Sara T. R. Velasquez

Sara is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Twente, working at the interface between chemistry, biology, materials science, and engineering to solve societal problems. Her current research focuses on developing sustainable polymers to protect plants as an alternative to toxic pesticides, including developing lignin-based materials to improve biodegradability and exploring novel applications. She completed her Ph.D. in pure and applied chemistry at Strathclyde University, following an M.Sc. in materials science from ETH Zurich, and B.Sc. in materials engineering from the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Sara is passionate about public engagement, particularly encouraging women and under-represented groups into STEM.