Activities

KMUTNB is proud to host Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lorena FREITAS DURTA, an expert in sustainable construction materials from Université de Picardie Jules Verne, France, who has embarked on a postdoctoral fellowship at KMUTNB during 15 June to 15 September 2025, under the Franco-Thai Young Talent Research Fellowship Program, funded by the Program Management Unit for Human Resources and Institutional Development, Research and Innovation (PMU-B).

She is currently an associate professor at Université de Picardie Jules Verne in France, where she specializes in sustainable construction materials. Her academic background includes extensive research on bio-based materials such as hemp, flax, and rapeseed concrete. To develop innovative composites, she became interested in exploring sugarcane bagasse, an abundant agricultural byproduct in Thailand with strong potential for eco-friendly applications. The inspiration came from the need to address two major challenges in sustainable construction: reducing environmental impact and improving the performance of bio-based materials.

The project focuses on transforming bagasse into value-added composites, with particular attention to improving their long-term performance and resistance to fire. By integrating machine learning into the development process, she aims to accelerate innovation and identify optimal formulations that are both eco-friendly and technically reliable. This research shows how agricultural waste like sugarcane bagasse can be transformed into high-value products for construction and interior design. As this innovation will reduce the need for energy-intensive and polluting resources and synthetic materials, it's a way for the industry to adopt greener materials in everyday applications. This will also respond to current market demand for sustainable and health-conscious building products.

Representing a significant step toward greener construction solutions, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lorena FREITAS DURTA’s research exemplifies the KMUTNB’s commitment to international collaboration and innovation in sustainability. The project leverages KMUTNB’s expertise in composites and machine learning to optimize the smart manufacturing process. Not only strengthening the KMUTNB’s international partnerships in sustainable research and advancing the frontiers of material science, this fellowship also promises practical benefits for the construction industry worldwide and foster long-term cooperation between France and Thailand through joint publications, future projects, and possibly joint doctoral supervision.