January Newsletter 2026

• Stine Søndergaard, Research Assistant, Medical Biotechnology, 1 December 2025
• Nikolaj Klausholt Bak, Research Assistant, Functional Ecology and Genomics, 1 January 2026
• Irene Petrinic, Visiting Professor, Bioresources and Process Engineering, 1 February 2026
• Antoine Vardon, Postdoc, Chemical and Bioengineering, 15 January 2026
• Zhencai Li, Postdoc, Disordered Materials, 15 January 2026 

• Sebastian Møllvang, Postdoc, Environmental Microbiology, 1 January 2026  
• Simone Terp Karlsen, Postdoc, Medical Biotechnology, 1 December 2025
• Xinxin Xiao, Associate Professor, Applied Sepramolecular Chemistry, 15 January 2026 

• Stine Søndergaard, Research Assistant, Medical Biotechnology, 31 January 2026
• Mohamad Faizal Usaama Jalaudeen, Ph.D, Disordered Materials, 31 December 2025
• Jonathan Robert Buzan, Postdoc, Bioresources and Process Engineering, 31 December 2025 
• Gustav Simoni, Postdoc, Bioresources and Process Engineering, 31 December 2025 
• Kim Cao, Laboratory Technician, Chemical and Bioengieering, 31 January 2026 
• Naim Abdul Khalek, Postdoc, Bioresources and Process Engineering, 31 January 2026 
• Casper Steinmann, Associate Professor, Applied Supramolecular chemistry, 31 January 2026 
• Jonas Alexander Finkler, Postdoc, Disordered Materials, 31 January 2026 

The Department Committee will have their next meeting on 24 February 2026. At this meeting, the committee will look at the planning of this year's Department Seminar as well as Naturmødet in Hirtshals and much more. If you have any items for the agenda, please ask the employee members to put the item on the agenda (e.g. Louise Killerich Pratas, Peter Roslev, Søren Strandskov, Henriette Casper, Stefan Junne and Nadieh de Jonge). 

 The Consultation Committee held an extraordinary meeting in December 2025 to provide input for the hearing regarding the analysis of the HR and Economy area at Aalborg University. The next meeting will be held on 9 February 2026, where the main topic will be the results of the AAU Staff and well‑being survey. Associate Professor Jens Muff will join the group of management representatives, replacing Niels T. Eriksen for the next two years. Christine Steenberg will take over the secretary function and replace Kathrine Berg. 

The Management Committee (MC) will undergo the last session of their DiSC program on 12 February 2026 as part of their leadership development. Key topics for the year are expected to include economic, declining student uptake, funding and research and related priorities. 

To ensure transparency and provide an overview of the topics discussed throughout the year, minutes from all meetings are available online:

• Department Council meeting minutes
• Collaboration Committee meeting minutes 

• Cejna Anna Quist Jensen “Drikkevand på flaske kan blive en realitet i Danmark, hvis ikke vi handler” Kristeligt-Dagblad 
• Mette Lübeck “Aalborg Universitet er repræsenteret på Maritim Innovationsdag i Frederikshavn” Fiskerforum.dk 
• Mads Albertsen “Haderslev udødeliggjort i mikrobernes rige” Der Nordschleswiger 
• Mads Albertsen, Per Halkjær Nielsen og Jannie Munk Kristensen ”Storslået og betydningsfuldt: Ingeniøren kårer Danmarks mikroflora-kortlægning som årets største, danske videnskabelige bidrag” pro.ing.dk 
• Mads Albertsen, Per Halkjær Nielsen og Jannie Munk Kristensen “Forskere tegner første danmarkskort over jordens usynlige liv” Videnskab.dk 
• Mads Albertsen, Per Halkjær Nielsen, Caitlin Singleton og Thomas Bygh Nymann Jensen ”AAU står bag årets største videnskabelige gennembrud i Danmark” ligeher.nu, Nordjyske, minbyaalborg.dk 
• Mads Albertsen ”Nordjysk projekt kåret som "Årets forskningsresultat” TV 2 Nord 
• Peter Kristensen “Førende dansk forsker finder modgift mod verdens farligste slanger” Ude og Hjemme 

Peer-reviewed publications from 01.12.2025 to 20.01.2026

• Bárzaga-Martell, L., Diaz-Quezada, S., Estay, H., & Ruiz-del-Solar, J. (2025). Estimation of Copper Grade, Acid Consumption, and Moisture Content in Heap Leaching Using Extended and Unscented Kalman Filters. Minerals, 15(5), Article 521. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15050521  
• Bosviel, J., Kitzinger, K., Vulcano, F., Klotz, F., Legin, A., Büsing, P., Rennebarth, T., Stuehrenberg, J., Marchant, H., Wagner, M., Wessels, M., Schleheck, D., Kuypers, M. M. M., & Pester, M. (2025). Spatiotemporal and temperature-dependent disconnect between ammonia oxidation and dark DIC fixation in deep oligotrophic Lake Constance. ISME Communications, 5(1), Article ycaf201. https://doi.org/10.1093/ismeco/ycaf201  
• Bravo-Gutiérrez, M., Díaz-Quezada, S., Liu, W., Vargas, T., & Estay, H. (2025). Aqueous copper speciation in acidic sulfate/chloride media using SIT theory: A supporting tool for copper sulfide chloride-leaching. Journal of Molecular Liquids, 434, Article 128062. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2025.128062  
• Bustamante, C., Zamora, D., Pérez, K., Troncoso, E., Díaz-Quezada, S., & Estay, H. (2025). Optimum Hollow Fiber Air-Gap Membrane Distillation Modules: Industrial Scale Design Based on Performance Indicators. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 64(29), 14639-14655. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.5c01364  
• Bustos-Caparros, E., Viver, T., Gago, J. F., Venter, S. N., Bosch, R., Konstantinidis, K. T., Rodriguez-R, L. M., & Rossello-Mora, R. (2025). Uneven sequencing (coverage) depth can bias microbial intraspecies diversity estimates and how to account for it. ISME Communications, 5(1), Article ycaf228. https://doi.org/10.1093/ismeco/ycaf228  
• Chen, Z., Du, T., & Smedskjaer, M. M. (2025). Crystallization Mechanism of β-Li3PS4Solid Electrolyte. ACS Applied Energy Materials, 8(24), 17628-17633. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.5c03158  
• Díaz-Quezada, S., Wilson, D. I., & Pérez-Correa, J. R. (2025). Model-based workflow for sustainable production of high-quality spirits in packed column stills. Computers and Chemical Engineering, 192, Article 108910. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compchemeng.2024.108910  
• Garcia, A., Fernández-Boo, S., Barreto, A., Semedo, M., Thomsen, M. H., Stensballe, A., Maxwell, M., Leonidas, M., Christakopoulos, P., Kiron, V., Rocha, R. J. M., & Costas, B. (2025). Modulating Whiteleg Shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) Health from the Inside out: Effects of Xylooligosaccharides from Salicornia ramosissima on Gut Metabolites and Microbial Community . International Journal of Molecular Sciences , 26(24), Article 11978. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262411978  
• Ge, X., Sun, D., Xu, X., Shi, C., Zhen, Z., Li, Z., Sørensen, S. S., Hoover, C. G., Jensen, L. R., Youngman, R. E., Yue, Y., Li, J., Hu, Q., & Smedskjær, M. M. (2026). Topological descriptors for disordered networks enable property prediction of multicomponent oxide glasses. Acta Materialia, 306, Article 121881. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2025.121881  
• Holzer, M., Johansen, S. M., Christensen, J. F. S., Smedskjær, M. M., Cicconi, M. R., de Ligny, D., Müller, R., de Camargo, A. S. S., & Maaß, R. (2026). Direct connection between secondary relaxation mode and fracture toughness in alkali-aluminosilicate glasses. Materials Today Advances, 29, Article 100669. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtadv.2025.100669  
• Inzillo, B. M., Aquino, M., Quilaqueo, M., Straface, S., Díaz-Quezada, S., Estay, H., Argurio, P., Santoro, S., & Curcio, E. (2025). Thermo-osmotic membrane distillation-crystallization for enhanced dehydration of lithium brines and sustainable SWRO brine management. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 76, Article 108181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2025.108181  
• Jacobsen, J. H., Orlando, P., Jensen, L. Ø., Pagh, S., & Pertoldi, C. (2026). Bioacoustic Detection of Wolves Using AI (BirdNET, Cry-Wolf and BioLingual). Animals, 16(2), 175. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16020175  
• Jélvez, E., Silva, J., Díaz-Quezada, S., Morales, N., Vargas, T., & Estay, H. (2025). A novel methodology to generate an optimal irrigation plan on a copper-oxide ore heap leaching process. Minerals Engineering, 233, Article 109660. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109660  
• Jing, R., Nielsen, T. T., Pennisi, P., Christiansen, J. D. C., & Larsen, K. L. (2025). Supramolecular UV-curable Hydrogels without Photo-initiator for 3D Bioprinting. Abstract from 8th European Cyclodextrin Conference, Milan, Italy.  
• Lagido, C., Zhang, C., Atira, L., Vieyra-Ramirez, A., Kakouli-Duarte, T., & Stürzenbaum, S. R. (2025). Caenorhabditis elegans and Ecotoxicogenomics. In T. Kakouli-Duarte, G. Korthals, S. S. Moreno, G. D. Preez, & R. G. M. D. Goede (Eds.), Nematodes as Environmental Indicators: From theory to practice (2 ed., pp. 222-249). CABI Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781800624221.0014  
• Li, X., Chen, C., Sun, K., Li, L., Xiao, Z., Li, Z., Yue, Y., Qiu, J., & Tan, D. (2026). Perovskite nanocrystals-in-glass hierarchical structures enable stable continuous-wave random lasers. Science Advances, 12(3), Article eadz8460. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adz8460  
• Mattsson, T., Jørgensen, A. K., Echers, S. G., Olsen, M., Badfar, N., Heiske, S. U., Veje, M. H., Lübeck, P. S., Jørgensen, M. K., & Lübeck, M. (2025). Green leaf biorefining – A demonstrator for production of high-quality food-grade protein. Future Foods, 12, Article 100846. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fufo.2025.100846  
• Morgante, C., Herrero-Gonzalez, M., Lopez, J., Imholze, J., Boffa, V., Ibañez, R., & Cortina, J. L. (2026). A global outlook of the desalination industry and state-of-the-art technologies for brine valorisation. Desalination, 621, Article 119718. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2025.119718  
• Moser, C., Bjarnsholt, T., & Thomsen, T. R. (2025). EUROBIOFILMS 2024 - From environment and basic science to serious clinical infections - bridging for solutions. Biofilm, Article 100300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioflm.2025.100300  
• Pagh, S., Larsen, H. L., Bertelsen, S. S., Hansen, H. H., Vilhelmsen, H., Pertoldi, C., & de Jonge, N. (2026). Diet analysis of Hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius), and best practice for studies combining DNA and micro-histologic analysis of faecal samples. Mammal Research, 71(1), Article 9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-025-00824-y  
• Perea, C. G., Ihle, C. F., Dyer, L., Quezada, S. D., González, C., & Estay, H. (2025). Leaching of complex copper concentrates in alkaline monosodium glutamate solutions. Minerals Engineering, 232, Article 109560. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109560  
• Pérez, K., Díaz-Quezada, S., Zamora, D., & Estay, H. (2025). Heat pump assisted air gap and direct contact membrane distillation configurations: Comparative simulations of industrial scale cases at the water-energy nexus. Energy, 315, Article 134369. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2025.134369  
• Pérez, K., Bustamante, C., Zamora, D., Troncoso, E., Díaz-Quezada, S., & Estay, H. (2025). Air gap membrane distillation-crystallization process simulation for energy-efficient water recovery and lithium concentration from brines. Separation and Purification Technology, 375, Article 133823. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2025.133823  
• Qi, M., Luong, B., & Yu, H. (2025). Process Simulation, Integration and Energy Analysis of Direct Air Capture and Green Fischer–Tropsch Fuel Production. Chemical engineering transactions, 120, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.3303/CET25120001  
• Sahoo, S., Thakur, D., Verma, M., Ye, Z., Balakrishnan, V., Krishnan, N. M. A., & Gosvami, N. N. (2025). Large‐Area Atomically Thin WS2 Enables Exceptionally Scratch‐Resistant Silica Glass. Small, Article e12661. https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202512661  
• Schade, A. M., Li, Y., Louring, S., Guo, L., Yu, D., & Smedskjaer, M. M. (2026). Impact testing of screen protectors for mobile devices. International Journal of Applied Glass Science, 17(1), Article e70018. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijag.70018  
• Schäfer, Z., Thomsen, T. R., Schulz, H. J., Thayssen, F. M., Christensen, M., Lindholt, L., Svendsen, K., Mathisen, A., & Grønbæk, K. (2025). An Analysis of COVID-19 Recovery Duration: Smartwatch Activity and Self-Report. In 2025 47th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC) Article 11251653 IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). https://doi.org/10.1109/EMBC58623.2025.11251653  
• Tengstedt, A. N. B., Høye, T. T., Kristensen, T. N., & Hansen, M. M. (2026). Evaluating inbreeding and assessing the risk of outbreeding depression in genetic rescue using whole-genome sequence data. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 123(1), e2526216122. Article e2526216122. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2526216122  
• Wesseltoft, J., de Jonge, N., Hansen, M. M., Høye, T. T., Ørsted, M., & Kristensen, T. N. (2026). Heat tolerance and thermal scope are evolutionarily constrained in Greenlandic terrestrial arthropods. Global Change Biology, 32(e70687). 
• Weyhe, A. T., Pergher, B. B., Gruter, G. J. M., & Yu, D. (2026). Physical aging of terephthalate-isosorbide co-polyesters. Polymer, 342, Article 129322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2025.129322  
• Wu, Y., Zhao, X., Li, Y., Zhang, K., & Yang, F. (2026). Domain decomposed physics-informed neural networks for coupled diffusion and deformation in bilayer electrode materials. Journal of Energy Storage, 141(Part B), Article 119199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2025.119199  
• Xu, T., Li, Z., Zheng, K., Zhang, H., Shinozaki, K., Zhang, H., Jensen, L. R., Gao, F., Ren, J., Zhang, Y., & Yue, Y. (2026). Towards stable metal organic-inorganic complex glasses. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 674, Article 123923. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2025.123923  
• Zamora, D., Díaz-Quezada, S., González, C., Quilaqueo, M., Romero, J., Santoro, S., Curcio, E., & Estay, H. (2025). Modeling the membrane distillation-crystallization process: Validation through the water and crystals recovery from hypersaline and multi-ion lithium brines. Separation and Purification Technology, 355, Article 129613. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2024.129613  
• Zhang, B., Zhu, Q., Song, R., Ren, J., He, C., & Yu, H. (2026). Side-stream filtration and cooling for hybrid open-closed circulating cooling water system: Retrofitting and stochastic optimization. Computers and Chemical Engineering, 204, Article 109385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compchemeng.2025.109385