Strengthening collaboration through Hands-On Training: SSbD4CheM researcher from LU visits VITO
From 22 May to 7 June 2025, Dr. Mansoor Ahmad Bhat, a Postdoctoral researcher at Loughborough University (UK), visited VITO in Mol (Belgium) as part of the textile case study in the project. The purpose of the visit was to receive a hands-on training with advanced analytical instrumentation and to align laboratory methodologies across both partners.
During his two-week stay, Mansoor was trained in Pyrolysis-GCMS and other analytical techniques & instruments, focusing on sample preparation and material analysis procedures used at VITO. The training was given by VITO colleagues Milica Velimirovic and Xiaoyu Zhang, with the primary goal of enabling Mansoor to replicate these methodologies at Loughborough University, thereby supporting harmonised workflows within the project.
In addition to the technical training, several coordination meetings were held to discuss ongoing research activities, future experiments, and shared objectives.
Key follow-up actions from the visit include:
- Finalising and submitting a joint publication on tailored analytical approaches for the safety assessment of novel textile materials.
- Analysing UV-weathered textile samples prepared by project partner KORTEKS.
- Initiating UV weathering and subsequent analysis of wood composite materials developed by WOOD K Plus.
This collaborative visit highlights the SSbD4CheM project’s commitment to internal knowledge exchange, capacity building, and cross-partner synergy and collaboration in advancing safer and more sustainable chemicals and materials.
