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On 20 November, the Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland TEK and Tekniska Föreningen i Finland TFIF announced their choices for this year’s best master’s thesis and doctoral dissertation in the field of technology.

Jaakko Timonen, who received his Ph.D. from the Aalto University School of Science, was given the award for doctoral dissertation of the year. In his dissertation, Mr Timonen synthesised biohybrid fibres, which can be controlled from the outside, from magnetic nanoparticles and nanocellulose.  The dissertation also dealt with magnetic cilia that mimic the cilia of bio-organisms, the self-organisation of magnetic fluid drops, and the use of these in measuring friction between fluids and fixed surfaces.

The work aims to produce commercial concepts and patents.

The results of this work promote an understanding of the chemistry and physics of magnetic nanoparticles. According to the jury, the work successfully combines technological innovations, and it clearly aims to produce commercial concepts and patents, as well as publications of a high standard. The jury considered it exceptional that the dissertation’s results had been published in numerous renowned publications, including Science.

Mr Timonen completed research on his dissertation at the Aalto University School of Science’s Department of Applied Physics. Mr Timonen’s supervisors during his dissertation work were Academy Professor Olli Ikkala and Professor Robin Ras.

The TEK and TFiF dissertation award totals 7 500 euros.

 Jarkko Luntta, who graduated from the Aalto University School of Engineering’s Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, won the award for master’s thesis of the year.