Text icon 'Universität Freiburg'
Seal element of the university of freiburg in the shape of a flower

Pieter Samyn

2012 Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize winner

Das Foto zeigt Pieter Samyn der Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Preis-träger der Universität Freiburg

Pieter Samyn (*1978) received the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize for his work in the area of Production Engineering.

Dr. Pieter Samyn’s research is concentrated on the sustainable use of natural materials. The materials scientist received the prize for his research on the sustainable use of biomaterials from forestry as nanoscale components for functional bio-based composite materials. He has served as the Robert Bosch Junior Professor for the “Sustainable Use of Natural Resources” at the University of Freiburg since 2011.

He previously conducted research into bio-based polymers and fiber technology by combining mechanical and chemical sciences with macromolecular nanotechnology. At the Institute of Forest Utilization and Work Science and the Freiburg Materials Research Center, he is working on defining new applications for renewable bio-based raw materials, for instance for the coating of textiles or the sensor industry.