Nonappa Nonappa

I am an Associate Professor of Nanochemistry at Tampere University, leading a multidisciplinary team where chemistry meets biology, medicine, and materials science. My work spans nanoparticle self-assembly, cryogenic electron microscopy, biopolymer optical fibers, and breast cancer disease and diagnostics, all united by one goal: engineering materials to solve real human problems.

Precision: From materials to medicine

My research focuses on the design, characterization, and preparation of materials, devices, and systems that involve the manipulation and control at the highest level of precision. I bridge materials chemistry, nanotechnology, and biomedical sciences to fabricate structures that preserve their unique properties from the nanoscale all the way to macroscopic and living systems.

Mission-driven science

By effectively utilizing material stock and flow, creating a new value chain, and driving innovation in good health and well-being, our research activities support climate-neutral policies, the circular economy, the European Union's Green Deal, the UN´s Sustainable Development Goals, and Europe´s Beating Cancer Plan. For more information, see our Research Page and Publications. 

• Since 2022, secured €1.5 M in Business Finland funding as Principal Investigator and contributed to a further € 2.0 M in major research projects spanning cancer diagnostics, personalized therapy, environmental sensing, and sustainable photonics.
• Built a high-impact research profile with 120+ publications, 5,400 citations, with 45 corresponding-author papers in leading journals including Nature Communications, Advanced Materials, ACS Nano, JACS, Small, and Angewandte Chemie.
• Translated research into innovation through three Research-to-Business projects, multiple invention disclosures, and patent applications.
• Supervised >45 researchers and trainees, including postdoctoral researchers, PhD candidates, Master’s and Bachelor’s students; alumni have progressed to industry, clinical, legal, academic, and entrepreneurial roles.
• Received the Best Innovation of the Year Award (2019), the Eli Lilly Asia Outstanding Thesis Award (2019), and the Prof. Gajendraghad Gold Medal for academic excellence.
• Earned Docent in Soft Matter Microscopy at Aalto University, and holder of Italy’s National Scientific Qualification for Associate Professor level.
• Contributed extensively to the international research community through 75+ invited lectures in five years, associate editorship, funding-panel roles, doctoral-thesis evaluation, and more than 500 peer reviews across 150 journals.

Core research pillars

• Breast cancer disease and diagnostic models
• Atomically precise nanoclusters and self-assembly
• Biopolymer optical fibers
• Advanced 3D and in situ electron microscopy

Real-world applications

• Breast cancer diagnostics and monitoring
• Bio-based sustainable ICTs for real-time environmental condition monitoring (e.g., breath humidity and pattern recognition, VOC sensing and smart wearables). 
• Precision catalysis (e.g., optoelectronics, catalysis, hydrogen evolution reaction, and bioimaging)

Current position

• 03.08.2020-Present: Associate Professor (tenure track) in Nanochemistry, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland. 

Academic degrees and titles

• 19.10.2018: Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale (ASN), CHIM/07-Fondamenti Chimici delle Tecnologie, MIUR, Italy.
• 26.05.2017: Title of Docent in Soft Matter Microscopy, School of Science, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, Finland
• 13.12.2008: Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.
• 10.11.2020: Executive Master of Business Administration, Quantic School of Business and Technology, Washington D.C., USA. 

Previous research experience 

• 26.05.2017-31.07.2020: Research Fellow and Docent, Department of Applied Physics, School of Science, Aalto University, Finland
• 01.08.2012-25.05.2017: Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Applied Physics, School of Science, Aalto University, Finland.
• 15.02.2009-31.07.2012: Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Chemistry, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.

Visit our research group page for more details: https://research.tuni.fi/png/