Dr. Gaoyuan Hou

Dr. Gaoyuan Hou is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Sustainable and Bio-inspired Materials under the direction of Prof. Silvia Vignolini at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces. His postdoctoral research focuses on extraction of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) using green methods and life cycle assessment (LCA) of CNC extraction processes

Gaoyuan received his Master’s degree in Pulp and Paper Engineering from South China University of Technology (Guangzhou, China) in 2021, where he focused on the development of opaque and transparent cellulose films for optoelectronic devices. He earned his PhD in Biomaterials Science from the University of Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan) under the supervision of Prof. Akira Isogai. His doctoral research primarily investigated chemical surface modifications of crystalline wood cellulose microfibrils, focusing on the principles and mechanisms of side reactions. After completing his PhD, Gaoyuan worked as a research associate in the Department of Biomaterials Science at the University of Tokyo. In 2025, he joined the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces.