Researchers

BioColour is a multidisciplinary consortium representing scientists from ten different research units. Consortium has researchers in University of Helsinki, University of Eastern Finland Kuopio and Joensuu units, Aalto University ARTS and Bio2 units, Häme University of Applied Sciences, Luke Natural Resources Institute Finland, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, North Carolina State University, USA and University of Campinas, Brazil. Consortium holds expertise of agriculture, applied plant science, chemistry, biosciences, toxicology, material science and technology, design research, information and communications technology, data science and consumer studies.

University of Helsinki

University of Helsinki group comprises experts of craft science, home economics and consumer studies. The group led by Professor Riikka Räisänen and Professor Minna Autio includes Postdoctoral Researchers Sanna Sekki and Anja Primetta and Interaction Coordinator Laura Dyster. Team focuses on dyeing and printing processes and material properties, such as colourfastness. Also, cultural, ethical and societal aspects of (bio)colourants in packages, textiles and fashion applications are of interest. Aim is to understand what kind of attributes consumers associate with biomaterials and colourants and how they value colours in their product choices and lifestyles. Team also investigates biocolourants as a method in education for sustainability. Primetta’s focus is on the development of the biocolourant database.

Cover for article 'Minna Autio'

Minna Autio

Professor
University of Helsinki
+358 40 8405 810
minna.autio@helsinki.fi
@mmautio

Cover for article 'Riikka Räisänen'

Riikka Räisänen

Consortium leader
Professor
University of Helsinki
+358 50 3183 973
riikka.raisanen@helsinki.fi
@riikkaraisanen

Eliisa Kylkilahti

During the 1st financing period

Johanna Valkola

During the 1st financing period

Anja Primetta

During the 1st financing period

Sanna Sekki

Postdoctoral Researcher
University of Helsinki
+358 44 0737 389
sanna.sekki@helsinki.fi

Satu Rajala

Research Assistant
University of Helsinki
satu.a.rajala@helsinki.fi

Peppi Toukola

Research Assistant
University of Helsinki
peppi.toukola@helsinki.fi

Josefiina Vanne

Research Assistant
University of Helsinki
josefiina.vanne@helsinki.fi

Mari Kosunen

Research Assistant
University of Helsinki
mari.kosunen@helsinki.fi

Laura Dyster

Interaction Coordinator
University of Helsinki
laura.dyster@helsinki.fi

Lotta Ruippo

PhD Student
University of Helsinki
lotta.ruippo@helsinki.fi

Arvind Negi

Postdoctoral Researcher
Aalto University
arvind.negi@helsinki.fi

Kirsi Heiniö

Research Assistant
University of Helsinki
kirsi.heinio@helsinki.fi

HAMK Häme University of Applied Sciences

The HAMK (Häme University of Applied Sciences) team is led by Principal Research Scientist Päivi Laaksonen who works at the HAMK Tech research unit. Laaksonen’s team focuses on long-term durability of materials and has various expertise and methodology for weathering and corrosion studies. Doctoral Student Juha Jordan is working as a researcher in HAMK Tech and studies behavior of bio-based colourants in solid materials like wood and plastics. The HAMK team aims to strengthen the potential of using biocolourants in technical materials. 

Cover for article 'Päivi Laaksonen'

Päivi Laaksonen

Principal Research Scientist
Häme University of Applied Sciences
+358 50 4716 288
paivi.laaksonen@hamk.fi

Nea Virta

Project Engineer
Häme University of Applied Sciences
+358 44 529 0395
nea.virta@hamk.fi

Roosa Helander

Project Engineer
Häme University of Applied Sciences
+358 50 4523 684
roosa.helander@hamk.fi

Juha Jordan

PhD Student
Häme University of Applied Sciences
+358 50 3235 354
juha.jordan@hamk.fi

University of Eastern Finland (UEF), School of Pharmacy

Natural dyes may contain biologically active compounds which may have harmful effects on human health. The research team lead by Associate Prof. Jaana Rysä of toxicology at the School of Pharmacy UEF will assess toxicity of novel biocolourants. The team includes Postdoctoral Researcher Mikko Herrala and Doctoral Student Johanna Yli-Öyrä. The team studies cell viability, cytotoxicity, skin sensitivity and production of reactive oxygen species in human cell lines. In addition, the team provides expertise for safety evaluation and risk assessment. The ultimate aim is to ensure the safety of novel bio-based dyes and pigments.

University of Eastern Finland (UEF), School of Computing

The UEF School of Computing provides the expertise in data science and computational spectral imaging. Prof. Markku Hauta-Kasari is leading the computational spectral imaging research group which belongs to the UEF Institute of Photonics. BioColour research includes Doctor Joni Hyttinen and Prof. Xiao-Shi Gao, who’s team is focusing on the nature inspired computing methodology. The main tasks are related in constructing the database of the biocolourants and their properties. The digital implementation of the database is planned to be used via a web-browser and with intelligent searching methods. The aim is to publish the first open digital biocolourant database with novel data science approaches for authenticity analysis and quality control.

Cover for article 'Jaana Rysä'

Jaana Rysä

Associate Professor
University of Eastern Finland
+358 50 3164 105
jaana.rysa@uef.fi
@ToxUEF

Cover for article 'Markku Hauta-Kasari'

Markku Hauta-Kasari

Professor
University of Eastern Finland
+358 50 4056 231
markku.hauta-kasari@uef.fi
@MarkkuHK_UEF

Johanna Yli-Öyrä

Early Stage Researcher, PhD Student
University of Eastern Finland
johanna.yli-oyra@uef.fi

Joni Hyttinen

Postdoctoral Researcher
University of Eastern Finland
joni.hyttinen@uef.fi

Mikko Herrala

Postdoctoral Researcher
University of Eastern Finland
mikko.herrala@uef.fi

Xiao-Zhi Gao

Professor
University of Eastern Finland
+358 40 4134 282
xiao-zhi.gao@uef.fi

North Carolina State University (NCSU) &
University of Campinas (UNICAMP)

Prof. Gisela Umbuzeiro is a toxicologist and the team leader for toxicology activities at NCSU that pertain to the mutagenicity and aquatic toxicity evaluation of the biocolourants. Her recently developed miniaturized protocol for mutagenicity testing will be employed and for aquatic toxicity studies the Daphnia model will be used. Prof. Harold S. Freeman is a textile/dye chemist and the team leader for activities at NCSU that pertain to the application of biocolourants to textiles, evaluation of the technical properties of the dyed substrates and scale-up studies using yarn and jet dyeing. Biocolourant application studies will include waterless dyeing technologies comprising atmospheric plasma and SC-CO2 and the use of digital printing. Freeman will also lead the evaluation of biocolourants for solar cells use. Riikka Räisänen’s team from the University of Helsinki will team with NCSU researchers to conduct dyeing and printing studies.

Cover for article 'Harold S. Freeman'

Harold S. Freeman

Professor
North Carolina State University
+919 515 6552
hfreeman@ncsu.edu

Cover for article 'Gisela de Aragão Umbuzeiro'

Gisela de Aragão Umbuzeiro

Professor
North Carolina State University & University of Campinas
+551 998 183 44 94
gdumbuze@ncsu.edu
giselau@unicamp.br

Gabriel Rampazzo Magalhães

Master’s degree student
University of Campinas
gabrielrampazzo95@gmail.com

Tova Williams

Research Assistant Professor
North Carolina State University
tnwilli7@ncsu.edu

Amanda dos Santos

PhD Student
University of São Paulo
amandadossantos@usp.br

Daniel Alexandre Morales

University Researcher
University of Campinas
morales.daniel.alexandre@gmail.com

Anjaina Albuquerque

University Researcher
University of Campinas
anjaina@unicamp.br

Natália Oliveira de Farias

PhD Student
University of Campinas
nath.unb94@gmail.com

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd

VTT’s BioColour team is led by Research Professor Merja Penttilä, whose focus is in advancing science and technology in the fields of Industrial Biotechnology and Synthetic biology. VTT’s large team includes Principal Scientist Mervi Toivari, Research Scientist Satu Hilditch, Senior Scientists Geza Szilvay and Heli Nygren among others. Team has excellence in material sciences, genetic engineering of microbes as well as microbial metabolism and physiology. In the BioColour project the focus is on microbial production of selected natural colourants, their use for different materials, and enzymes involved in these processes.

Cover for article 'Merja Penttilä'

Merja Penttilä

Research Professor
VTT Technical Research Centre
of Finland Ltd
+358 40 7000 163
merja.penttila@vtt.fi
@merjaelisa

Heli Nygren

Research Scientist 
VTT Technical Research Centre 
of Finland Ltd 
heli.nygren@vtt.fi 

Istvan Molnar

Research Professor
VTT Technical Research Centre 
of Finland Ltd 
istvan.molnar@vtt.fi 

Geza Szilvay

Research Scientist 
VTT Technical Research Centre 
of Finland Ltd 
geza.szilvay@vtt.fi 

Ann Westerholm-Parvinen

During the 1st financing period

Mervi Toivari

Principal Scientist
VTT Technical Research Centre
of Finland Ltd
+358 40 7081 039
mervi.toivari@vtt.fi

Satu Hilditch

Research Scientist
VTT Technical Research Centre
of Finland Ltd
satu.hilditch@vtt.fi

Aalto ARTS

Aalto ARTS team includes Prof. of Practice Julia Lohmann and Prof. Kirsi Niinimäki, Doctoral Student Pirita Lauri and Doctoral Student Ingvill Fossheim. Lohmann studies biocolours in a critical design context. With her artistic and public work she questions established value systems and suggests alternatives for sustainability. Lohmann investigates dyes for degradable materials such as algae and bioplastic. She is interested in communicating the outcomes in participatory, multi-sensorial ways. Niinimäki studies biocolours in a design and industrial context. The new understanding of aesthetics and aesthetics of diversity is in the focus. New design strategies and colouring methods which support more designerly and creative outcomes even in industrial processes will be developed. Niinimäki’s team will study consumers’ understanding and acceptance towards different kind of aesthetics produced with biocolourants.

Aalto Bio2

The research groups of Aalto Bio2 team led by Associate Prof. Monika Österberg and Prof. Tapani Vuorinen work with valorization of renewable lignocellulosic biomass towards materials with added value. Team includes also Doctoral Students Tia Lohtander and Owain Dawson as well as Postdoctoral Researcher Jinze Dou. Österberg group‘s focus is on surface chemistry of forest biomaterials, lignin valorization, and non-toxic surface treatments of textiles whereas Vuorinen group’s expertise is structure and chemistry of plants and plant cell wall, chemical processing of plant biomass and organic reaction mechanisms. Aalto Bio2 team aims to explore the use of coloured components of lignocellulosics in textile colouration and gain fundamental understanding of the colouration phenomena starting from formation of colour to interactions between biocolourants and substrates, and to create functional materials with added value.

Cover for article 'Julia Lohmann'

Julia Lohmann

Professor in Practise
Aalto University
julia.lohmann@aalto.fi

Cover for article 'Tapani Vuorinen'

Tapani Vuorinen

Professor
Aalto University
tapani.vuorinen@aalto.fi

Cover for article 'Monika Österberg'

Monika Österberg

Associate Professor
Aalto University
+358 50 5497 218
monika.osterberg@aalto.fi
@OsterbergLab

Cover for article 'Kirsi Niinimäki'

Kirsi Niinimäki

Professor
Aalto University
+358 505 693 359
kirsi.niinimaki@aalto.fi

Marium Durrani

During the 1st financing period

Leonardo Hidalgo Uribe

PhD Student
Aalto University
leonardo.hidalgouribe@aalto.fi

Paula Nousiainen

Postdoctoral Researcher
Aalto University
paula.nousiainen@aalto.fi

Janika Lehtonen

Postdoctoral Researcher
Aalto University
janika.lehtonen@aalto.fi

Ingvill Fossheim

PhD Student
Aalto University
ingvill.fossheim@aalto.fi

Iina Solala

During the 1st financing period

Marium Durrani

During the 1st financing period

Rafael Grande

During the 1st financing period

Owain Dawson

PhD Student
Aalto University 
+358 46 9547 718
owain.dawson@aalto.fi

Jinze Dou

Postdoctoral Researcher  
Aalto University 
+358 50 4088 797 
jinze.dou@aalto.fi

Pirita Lauri

PhD Student
Aalto University
+358 50 3607 640
pirita.lauri@aalto.fi

Tia Lohtander

During the 1st financing period

Luke Natural Resources Institute Finland

Luke’s group consists of specialist in plant production, microbiology, processing technology and organic chemistry. Senior Scientist Marjo Keskitalo is focusing her research on the plant physiology and production technology of woad and other field grown dye crops. Postdoctoral Researcher Pirjo Yli-Hemminki is studying growth-promoting rhizobacteria as part of the development of sustainable production methods for woad.  Research Scientist Nora Pap is going to carry on different filtration techniques of indigo dye in a way that it is cost-efficient at the farm level. Also more resource-efficient extraction methods will be studied. Research Scientist Juha Matti-Pihlava is analyzing the purities of indigo dyes and the amounts of indigo precursors in woad. The overall aims are to increase the yield of plant derived dyes, develop more efficient and carbon-neutral methods for the production and extraction of dyes and understand the biotic and abiotic factors affecting the dye production.  

Cover for article 'Marjo Keskitalo'

Marjo Keskitalo

Senior Scientist
Luke – Natural Resources Institute Finland
+358 29532 6237
marjo.keskitalo@luke.fi
@MarjoKeskitalo

Johanna Leppälä

Senior Scientist 
+358 29 5322 559
johanna.leppala@luke.fi

Nora Pap

Research Scientist 
+358 29532 6423 
nora.pap@luke.fi

Pirjo Yli-Hemminki

Research Scientist 
+358 29532 2114 
pirjo.yli-hemminki@luke.fi 

Juha-Matti Pihlava

Research Scientist
+358 29532 6439 
juha-matti.pihlava@luke.fi