Dr. Merve Özparpucu
PostDoc

Contact
Professorship of Wood Science and Functionalization, Winzererstraße 45, 80797 Munich, Germany
Phone: +49 89 2180 6439 Email: oezparpucu(at)hfm.tum.de
About me
2014-2018 PhD, ETH Zurich, Institute for Building Materials, Wood Materials
2009-2012 Master, Anadolu University (Turkey), Nanotechnology
2004-2009 Bachelor, Anadolu University (Turkey), Materials Science
I am a materials scientist with a strong interest in understanding the properties of lignocellulosic materials, which can serve as sustainable alternatives to synthetic polymers. I have obtained my Ph.D. degree at ETH Zurich in the Wood Materials Science group. During my Ph.D., I analyzed genetically modified poplar wood at micromechanical, structural, and chemical scales (using spectroscopic tools such as Confocal Raman Microscopy and IR Spectroscopy) to gain insights into cell wall mechanics.
Since 15 November 2018, I have been working as a postdoc at Wood Research Munich in the research group of ‘Raw Material and Product Chemistry’. Here, I initially worked on the interaction of the wood chemistry and adhesives, where I utilized in-situ rheology and IR spectroscopy measurements extensively. I have utilized my knowledge acquired in the above-mentioned project also to another research project on ‘Exploiting the material utilization potential of lignin from the pulp industry as a protein-based stabilising agent for the beverage industry’. Currently, I have been working to develop a bio-adhesive for the bonding of wood veneers besides the research project ‘Wood You Like This Smell?, in which the influence of origin, growth and drying conditions on the odour and general emission profile of Cembran Pine (Pinus cembra L.)’ is to be investigated in cooperation with the FAU Erlangen.
My expertise lies mainly in the field of IR-spectroscopic, but also rheological analyses as well as the application of chemometric methods (e.g. PCA, PLSR etc.) for a fast screening and also the prediction of chemical characteristics of lignocellulosic materials.
Current Project and Project Initiatives:
DFG Project on “Wood You Like This Smell? Impact of Origin, Growth, and Drying Conditions on the Smell and General Emission Profiles of Cembran Pine (Pinus cembra L.),” in collaboration with the Chair of Aroma and Smell Research at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, headed by Prof. Andrea Büttner.
Developing a carbohydrate-based bioadhesive for the application of veneer-based wood products.
Green delignification methods for the cell wall to enable wood functionalization purposes.
Closed Projects
AiF Project (21979 N) on “Enhancement of the material utilization potential of lignin from the pulp industry as a protein-based stabilizing agent for the beverage industry”, collaboration with TUM, Chair of Brewing and Beverage Technology headed by Prof. Thomas Becker, 01. 10. 2021 – 31. 12. 2024.
AiF Project (19314 N) on “Analysis of Wood Chemistry-Adhesive Interactions and Their Impact on Cohesive and Adhesive Bonds” 01.02.2017 - 31.07.2020.
European MultiBioProject (Project Nr. 311804) “Development of Multipurpose crops that provide enhanced biomass” funded by the European Research Council, together with partners from five EU countries, Switzerland, England, Sweden, Germany and Belgium.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0822-6552