Meet our Fellows: Razieh Shafiei Alavijeh

November 5, 2024

Title of the project: Sustainable production of mycelium leather from lignocellulosic resources: A biorefinery approach

Description of the project:

Mycelium leathers are introduced as an alternative to traditional leather, one of the biggest emitters of CO2. However, many of the materials added to mycelium leathers to improve their polymeric properties are non-biodegradable, which raises environmental concerns. Therefore, Razieh’s research aims to develop a biodegradable reinforcement that will enhance mycelium leather’s polymeric properties while increasing its sustainability. With this innovation, bio-based leather can be introduced to the fashion market that matches the properties of traditional leather while offering greater sustainability, making it a strong competitor to traditional leather.

Biography:

Razieh is a chemical engineer specializing in fermentation, microbiology, biomass conversion, and bioprocess development. She holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Isfahan University of Technology, Iran, in 2020, where her research focused on converting lignocellulosic materials into biofuels and biochemicals. Throughout her career, she has worked extensively on developing integrated biorefineries, conducting sustainability assessments, analyzing greenhouse gas emissions, and performing socioeconomic evaluations. With this background, she is excited to bring her expertise to an interdisciplinary research group, where I can contribute to advancing innovations in mycelium-based leather production.

Nationality: Iran

VUB department and supervisor:

Department of Bioengineering science, Research group of Microbiology, Prof. Eveline Peeters

Starting date: 01/11/2024