Courtesy Department of Chemistry
Dr Silvia Vignolini has been awarded the 2018 KINGFA Young Investigator award.
Dr Vignolini's research group studies plant structures and how they manipulate light to obtain brilliant and iridescent colours. Knowledge of the interplay between the morphology, composition and optical appearance of biological photonic systems can provide inspiration for new artificial photonic materials.
The KINGFA Young Investigator Award recognises outstanding contributions by young investigators to the science and chemical technology of cellulose and renewable materials. The award cites Silvia's contribution "to our understanding of the optical function and underlying physical and chemical phenomena at the origin of natural optical materials."
The annual award is administered by the American Chemical Society Cellulose and Renewable Materials Division, who aim to inspire bio-based solutions for a sustainable future by supporting innovation in cellulose and renewable materials.
The award states: "Silvia's work on bio-inspired optical materials demonstrates how the community of optical materials should widen the scope of materials, morphologies and techniques explored for the conception and realisation of novel optical materials and devices with unprecedented functionality."
As the recipient of this award, Dr. Vignolini will receive $1,500 and a plaque, to be given at the 2019 CELL Division Awards Banquet in Florida.