I aim to fabricate bio-inspired functional materials with sustainable compounds such as biopolymers. I work on the understanding of light management in materials with tailored optical responses, such as maximum diffuse reflectance (whiteness), uniformly scattered colour response or controlled opacity. In this context, nature can not only serve as a source of inspiration but can also be used as a primary source of materials. I am highly interested in understanding how we can use environmentally friendly, sustainable materials to create future paints, coatings and end-uer products and what it takes to bridge the gap between industry and science.

My interest is also to develop an understanding of light scattering and light transport behavior in complex living systems such as bacteria colonies that assemble to form iridescent colors from Bragg scattering and might serve as the future of biosensors, to nanostructures in plants used as protective coatings and for coloration.