MaP Award
Every year the MaP Doctoral School awards a prize for the most promising doctoral thesis of ETH Zurich in the field of Materials and Processes. The Award Committee has again nominated four finalists for the MaP Award 2024.
MaP Award Final 2024
Four candidates have been selected for this year's MaP Award Final. They will present their findings on 20 June 2024 during the MaP Graduate Symposium 2024.
The MaP Award 2024 finalists are (in alphabetical order):
- Xavier Aeby
- Hamed Almohammadi
- Thaylan Pinheiro Araújo
- Remo Schäppi
The oral presentation accounts for 20% of the final verdict of a jury of experts from academia and industry. All finalists will receive an award. The winner of the MaP Award will additionally receive CHF 3000 as prize money.
Nominees' portraits
Development of Materials and Manufacturing Processes for Sustainable Printed Electronics
Short CV
Xavier Aeby was born in Switzerland and obtained a Bachelor's and Master's degree in microtechnology from EPFL. He conducted his doctorate under the supervision of Dr. Gustav Nyström at EMPA in the Wood & Cellulose Laboratory, and Prof. Markus Niederberger at ETH Zurich in the Laboratory for Multifunctional Materials. There, Xavier proposed new strategies to utilise biodegradable materials for electronics. Currently, he is pursuing an industry challenge, working on cellulose-based compostable coffee capsules.
Your doctorate project in two sentences
As an alternative to standard electronic materials and components, a biodegradable toolbox for the main constituents of an electronic device was developed and patented. It includes material and process development for a substrate, electrically conductive inks, sensors and storage systems.
Why did you choose this doctorate project?
I wanted to work in innovation. I have realised during my master studies that most innovations in engineering are material driven, especially for electrical, mechanical and process engineering. I wanted to acquire knowledge in material development and the best way seemed to pursue a doctorate in material science. I was lucky enough to find a project that combines all aspects of interest to me, such as material characterisation, process development, prototyping of devices, and with an emphasis on bio-sourced and biodegradable materials.
Future plans
I am currently involved in a multidisciplinary team for the development of functional packaging solutions for compostable coffee capsules. I wish to get in touch with the way of working of the industry, and understand innovation driven market launches related to packaging applications. This challenge will provide me key learnings to potentially pursue a start-up on smart single-used packaging, leveraging my doctorate work.
Control of Colloidal Self-Assembly by Liquid-Liquid Crystalline Phase Separation
Short CV
Hamed Almohammadi completed his Bachelor's and Master's in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Tabriz, Iran, and York University, Canada. Later, he moved to Switzerland to pursue his doctorate under the supervision of Prof. Raffaele Mezzenga at ETH Zurich, focusing on controlling the self-assembly of colloidal systems, which was recognized with the ETH Medal. Currently, he is an SNSF postdoc fellow in Prof. Joanna Aizenberg's group at Harvard University.
Your doctorate project in two sentences
My doctorate project offers an interdisciplinary approach to understand and control the self-assembly of filamentous colloids by disentangling the effects of kinetics from thermodynamics during the nucleation and growth process -the process through which new phases are formed. The work plays an important role in addressing challenges in the field of filamentous colloids, including developing theoretical principles that allowed controlling their self-assembly in practice, ultimately guiding the development of novel materials by bridging the physics and structures of materials across a vast range of length scales, from nanometers to 10s of centimeters.
Why did you choose this doctorate project?
Having completed my BSc and MSc in engineering and actively engaging in research since my third year of undergraduate studies, I discovered my passion for addressing challenges through a deep understanding of their underlying physics. Consequently, during my PhD studies, I worked on a project that typically falls within the fields of physics and material science. This allowed me to deepen my physics knowledge and enhance my skills, while integrating approaches from engineering and materials science. By developing such an in-depth understanding, I hoped to have a strong foundation to tackle real-world problems, and I am delighted to see that this is an ongoing process through my postdoctoral work, which stands on a bridge between fundamental studies and applied research, in an ecosystem that strongly supports technology translation.
Future plans
I am excited to apply the knowledge I have gained through my research experiences to tackle projects addressing our everyday technological challenges. As part of my career trajectory, I aspire to run an autonomous research team at the intersection of soft matter and soft robotics, focusing on developing novel concepts, designs, and applications. I am especially keen on developing small-scale soft robots based on colloidal systems for biomedical applications. Accordingly, currently, as an SNSF postdoc fellow at Harvard School of Engineering, I am building on the insights I gained during my doctorate on colloidal self-assembly to develop novel biomimetic adaptive materials and structures that enable continuous engineering of the mechanics and dynamics of materials at different length scales.
Design of Promoted Reducible Oxide Catalysts for Green Methanol Synthesis
Short CV
Thaylan Pinheiro Araújo was born and raised in Brazil. He holds a Bachelor's and Master's in Chemistry from the Federal University of Maranhão and the University of São Paulo, respectively. He earned his doctorate from ETH Zurich in the Advanced Catalysis Engineering group under the supervision of Prof. Javier Pérez Ramírez. He is now a postdoctoral fellow in the same group, focusing on catalyst design for the upcycling of plastic waste into value-added chemicals.
Your doctorate project in two sentences
Thermocatalytic hydrogenation of carbon dioxide is a strategic route for sustainable methanol production, crucial as both a commodity and energy carrier, but its industrial application faces challenges due to insufficient understanding of catalytic materials. Through a holistic approach integrating advanced synthesis and characterization techniques with theroretical simulations and kinetic studies, we identified key design principles for developing catalysts with superior activity, selectivity, and stability, thus advancing the prospects for large-scale green methanol production.
Why did you choose this doctorate project?
Catalysts have long held my fascination for their role in accelerating chemical reactions, enabling us to craft intricate choreographies for the delicate 'dance' of chemical bonds that weave atoms into molecules and materials. At the heart of my research lies the intricate art of catalyst design, a pursuit that immediately captivated me due to its seamless integration of principles from chemistry, materials science, and chemical engineering. Furthermore, my doctoral project provided me with a rich opportunity to explore the dynamic synergy between theoretical concepts and real-world applications, culminating in the development of innovative technologies poised to contribute significantly to the long-term sustainability of our society. This unique experience was further heightened by the collaborative atmosphere of the Advanced Catalysis Engineering group, alongside the opportunity to work with brilliant scientists and collaborators. Finally, the state-of-the-art equipment and facilities at ETH Zurich definitively empowered me to continuously learn and develop as both a scientist and an individual, while tackling significant practical challenges.
Future plans
My current postdoctoral research revolves around exploring key concepts and strategies in catalyst design, developed during my doctorate, to create catalytic materials that efficiently facilitate the upcycling of plastic waste into high-value chemicals and energy carriers. Looking ahead, I am driven to pursue a career in heterogeneous catalysis and chemical recycling of plastic waste and biomass, with a focus on developing sustainable catalytic technologies that address the energy and materials demands of our society.
Fuel from Sunlight and Air – Demonstration, Automation, and Parameter Analysis
Short CV
Remo Schäppi obtained his Bachelor's and Master's degree in mechanical engineering from ETH Zurich and conducted his doctoral thesis in the Professorship of Renewable Energy Carriers at ETH Zurich under Prof. Aldo Steinfeld. He focused his research on the demonstration of the thermochemical process chain from sunlight and air to liquid fuels. Currently Dr. Schäppi is a postdoctoral associate at MIT in the group of Prof. Ahmed Ghoniem, where he is working on indirectly heated solar reactor technologies and radiative heat recovery.
Your doctorate project in two sentences
The project reports on the technological demonstration under real field conditions of the entire process chain to drop-in fuels from concentrated sunlight and ambient air. Fully automated continuous cycling production of syngas demonstrates the stability and robustness of the system and an extensive parametric study of the different operational parameters help optimise the system towards higher yield, conversion or solar-to-fuel-efficiency, while controlling the quality suitable for liquid fuel production.
Why did you choose this doctorate project?
I first got involved with the project in its very early stages during my master studies, where I was working on the design characteristics and evaluation of the optical concentrating system. The perspective to perform my doctoral studies on this project, addressing the global energy challenge of producing carbon-neutral transportation fuels, was an opportunity I couldn’t miss. I was fascinated by the interdisciplinary aspects of the project and the challenges of implementing and connecting different technologies under real field conditions.
Future plans
After my time at ETH, I joined MIT as a postdoctoral associate in the group of Prof. Ahmed Ghoniem, continuing my research in the field of renewable solar fuels. I am currently working on a concept for an indirectly heated reactor with the focus on direct radiative heat recovery. Heat recovery is key in the further development of thermochemical reactors, especially those performing a temperature swing. It comes with the potential of increasing the reactors efficiency and economic viability, bringing the technology of solar thermochemical fuel production a step closer to industrial implementation.
