Joice Kaschuk

Dr. Joice Kaschuk is an Assistant Professor in the Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter group at Wageningen University & Research. Her research focuses on designing and understanding sustainable materials from renewable resources, particularly cellulose and biomass-derived polymers, for applications ranging from advanced packaging and coatings to photovoltaics, membranes, and functional optoelectronic systems.

She received her PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of São Paulo and subsequently joined Aalto University as a postdoctoral researcher, where she worked at the interface of nanocellulose science, optics, and renewable materials engineering. She later held a visiting scholar position at the University of British Columbia, expanding her research into sustainable membrane technologies and bio-inspired materials.

Dr. Kaschuk has established an internationally recognized research profile in cellulose-based functional materials, publishing more than 25 peer-reviewed articles in journals including Advanced Materials, Progress in Materials Science, Green Chemistry, and Carbohydrate Polymers. Her research has been supported by competitive funding from organizations including ChemistryNL, Wageningen University & Research, and the São Paulo Research Foundation.

Beyond research, she is actively involved in scientific leadership and community building. She serves as Junior Team Coordinator and Co-Chair of the European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence (EPNOE), holds elected and appointed leadership positions within the American Chemical Society’s Cellulose & Renewable Materials Division, and contributes to TAPPI’s Advanced Renewable Materials Division. Through her research, teaching, and outreach activities, she aims to accelerate the transition toward a circular and bio-based economy.