in Ari’s group, focusing on metal-organic syntheses. On her free time she plays soccer and likes to cook and bake together with her roommates.

Meet Leonnam Merízio, our newest postdoctoral researcher. He obtained his PhD from the University of São Paulo, Brazil in 2019 and is a researcher at São Carlos Physics Institute, working with persistent luminescent glasses and nanomaterials. Now, as part of his post-doctorate, he is working at UTU for one year. Some of his hobbies include practicing Tae Kwon-do, observe the moon and the planets with a telescope and hang out with friends.

Today chemistry department’s alumni Ilkka Vuorio came by to photograph us for his project that will be public in the art museum of Salo in the near future. IMC’s Sami and Sinna are in the photos.

Meet Douglas Fritzen who obtained his PhD a month ago from the University of São Paulo, Brazil and is now on a short visit at our chemistry department, but will be back next year for two years. His hobbies include taking care of plants (his friends say that he has a green finger), practicing kung fu, and taking pictures of his cats!

PoDoCo is a matchmaking program supporting long term competitiveness and strategic renewal of companies and employment of young doctors in the private sector. IMC’s PhD Pasi Salonen was interviewed for the news about the program:

“In his own PoDoCo project, the recent PhD Pasi Salonen from the University of Turku is developing a method for the treatment and recovery of rare-earth elements (REEs), especially from electronic scrap and industrial by-products. Demand for REEs have increased because they are being used in many new solutions to combat climate change, such as wind farms and electric cars.

In his project promoting the circular economy, Salonen is developing 4D-printed filters for metal capture together with Weeefiner Oy in Jyväskylä. They are 3D-printed filters that are chemically functionalized.

In addition to the academic research world, I have always been interested in the industry, and PoDoCo combines both. The PoDoCo project with 4D REE catchers in cooperation with Weeefiner Oy is interesting and important to me, it enables the utilization of the knowledge and skills obtained in my dissertation in the face of a practical challenge. Through the PoDoCo program, the door is open to both the academy and industry, Pasi Salonen says.”

The news (in Finnish):

https://intranet.utu.fi/fi/ajankohtaista/uutiset/Sivut/vaitoskirjantekijoita-ja-yrityksia-yhdistavan-PoDoCo-ohjelman.aspx