Alina Schmidt

I am a Research Specialist at Karolinska Institutet, working on microscopy- and spectroscopy-based analytics to visualize and quantify biopolymers in cellulose- and lignocellulose-based materials. 

My background is in fibre and polymer science, with a PhD from KTH Royal Institute of Technology focused on biopolymer networks from biobased resources.

Before my PhD, I worked across several fields of biochemistry and materials research, including peptide synthesis and structure-function analysis of antimicrobial and neuropeptides, and the development of antimicrobial polymer coatings and functionalized materials for medical applications. 

My research focuses on developing non-destructive, fluorescence-based analytics to visualize, localize, and quantify cellulose and lignin in native biomass (wood, plants, algae), pulp and paper materials, and other cellulose-based materials. This includes establishing 2D and 3D biopolymer maps and developing sample preparation methods, such as cryosectioning, for optical microscopy.

During my PhD, I worked across the full lignocellulose value chain: from pilot-scale biomass pretreatment and fractionation of agricultural residues and marine biomass, through defibrillation into microfibrillated cellulose, to characterizing fibril morphology, crystallinity, and thermal stability, and producing and testing bio-based films.

I'm interested in connecting fibre structure, processing, and end-use material properties to enable more informed, sustainable material design.