Marc Borrega

Experience

• 

  University of Eastern Finland

  Dec 2003 - Oct 2004

  Research Assistant
• 

  Grup VICSAN

  Feb 2005 - May 2005

  Assistant Construction Manager
• 

  University of Eastern Finland

  Jun 2005 - Apr 2009

  PhD Student

  - Established the effects of relative humidity in the heating atmosphere on the hygroscopic and mechanical properties of thermally modified wood. - Studied a modified high-temperature drying process for wood and investigated the effects of process parameters on the properties of the dried wood product.

• 

  Aalto University

  May 2009 - Mar 2013

  - Established the effects of hot water extractions of wood prior to pulping on the quality, structure and applications of cellulosic pulp as well as on the recovery of hemicellulose-based compounds. - Developed kinetic models for the degradation of lignin and carbohydrates in birch wood during hydrothermal treatments at elevated temperatures.- Designed the construction of a flow-through reactor system for thermal fractionation of biomass.

  • Postdoctoral Researcher

    Jan 2012 - Mar 2013

  • Researcher

    May 2009 - Dec 2011
• 

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

  Apr 2013 - Apr 2014

  Postdoctoral Research Associate

  - Characterized the composition, structure and mechanical properties of balsa wood for its use in structural sandwich panels.

• 

  Aalto University

  May 2014 - Dec 2016

  Postdoctoral Researcher

  - Developed a novel purification process for kraft pulp based on hot water extractions in a flow-through system, aiming at producing high-yield and high-purity cellulose pulp as well as at recovering the hemicellulosic stream.- Instructed doctoral students working on supercritical water treatments of cellulose and on fractionation of wood in gamma-valerolactone and water mixtures.

• 

  VTT

  Jan 2017 - now

  - Key role in biorefining of industrial bark and other lignocellulosic side-streams (e.g. agro-residues), development of bio-based products and materials from biomass building blocks (i.e., tannins, lignin, cellulose).- Manage and coordinate R&D projects with research organizations and industrial partners. - Funding acquisition on topics related to biomass utilization and development of bio-based products.- Market and business research, IP analyses.

  • Principal Scientist

    Jun 2024 - now

  • Senior Scientist

    Jan 2017 - May 2024