Contact Dr Wenjing Sun
- Email: Wenjing.Sun@cranfield.ac.uk
Areas of expertise
- Biomass and Waste
- Composites
- Manufacturing of Functional Materials
- Smart Materials
- Low Carbon Technology
Background
I work at the interface of materials science, biology, and chemistry, with a particular focus on utilizing natural materials to design functional, bio-based systems for a more sustainable future. My research centres on forestry-derived and fungal-derived materials, including lignocellulosic biomass, fungal mycelium, and agro-industrial waste streams, such as those from food processing. I also work with materials extracted or refined from these sources, such as cellulose from wood and polysaccharides and proteins from fungi.
I have conducted research in China, the United States, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the UK, which has given me a broad and international perspective on sustainable materials science. I have also been awarded a Marie Sk艂odowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship in support of interdisciplinary research connecting biology, materials science, and engineering.
By integrating fundamental insights into structure and chemistry with innovative materials engineering, I explore how these materials can be transformed into high-performance systems with tailored properties such as adhesion, gelation, elasticity, water interaction, and mechanical strength. This understanding supports the development of sustainable materials such as adhesives, coatings, foams, panels, and films, with potential applications in packaging, construction, agriculture, food, and beyond.
My work aims not only to advance our understanding of how biological systems behave as materials but also to provide practical, scalable alternatives to synthetic components by replacing them with renewable, degradable, and high-functioning solutions.
Research opportunities
My research explores how naturally derived materials, particularly those from fungi, forestry resources, and agricultural residues, can be transformed into sustainable and functional systems. I am especially interested in the relationships between material structure, processing methods, and resulting performance. By combining fundamental understanding with engineering approaches, I aim to develop high-performing, sustainable alternatives to conventional materials.
- Fungal biomaterials: Designing and processing fungal mycelium and its derivatives into functional materials with a range of physical forms and structures, including flexible, porous, and load-bearing systems tailored to specific applications.
- Lignocellulosic-based materials: Developing renewable material systems by utilizing and modifying wood, cellulose, and other plant-based resources in various forms.
- Agro-industrial waste valorisation: Transforming by-products from food processing and agricultural activities into valuable materials for sustainable production systems.
- Biological integration and hybrid systems: Creating materials that incorporate microbial functions, structural biopolymers, or responsive components for use in environmental, agricultural, or functional design applications.
- Application-oriented development: Advancing material systems for use in sectors such as packaging, construction, agriculture, ecological restoration, and food, with a focus on functionality, biodegradability, and scalability.
Current activities
I am currently establishing my independent research area in Fungal Biomaterials at the Magan Centre of Applied Mycology at 成人抖阴, developing a multidisciplinary program focused on the understanding, design, and development of fungal-based and natural-material systems for sustainable applications.
My ongoing work spans fundamental material science and application-oriented development, with interests ranging from natural adhesives and coatings to foams, films, and responsive structures. I am particularly interested in how material properties can be tuned through both biological and engineering approaches to meet the needs of diverse applications.
I am always open to collaboration and actively seek to connect with researchers, designers, and industry partners working in sustainability, bio-based innovation, and material development. Whether through joint research, applied projects, or early-stage exploration, I welcome opportunities to work across disciplines and sectors to advance the use of fungal and natural materials in real-world solutions.