“Graphmatech is a deep tech company providing technology solutions based on substantial scientific or engineering challenges. I find this a truly motivating environment to work in,” says Cecilia Århammar, Research Area Manager, who joined the Graphmatech team on 1 September 2022.
Who are you as a person?
I have an innovative mind and a great passion for science and start-up business. I have a positive and inclusive approach and enjoy collaboration in diverse and multinational teams. As manager I make sure to drive R&D projects with high quality and the customer need in focus.
What is your background?
With a M.Sc. in Material’s Chemistry in 2005, I have close to ten years of experience in cutting tool industry at Sandvik, including an industrial Ph.D. in computational physics on design of hard coatings on cemented carbides with Prof. Rajeev Ahuja at the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm in 2011. My work aimed to optimize basic material properties to extend the cutting tool lifetime and improve fundamental knowledge of hard coating coating deposition thermodynamics and kinetics. In 2015-2016 I did a Post-Doc in inorganic synthesis, functionalization, coating and characterization of the porous amorphous magnesium carbonate Upsalite in the group of Prof. Maria Strømme at Uppsala University. The latest 5 years I have worked with innovation, research and development of Upsalite at the startup company Disruptive Materials AB as Senior Scientist, Head of New Technology, acting Product Manager and Research and Development manager etc. A large part of my recent work involved generating scientific data and and preparing marketing material for b2b sales of Upsalite in Cosmetics. During this time I have been involved in the different phases of a start-up company from 5 to 20+ employees, an experience I will bring with me in my new role at Graphmatech.
What made you join Graphmatech?
Four reasons:
The Team – Graphmatech has a unique and diverse R&D Team with high level of knowledge within a wide range of areas such as graphene and graphene related materials, metal powders and 3D-printing. It is an exciting opportunity for me to lead this talented team in polymers and battery research.
Environment: Graphmatech has the clear vision to enable the green transition in accordance with the Paris Agreement Target, which is implemented in all three current business areas: Metals for electrification, Polymers for the hydrogen economy and Conductive polymers for 3D printing as well as in the recent breakthrough in battery recycling. I would like to serve the environment as a scientist and engineer and joining Graphmatech is a great way to do so.
Deep Tech: Graphmatech is a deep tech company providing technology solutions based on substantial scientific or engineering challenges. I find this a truly motivating environment to work in.
The challenge: To work in a startup business is always a challenge. I am happy to contribute directly to the conversion of advanced technology and innovation into commercialized products as Research Area Manager.
What do you want to accomplish at Graphmatech?
I intend to:
- Convert research and innovation of Aros Graphene into groundbreaking products
- Enable and encourage an environment of science excellence, close teamwork and high company spirit
- Contribute to understanding of property-performance relations of Aros graphene and Aros graphene-based composites.
What do you think will be the greatest challenge?
The main challenges will be to:
- Prioritize and time-efficiently drive the R&D projects which give maximal value of commercialization.
- Align and focus the R&D work closely to customer needs and to create marketing value.
- Maintain the sense of urgency and inter-team collaboration in a fast-growing start-up company.
Welcome Cecilia!