Florent Gauvin has been an Assistant Professor in the Department of the Built Environment, unit Building Physics and Services, Building Materials at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) since 2019. His research interests concern the development of bio-based materials as sustainable and functional building materials, with a focus on everything from biomass and fibers to aerogels. The goal is to provide the building sectors with sustainable, reusable materials that meet - or surpass - the same stringent standards as existing building materials. For this, elaborate test tale place in the lab and in real-world applications. Reuse of materials and waste is another key interest.

His current research topics focus on the valorization of local biomass (e.g. hemp, miscanthus, cattail…) in cementitious and polymeric composites, development and characterization of new bio-based insulation materials (e.g. hempcrete, mycelium, green roof…), functionalization of natural fibers and composites to improve their properties (e.g. photocatalytic, super-hydrophobic, microstructural and composition enhancement) and the recyclability of bio-based composites. Florent’s teaching covers, for example, courses related to materialisation of roofs and facades and material panorama as well as the introductory course. He is also supervising several student projects. 

“We must understand and improve bio-based materials as a substitute for conventional materials to pave the way for a more sustainable and circular future”

Florent Gauvin obtained his BSc in chemistry at Heriot-Watt University (Edinburgh, Scotland) and his MSc in Material Chemistry at Université Grenoble Alpes (Grenoble, France) in 2012. After this, he carried out his doctorate research on the nano-reinforcement of fiber-reinforced composites in the department of civil engineering at Sherbrooke University (Sherbrooke, QC, Canada). Additionally, he was lecturer in Mechanical and civil engineering for several bachelor courses. After obtaining his PhD in 2016, he started working as a post-doctoral researcher in the department of Built Environment, at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) on the photocatalytic functionalization of wood-cement composites. In 2019, he was appointed as Assistant Professor in circular materials in the same research group.