New appointments strengthen LIST research groups

Since the beginning of 2019, the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) RDI management team has been reinforced by the appointment of four group leaders. LIST warmly welcomes Dr Phuong Nguyen and Dr Arno Biwer in the Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) department as well as Dr Emanuele Barborini and Daniel Schmidt in the Materials Research and Technology (MRT) department.

Dutch and German expertise for environmental innovation

Dr Phuong Nguyen holds a PhD at the Electrical Energy Systems (EES) group from the Dutch Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) where he served as an assistant professor since 2013. While at the University, he was leading the digital power energy system research on development of computational and distributed intelligence. Recruited following an international call for applications and a selection among 46 candidates, he now leads the “Sustainable Energy Systems” research group at LIST. This recently established group at LIST will conduct RDI activities in the field of energy, with particular focus on the integration of renewable energy sources and electric vehicles into smart grids, modelling, optimisation, control and forecasting algorithms for energy systems, including decision support tools for operation and planning purposes.

Dr Arno Biwer, who obtained his doctorate degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Saarland in 2003, joined LIST in 2008 as R&D Engineer within the former CRP Henri Tudor’s Resource Centre for Environmental Technologies (CRTE) department. He will lead the "Environmental Policies” group that was created following the 2018 reorganization of the ERIN department. His research group contributes to a better control of environmental risks and the development towards a tox-free, circular society via science-based support to the definition, implementation and evaluation of environmental policies at national and EU level, in particular (but not restricted to) policies around chemicals, (industrial) installations, waste, and biodiversity.

Italian and US expertise for materials innovation

Dr Emanuele Barborini holds a PhD in Physics from the Italian University of Milan and has notably worked on nanomaterial production methods, micro-sensing and microfluidic devices for oncology. Prior to joining LIST, he was responsible for coordinating R&D activities and managing technology transfer projects at a company based in Milan specialising in bio- and nanotechnology. At LIST, he now leads the "Transparent Electronics and Optically Tuneable Nanocomposites” research group that addresses the dynamic growth of invisible electronics or colour-based applications in the glass, display, sensor and consumer industries.

Daniel Schmidt holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the Cornell University (USA), and a Bachelor of Sciences in Materials Science and Engineering and in Chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University (USA). An Associate Professor of Plastics and Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell (USA), he joined LIST in 2017 as Lead Research and Technology Associate with a focus on composite materials. He will now lead the newly created “Green Polymers” research group with the objective to facilitate the practical development and application of more sustainable polymeric materials in areas reflecting institutional and national priorities, including composites and advanced manufacturing.

Thanks to those new appointments, LIST provides itself with the means necessary to fulfil its mission of a mission-driven Research and Technology Organisation (RTO) that develops advanced technologies and delivers innovative products and services to industry and society.