News
Everything comes to an end ...
… even our NIPU project. Little by little, our MSCA fellows are reaching the end of their theses and present their defense.
PhD defenses have started, follow them here or on our NIPU-EJD linkedIn page
On 17 October 2024, ESR5 Florent Monie, following the presentation of his thesis entitled “Strategies for the elaboration of sustainable self-blown polyurethane foams based on the decarboxylation of cyclic-carbonates”, was awarded the title of “Docteur de l’Université de Bordeaux, école Doctorale de Chimie” and “Docteur de l’Université de Liège, école Doctorale de Chimie”. His thesis directors were Prof. Henri Cramail (Université de Bordeaux, France) and Dr Christophe Detrembleur (Université de Liège, Belgium).
On 17 December 2024, ESR2 Federico Mundo, following the presentation of his thesis entitled “Synthesis of activated cyclic carbonate monomers for NIPU synthesis”, was awarded the title of “Docteur de l’Université de Montpellier, école Doctorale des Sciences Chimiques Balard” and “Docteur du Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, école Doctorale de Chimie”. His thesis directors were Dr Sylvain Caillol (Université de Montpellier, France) and Prof. Michael Meier (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany).
On 25 February 2025, ESR1 Francesca Destaso, following the presentation of her thesis entitled “Design and synthesis of novel biobased polyamines for non- isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs)”, was awarded the title of “Docteur de l’Université de Bordeaux, école Doctorale de Chimie” and “Docteur du Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, école Doctorale de Chimie”. Her thesis directors were Prof. Henri Cramail (Université de Bordeaux, France) and Prof. Michaël Meier (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany).
On 20 March 2025, ESR11 Guillem Seychal, following the presentation of his thesis entitled “Developing non-isocyanate polyurethane chemistry for more sustainable structural composites in a circular economy”, was awarded the title of “Docteur en Sciences de l’Université de Mons” and “Docteur en Sciences de l’Université du Pays Basque”. His thesis directors were Prof. Jean-Marie Raquez (Université de Mons, Belgium) and Prof. Nora Aranburu (University of the Basque Country, Spain).
On 26 June 2025, ESR10 Marco Caliari, following the presentation of his thesis entitled “Advanced Manufacturing of Non-Isocyanate Polyurethanes by Chemical Design ”, was awarded the title of “Docteur en Sciences de l’Université du Pays Basque” and “Docteur de l’Université de Liège, école Doctorale de Chimie”. His thesis directors were Prof. Haritz Sadron (Université of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU, Spain) and Prof. Christophe Detrembleur (University of Liège, Belgium).
On 1st July 2025, ESR3 Nichollas Jaques, following the presentation of his thesis entitled “Design of non-cyanate polyurethanes (NIPU)s through transfer reactions and complementary reactions ”, was awarded the title of “Docteur de l’Université de Bordeaux, école Doctorale de Chimie” and “Docteur du Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, école Doctorale de Chimie””. His thesis directors were Prof. Henri Cramail (Université de Bordeaux, France) and Prof. Michaël Meier (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany).
On 9 September 2025, ESR12 Pauline Bron, following the presentation of her thesis entitled “Design of isocyanate-free polyhydroxyurethane vitrimers for recycling applications ”, was awarded the title of “Docteur en Sciences de l’Université du Pays Basque” and “Docteur de l’Université de Montpellier, école Doctorale des Sciences Chimiques Balard”. Her thesis directors were Prof. Lourdes Irusta (University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Spain) and Dr. Vincent Ladmiral (Université de Montpelliers, France).
On 29 September 2025, ESR6 Maliheh Razavi, following the presentation of her thesis entitled “Non-Isocyanate Polyurethanes (NIPUs) Recycling and Upcycling”, was awarded the title of “Docteur de l’Université de Liège, école Doctorale de Chimie” and “Docteur en Sciences de l’Université du Pays Basque”. Her thesis directors were Prof. Christophe Detrembleur (University of Liège, Belgium) and Prof. Haritz Sardon (University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Spain).
On 14 October 2025, ESR8 Pavithra Wijeratne, following the presentation of her thesis entitled “Engineering Polyhydroxyurethane nanocomposites with cellulose and chitin nanomaterials”, was awarded the title of “Doctor of Philosophy in the subject area of Chemistry” from KTH School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry. Her thesis directors were Prof. Qi Zhou (KTH, Sweden) and Prof. Jean-Marie Raquez (University of Mons, Belgium)
And next to come...
On 15 December 2025, ESR9 Hsin-Chen Chen will defend her thesis entitled “Cellulose Nanocrystals-stabilized Polyhydroxyurethane and Polyacrylate Latexes: Design, Functionalization, and Performance”. Her thesis directors are Prof. Qi Zhou (KTH, Sweden) and Dr. Audrey Llevot (Université de Bordeaux, France).
On 2 February 2026, ESR7 Katherine Gouveia-Jovel will defend her PhD thesis entitled “ Development of Non-Isocyanate Polyurethane foams using sustainable processes”. Her thesis directors are Prof. Jean-Marie Raquez (University of Mons, Belgium) and Dr Sylvain Caillol (Université de Montpellier, France).
In spring 2026, ESR4 Luca Narducci will defend his PhD thesis about the synthesis of amino- and cyclic carbonate-bearing NIPU oligomers that are able to react and crosslink at low temperature. His thesis directors are Prof. Christophe Detrembleur (University of Liège, Belgium) and Prof. Michaël Meier (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany).
NIPU @ WiseNight 2024!
Four MSCA fellows have participated into the WiseNight event 2024 organised by BeWise in Brussels in September 2024, where they have pitched their research.
Our Fellows with WiseNight organiser
From left to right: Guillem, Francesca, Katherine, Pavithra and Tania, one of our great BeWise organisers
A series of 7 podcasts on NIPU
Thanks to all the Early Stage Researchers and their supervisors, a series of seven podcasts could be created on NIPU.
Find them on LinkedIn and on Spotify!
The podcast series on LinkedIn
#1 – “Why we do what we do and how we do it?” (9/11/2022)
#2 – “Future of NIPU, an academic perspective” (8/5/2023)
#3 – “The importance of CO2 valorisation” (25/5/2023)
#4 – “Nanocellulose and its future in society” (5/6/2023)
#5 – “Product innovation and women in science: breaking barriers” (26/6/2023)
#6 – “Time to switch to circular” (13/9/2023)
#7 – “Green chemistry perspectives and academic career” (9/11/2023)
The podcast series on Spotify
#1 – “Why we do what we do and how we do it?” (9/11/2022)
#2 – “Future of NIPU, an academic perspective” (8/5/2023)
#3 – “The importance of CO2 valorisation” (25/5/2023)
#4 – “Nanocellulose and its future in society” (5/6/2023)
#5 – “Product innovation and women in science: breaking barriers” (26/6/2023)
#6 – “Time to switch to circular” (13/9/2023)
#7 – “Green chemistry perspectives and academic career” (9/11/2023)
NIPU-EJD celebrates 🎉 the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2023 🔬.
How to make NIPU foams? look at our tutorial
Self-blowing NIPU formulation
Thank you, Florent Monie (ESR5) and Maliheh Razavi-Esfali (ESR6), for producing this nice video tutorial about the self-blowing of NIPU foams, giving access to isocyanate, HFC, and VOC-free polymer foams.