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Staff Profile

Natalia Pynirtzi

Research Assistant: Responsive Materials

  • Email: natalia.pynirtzi@ncl.ac.uk
  • Telephone: 00447713928442
  • Address: Devonshire Building
    Newcastle University
    Newcastle Upon Tyne
Background

Personal information:

  • Materials scientist with expertise on developing and testing various types of bio composites with a specific interest on cellulosic nanomaterials 
  • Highly interested in natural polymers, biodegradable materials used as sustainable alternatives in product engineering supporting circular economy.

Roles and Responsibilities: 

I am a Research Assistant and PhD candidate at Newcastle University working for the Respire project at the HBBE hub for Biotechnology. Our work within the Respire project is focused on developing breathable, environmentally friendly, water-responsive building skins, which will be activated by specific environmental conditions and will provide natural ventilation and heat recovery whilst eliminating energy use, maintenance cost and gas emissions.


Qualifications:

Previous Work:

  1. KTP Associate, Bangor University – Sundeala Ltd, United Kingdom.
  2. Product Technician, P2i, United Kingdom.

Languages:

  • English
  • Greek
  • German
Research

Current Work:

My current work is funded by Leverhulme Trust in developing and testing natural, responsive, variable porosity building skins which vary their porosity with changing levels of ambient humidity, optimizing natural ventilation and heat recovery.


Main Expertise:

My particual research interests involve the design, manufacturing and testing of the natural, responsive, variable porosity materials which will be used to create the prototype wall panels and their performance will then be tested in order to determine their functionality as breathable building skins.


Other Expertise:

  1. R&D KTP research Associate (UKRI grant)
  2. Visiting Research Assistant (ERASMUS grant)


Future Research:

I am highly interested in conducting future tests,  which will determine possible use of the moisture-responsive materials, that will be manufactured for the creation of the prototype wall panels in the current work, for biomedical purposes and food packaging alternatives.


Potential PhD Research Projects:

I am simultaneously doing my own PhD research project on: ''Passive, responsive, variable-porosity materials for construction applications.''