Sophia Thiele

Sophia Thiele is a researcher at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), working in the LMOM laboratory with affiliations across multiple EPFL units including CAM-X, EDMX, IMX, and ISIC-NMRP. Her research focuses on addressing the global plastic waste crisis through innovative supramolecular approaches to polymer science.

Her primary research interests include:

• Supramolecular modification of sustainable high-molar-mass polymers
• Dynamics of hydrogen-bonded end groups in bulk polymers
• Polymer-bridged nanofibril formation
• Improving melt strength and extensibility of biodegradable polyesters
• Application of solid-state NMR spectroscopy to study polymer dynamics

Dr. Thiele's publications demonstrate a cohesive research program focused on developing supramolecular strategies to enhance the processing characteristics of sustainable polymers. Her work shows how co-assembly of polymer end groups with additives can create hierarchical structures that provide rubber-like behavior in the melt state, enabling industrial processing techniques previously limited to conventional plastics. She has made significant methodological contributions through her application of NMR techniques to directly measure molecular dynamics in supramolecular networks.

Her research has received citations across multiple publications, with some papers accumulating over 30 citations. She collaborates extensively with researchers across EPFL and has published in high-impact journals including Nature Communications and the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Dr. Thiele's work is supported by funding agencies including the Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung (SNSF) and the SNSF Bridge Program, indicating strong institutional support for her research on sustainable materials development and its potential industrial applications.