Curriculum Vitae
CURRENT POSITION
2024-present Postdoctoral researcher
Stockholm University, Department of Chemistry, Sustainable Materials Chemistry (SUSMATCHEM) research group, Stockholm, Sweden
EDUCATION
2019-2023 PhD candidate
Wallenberg Wood Science Center, KTH- Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Chemistry, Division of Glycoscience, AlbaNova University Center, Stockholm, Sweden
Native lignin structure, polymerization and interaction with plant cell wall components.
2016-2018 MSc. in Chemistry
KTH- Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
Molecular Science and Engineering
Thesis: Development of cellulose-based membranes for Vanadium Redox Flow Cell Battery applications
Department of Fiber and Polymer Technology
2009-2015 BSc. in Chemistry
University of Ioannina, Greece
Thesis: Magnetic nanomaterials and graphene quantum dots.
Department of Analytical Chemistry
PUBLICATIONS
2024
I. Sapouna et al., bioRxiv, 2024, 2026.06.11.598459
2023
J. Garemark et al., ACS Nano, 2023, 17, 5. 4775-4789
I. Sapouna et al., Plant Direct, 2023, 7, 6, e500
R. Ghaffari et al., Cellulose, 2023, 30, 3, 2685-3698
I. Sapouna et al., ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 2023, 11, 43, 15533-15543
I. Sapouna et al., Industrial Crops and Products, 2023, 206, 117660
2022
J. Garemark et al., Advanced Functional Materials, 2022, 2208933
2021
I. Sapouna and M. Lawoko, Green Chemistry, 2021, 23, 3348-3364
FUNDING
2025
Kungl. Vetenskapsakademien - The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences | 29.2 kSEK | travel grant to participate in Gordon Research Conference in Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco
2022
Anna och Nils Håkanssons stiftelse | 106 kSEK | Bridging the gap between fundamental research on lignin and industrial sustainability
2022
C. F. Lundströms stiftelse |70 kSEK | Towards a lignin-first biorefinery: Deciphering the structure of native lignin
2022
Stiftelsen Silléns Fond | 20,5 KSEK | travel grant to participate in Gordon Research Conference in Easton MA, USA
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2022
Supervision of MSc. thesis student | KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden
2020
Teaching of laboratory exercises for course KF2460 Biofiber chemistry | KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden
2018
Teaching laboratory excercises in course KA1020 Grundläggande kemi | KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden
2014-2016
Private tutor of high school chemistry | Athens, Greece
CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION
2023
Ekmandagarna | Gunnar Sundblad Research Foundation Pecha Kucha competition | Stockholm, Sweden
2022
Lignin Gordon Research Conference | Invited Oral Seminar | Easton MA United States
CA17128 LignoCOST Lignin Conference | Poster presentation | Wageningen, The Netherlands
Treesearch Progress Conference | Oral presentation | Kolmården, Sweden
2021
International Congress of EPNOE | Oral presentation | Nantes, France
ACS Spring 2021 National Meeting | Oral presentation | Online
2019-2022
Wallenberg Wood Science Center Workshops |Poster and pitch presentations on research updates | Sweden
SKILLS AND SELECTED THIRD CYCLE COURSES
NMR courses
FCK3311 | NMR Spectroscopy and imaging – basic principles
FKBT222 | Molecular Structure and Dynamics by NMR Spectroscopy in solution state
Sustainable development courses
FLH3000 | Basic Communication and Teaching
FKA3030 | Research Ethics
FAK3127 | The Sustainable Scientist
Techniques
Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) - 1D and 2D analysis
Sugar composition analysis (HPAEC-PAD)
Maintaining of plant cell cultures (in aseptic conditions)
Plant RNA extraction
Size exclusion chromatography (SEC | instrument responsible)
Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)
Field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM)
Atomic force microscopy (AFM)
INNOVATION
2022
KTH Innovation Discovery Program
OTHER EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
Oct 2018- Mar 2019
Research Engineer | KTH- Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Fiber and Polymer Technology | Production of nanocellulose-based filters for water purification
2018
Summer Research Student | KTH- Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Fiber and Polymer Technology | Soxhlet extraction of hemicelluloses
Oct-Jun 2018
International Student Ambassador
Nov-Dec 2013
Intern | General Chemical State Laboratory of Greece, Directorate of Energy, Industrial and Chemical Products, A’Chemical Service of Athens
Analysis of food, potable water and waste samples:
· Physicochemical analysis of water samples
· Detection of mycotoxins in food samples using immunoaffinity columns
· Detection of heavy metals in food samples using microwave digestion