Lucy Kind

Lucy Kind serves as a Research Associate in Nanotechnology and Deputy Dean for the BSc programs in "Chemistry" and "Bioanalytics & Cell Biology" at the Institute for Chemistry and Bioanalytics within the School of Life Sciences at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), located in Muttenz, Switzerland.

Dr. Kind's research specializes in innovative synthesis, modification, and characterization of surfaces, hard and soft materials, hydrogels, vesicles, and colloids. Her work bridges fundamental nanotechnology with practical applications in food safety, particularly developing advanced detection methods for nanoparticles in complex food matrices. She leads research activities in the nanoLab, where her team addresses critical challenges in nanoparticle quantification for vulnerable populations including newborns.

Her recent publication in ACS Omega demonstrates expertise in high-throughput detection of silica nanoparticles in early life nutrition products, establishing characterization methods that balance accuracy, sensitivity, and automation requirements. This research successfully distinguishes nanoparticle content in food formulations and reveals how food matrices significantly influence detection methodologies compared to reference systems.

Scientific recognition includes:

• 2013 FH-Award from Schweizerischen Chemischen Gesellschaft in the Category "Molecules for Life Sciences"
• 2013 Conseuro Poster Award

As Deputy Dean for BSc programs, Dr. Kind oversees academic administration and curriculum development while maintaining active research leadership. Her work has direct industry applications for food safety standards and quality control processes, with potential regulatory impact.

Dr. Kind leads the nanoLab research group, which functions as an interdisciplinary hub connecting chemistry, bioanalytics, and food science to develop standardized protocols for nanoparticle detection in complex matrices, with particular focus on vulnerable consumer groups.