Dr. Lukas Fliri, Institute of Chemistry of Renewable Reources at BOKU University, received the PhD Award 2025 (1st prize) of the International Academy of Wood Science (IAWS). The award for his dissertation in cellulose chemistry and fiber engineering was presented on June 3rd, 2026 at the IAWS conference in Zurich.

Dr. Lukas Fliri from the Institute of Chemistry of Renewable Reources at BOKU University  has been awarded the 2025 PhD Award (1st prize) of the International Academy of Wood Science (IAWS), during an award ceremony  on June 3rd, 2026 at the international IAWS conference in Zurich. The award recognizes outstanding doctoral research related to wood science, wood technologies, and bio-based materials derived from wood, while promoting international academic exchange. Dr. Fliri is now a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Chemistry of Renewable Resources at BOKU University, within the Cluster of Excellence "Circular Bioengineering". He completed his doctoral studies at Aalto University in February 2025, supervised by Assoc.Prof. Dr. Michael Hummel. 

His dissertation “Carbonyls in Cellulose: An Investigation into Formation Mechanisms, Analytical Methods, and their Consequential Properties for Fiber Engineering Applications,” focused on the formation, analysis, and material-related effects of carbonyl groups in cellulose. The work contributes to a deeper understanding of oxidative processes in cellulose and provides new ideas for advanced fiber development and bio-based carbon fiber concepts. 

During his PhD, Dr. Fliri also conducted research at BOKU University, Institute of Chemistry of Renewable Resources, through the FinnCERES GoGlobal mobility program. 

24.06.2026