Orlando Rojas Gaona

Orlando Rojas Gaona serves as a Visiting Professor in the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems at Aalto University, where he leads the Bio-based Colloids and Materials (BiCMat) research group. His work spans multiple disciplines focusing on sustainable materials science with significant contributions to the field of biobased materials.

Dr. Rojas' research interests center on biobased materials at various size scales, particularly those displaying large interfacial areas such as micro/nano fibers, fiber networks, particles, and colloidal systems. His work encompasses nano/microfibrillar cellulose, cellulose nanocrystals, lignin particles, fat colloids, chitin, alginates, proteins, and biopolymer assemblies. His laboratory investigates thin films, cellulose derivatives, enzymes, and bio-based dispersions including emulsions, foams, gels, and aerogels. He employs advanced techniques such as piezoelectric and surface plasmon sensing, XPS, AFM, imaging, and light scattering to study adsorption behaviors of surfactants and biopolymers at various interfaces.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong trajectory toward sustainable materials innovation with applications spanning biomedical engineering, energy efficiency, water harvesting, and waste valorization. The research shows increasing interdisciplinary collaboration and practical applications addressing global sustainability challenges.

• Best Paper Award 2015 Bioresource Technology, Netherlands
• Divisional Service Award, American Chemical Society (2009)
• Fellow of the American Chemical Society (July 2013)
• Foreign Member of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters (2017)
• Imerys FiberLean Prize IMERYS, USA (2015)

Dr. Rojas has supervised 23 theses and has been principal investigator for 11 significant research projects including EU Horizon Europe MC SAFEPCM, ERC BioELCell, and multiple Academy of Finland FlagShip CERES projects. His research portfolio includes over 700 publications and artistic outputs with substantial funding support from EU programs, ERC grants, and national research councils. His work directly contributes to multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to sustainable materials and environmental protection.

As leader of the BiCMat research group, Dr. Rojas oversees a multidisciplinary team conducting cutting-edge research on biobased materials. The group maintains strong international collaborations and has developed expertise in surface characterization, nanomaterial synthesis, and sustainable material design. Their work bridges fundamental science with practical applications in areas ranging from biomedical devices to sustainable packaging and energy solutions.