Prof. Irina Smirnova is a distinguished chemical engineer and academic leader conducting research on sustainable process engineering - particularly in the development of bio-based materials and green technologies.
She is the Executive Co-Director of the United Nations University (UNU) Hub at on Engineering to Face Climate Change at the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), where she leads the research cluster on Circular Technologies for Bio-based Materials, contributing to the development of sustainable technologies for materials made from biomass, emphasizing both the production of biomaterials and the circular economy.
A central theme of her research is the advancement of biorefinery concepts and the promotion of a circular economy. She focuses on converting lignocellulosic biomass into high-value products using CO₂, water, and enzymes. This approach aims to fully utilize plant residues like wheat straw, isolating components such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin for bio-based chemicals, fuels, and materials.
In collaboration with industry partners, Prof. Smirnova has been instrumental in launching the world's largest pilot plant for the production of bioaerogels at TUHH. This pioneering facility aims to scale up the production of biopolymer aerogels, contributing to energy efficiency in various industries.
Prof. Smirnova is also the Vice President for Research at TUHH and heads the Institute of Thermal Separation Processes. She is internationally renowned for her work on aerogels and supercritical fluid processes as well as thermodynamic modelling. Her outstanding contributions have earned her several accolades, including the DECHEMA Young Academic Award, Hamburg Teaching Award and Ralf Dahrendorf Prize.