Coordination Team:
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hirn
Part of the coordination team and expert in paper technology
Affiliation: TU Graz, Institute of Bioproducts and Paper Technology, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: ulrich.hirn@tugraz.at
Expertise: Paper technology
Role in project: WP1 leader; Administrative project management and development of paper based membranes.
Prof. Dr. Harald Pichler
Affiliation: TU Graz, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: harald.pichler@tugraz.at
Expertise: Biotechnology
Role in project: WP2 leader; biotechnology for vanillin and quinone production.
Prof. Dr. Robert Peharz
Expert in artificial intelligence
Affiliation: TU Graz, Institute of Theoretical Computer Science, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: robert.peharz@tugraz.at
Expertise: Artificial intelligence
Role in project: WP3 leader; AI guided development of novel vanillin based molecules for flow batteries.
Apl. Prof. Dr. Torsten Gutmann
Solid state NMR expert on paper
Affiliation: TU Darmstadt, Physical Chemistry of Condensed Matter, Darmstadt, Germany
E-Mail: torsten.gutmann@tu-darmstadt.de
Expertise: Analysis of paper by solid state NMR spectroscopy
Role in project: WP4 leader; elucidation of transport mechanisms in paper based membranes.
Dr. Christine Bandl
Polymer and surface chemistry
Affiliation: Montanuniversität Leoben, Chair of Chemistry of Polymeric Materials, Leoben, Austria
E-Mail: christine.bandl@unileoben.ac.at
Expertise: Polymer and surface chemistry
Role in project: WP5 leader; the carbon felt modification and analysis.
Prof. Dr. Stefan Spirk
Part of the coordination team and expert in bioproduct development with focus on energy storage
Affiliation: Ecolyte GmbH, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: stefan.spirk@ecolyte.at
Expertise: Stef has been working on battery technology from biobased materials since 2014 at TU Graz.
Role in project: WP 6, 8 and 10 leader; Operative project management, technical guidance, WP6 leader, responsible for demonstrator.
Dr. Michael Kriechbaum
Expert in innovation system analysis
Affiliation: TU Graz, Institute of Interactive Systems and Data Science, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: michael.kriechbaum@tugraz.at
Expertise: Data analysis and interpretation, innovation systems
Role in project: WP7 leader; tecnoeconomic assessment and institutional analysis.
Dr. Wolfgang Zitz
Project portfolio manager, strategy developer and technology expert
Affiliation: Ecolyte GmbH, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: wolfgang.zitz@ecolyte.at
Expertise: Experience in market introduction, high level management
Role in project: WP9 leader; project portfolio manager and input in WP6 for full stack design.
Dr. Serap Hayat Soytaş
Affiliation: SUNUM, Istanbul, Türkiye
E-Mail: seraphayat@sabanciuniv.edu
Expertise: Polymer chemistry
Role in project: WP11 and 12 leader.
Mag. Michaela Reininghaus
Part of the coordination team and research manager and financial project manager
Affiliation: TU Graz, Institute of Bioproducts and Paper Technology, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: reininghaus@tugraz.at
Expertise: Project management
Role in project: Michi is part of the coordination team and supports Stef and Ulrich in the management of the project.
Kevin Spirk, BA
Part of the coordination team and project manager
Affiliation: Ecolyte GmbH, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: kevin.spirk@ecolyte.at
Expertise: Project management
Role in project: Kevin supports and assists the coordination and management team.
Portfolio and innovation manager:
DI Stefan Pachmajer, BSc.
Innovation manager and expertise in renewable energy
Affiliation: Ecolyte GmbH, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: stefan.pachmajer@ecolyte.at
Expertise: Experience in renewable energy, both installation and energy trading
Role in project: Stefan is the innovation manager and supports the team with his expertise in WP6 and WP9 for installation of the full stack.
Dr. Roland Kalb
Affiliation: Ecolyte GmbH, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: roland.kalb@ecolyte.at
Expertise: Business development and strategy
Role in project: Roland supports us with business development and strategy expertise.
Project team members:
DI Stefanie Schmid
Affiliation: TU Graz, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: stefanie.schmid@student.tugraz.at
Role in project: WP2; yeast design and optimization.
Beate Bechtold, MSc. PhD
Affiliation: TU Graz, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: beate.bechtold@student.tugraz.at
Role in project: WP2; yeast design and optimization.
Ella Siegl
Affiliation: TU Graz, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Graz, Austria
E-Mail:
Role in project: WP2; biotechnological synthesis of vanillin.
Niloofar Ghadam, MSc.
Affiliation: TU Graz, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: niloofar.ghadam@student.tugraz.at
Role in project: WP2; yeast design and optimization.
Prof. Dr. Roman Kern
Expert in machine learning
Affiliation: TU Graz, Institute of Interactive Systems and data Science, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: rkern@tugraz.at
Expertise: Machine learning and AI
Role in project: WP3; development of machine learning
Giacomo de Gobbi, MSc.
PhD candidate
Affiliation: TU Graz, Institute of Theoretical Computer Science, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: giacomo.degobbi@tugraz.at
Expertise: Artificial intelligence
Role in project: WP3; AI guided development of novel vanillin based molecules for flow batteries
DI Georg Niess, BSc.
Affiliation: TU Graz, Institute of Interactive Systems and Data Science, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: georg.niess@student.tugraz.at
Expertise: Machine learning and AI
Role in project: Involved in WP3.
DI Dominik Wickenhauser, BSc.
Head battery testing
Affiliation: Ecolyte GmbH, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: dominik.wickenhauser@ecolyte.at
Expertise: Battery technology
Role in project: Battery testing in WP3, 4, 5 and WP6.
Elham Shapouri
Affiliation: TU Graz, Institute of Theoretical Computer Science, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: elham.shahpouri@tugraz.at
Role in project: WP3; combining DFT and machine learning.
Mark Bieber, MSc.
Affiliation: TU Graz, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: mark.bieber@tugraz.at
Role in project: WP3; synthesis of redox active compounds.
Prof. Dr. Markus Biesalski
Expert in polymer and paper technology
Affiliation: TU Darmstadt, Macromolecular Chemistry and Paper Chemistry, Darmstadt, Germany
E-Mail: biesalski@tu-darmstadt.de
Expertise: Tuning interfacial properties of paper-polymer composites
Role in project: WP4; design of paper-polymer composite membranes.
Prof. Dr. Tulay Inan
Affiliation: SUNUM, Istanbul, Türkiye
E-Mail: tulay.inan@sabanciuniv.edu
Expertise: Polymer technology
Role in project: WP4; membrane development.
DI Janis Zoder, BSc. MSc.
Affiliation: TU Graz, Institute of Bioproducts and Paper Technology, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: zoder@tugraz.at
Expertise: Membrane technology
Role in project: WP4; Membrane testing as well as scale up of production.
DI Dr. Lukas Pachernegg-Mair, BSc.
Junior researcher and PhD student
Affiliation: Ecolyte GmbH, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: lukas.pachernegg@ecolyte.at
Expertise: Membrane technology
Role in project: WP4 and 6; Membrane testing as well as scale up of production.
Dr. Jonas Lins
Affiliation: TU Darmstadt, Physical Chemistry of Condensed Matter, Darmstadt, Germany
E-Mail: jonas.lins@tu-darmstadt.de
Expertise: Paper analysis, Solid state NMR spectroscopy
Role in project: WP4; paper analysis using solid state NMR spectroscopy.
Dr. Aaron Socha
Affiliation: Ecolyte GmbH, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: aaron.socha@ecolyte.at
Role in project: WP4; Membrane Development.
Haji Alilou Solmaz, MSc.
Affiliation: TU Darmstadt, Physical Chemistry of Condensed Matter, Darmstadt, Germany
E-Mail: torsten.gutmann@tu-darmstadt.de
Role in project: WP4; elucidation of transport mechanisms in paper based membranes.
Franziska Schmitt, MSc. PhD
Affiliation: TU Darmstadt, Macromolecular Chemistry and Paper Chemistry, Darmstadt, Germany
E-Mail: Franziska.schmitt@tu-darmstadt.de
Role in project: WP4; design of paper-polymer composite membranes.
Dr. Limprasart Waranya
Affiliation: TU Darmstadt, Physical Chemistry of Condensed Matter, Darmstadt, Germany
E-Mail: limprasart.waranya@tu-darmstadt.de
Role in project: WP 4; NMR spectroscopy on paper based membranes.
Sayed Alem, MSc.
Polymer and surface chemistry, PhD student
Affiliation: Montanuniversität Leoben, Chair of Chemistry of Polymeric Materials, Leoben, Austria
E-Mail: sayedali.alem@mail.polimi.it
Expertise: polymer and surface chemistry
Role in project: WP5; carbon felt modification and analysis.
DI Bernhard Marius, BSc.
Process development electrodes
Affiliation: Ecolyte GmbH, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: bernhard.marius@ecolyte.at
Expertise: Electrode shaping and testing
Role in project: WP5 and 6; testing and production of samples.
DI Dr. Georg Rudelstorfer, BSc.
Affiliation: Ecolyte GmbH, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: georg.rudelstorfer@ecolyte.at
Expertise: Battery technology
Role in project: WP6; supports the battery testing.
Felix Necemer, BSc.
Affiliation: Ecolyte GmbH, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: felix.necemer@ecolyte.at
Role in project: WP6; research and development.
Dr. Julia Wenger
Expert in LCA
Affiliation: TU Graz, Institute of Interactive Systems and Data Science, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: julia.wenger@tugraz.at
Expertise: Data analysis and interpretation, innovation systems
Role in project: WP7; supports Michi in the technoeconomic analysis.
Anna Semenko, MSc.
Affiliation: TU Graz, Institute of Interactive Systems and Data Science, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: –
Expertise: Data analysis and interpretation, innovation systems
Role in project: WP7; supports Michi in the technoeconomic analysis.
Andoni Cruz, MSc.
Expert in toxicity testing
Affiliation: BBD Biophenix, San Sebastian, Spain
E-Mail: cruz@biobide.es
Expertise: Toxicity evaluation
Role in project: WP7; evaluation of toxicity data.
Dr. Arantza Muriana
Expert in toxicity testing
Affiliation: BBD Biophenix, San Sebastian, Spain
E-Mail: muriana@biobide.es
Expertise: Toxicity evaluation
Role in project: WP7; evaluation of toxicity data.
Dr. Andrea Weiner
Process development, chemistry
Affiliation: BBD Biophenix, San Sebastian, Spain
E-Mail: weiner@biobide.es
Expertise: Toxicity evaluation
Role in project: WP7; evaluation of toxicity data.
Dieter Wurm
Expert in biomass valorization
Affiliation: Ecolyte GmbH, Graz, Austria
E-Mail: dieter.wurm@ecolyte.at
Expertise: Market expert
Role in project: Supports the WP7 and WP9 team in assessing the cost aspects of the technology.