Mr Vitalii Ponomar
My research is dedicated to advancing chemical technologies for sustainable industry and society, focusing on recycling inorganic side-streams, the chemistry and magnetism of iron compounds, and developing CO2-activated cementitious materials. I began my academic journey with an MSc in geochemistry, studying the reduction of iron oxides. During my PhD, I extended this research to practical applications in iron ore processing and beneficiation, employing advanced techniques like magnetometry and Mössbauer spectroscopy. My work resulted in multiple publications and patents, reflecting my leadership in the field. As a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Oulu, I investigated Fe chemistry in cementitious reactions, utilizing metallurgical slags to develop low-CO2 alkali-activated and carbonated cements.
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
- 2023 – 2026: Academy of Finland, 312 k€ (co-author; PI: Katja Ohenoja) / Finland
Towards sustainable and carbon-free concrete construction
- 2023 – 2026: Business of Finland, 300 k€ (co-author; PI: Katja Ohenoja) / Finland
Fossil free steel
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2022: Additional project funding for a master thesis, 6 k€ (PI)/Boliden, Finland
The effect of admixtures on the mechanical properties and durability of Fe-rich alkali-activated materials
- 2020: Individual Scholarship of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine for young scientists, ~3 k€
- 2017 – 2020: Individual Scholarship of the President of Ukraine for young scientists, ~5 k€
- 2017 – 2018: Grant for Early Career Researchers, ~7 k€ (PI)/National Academy of Science of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
Transformation of the crystal structure and magnetic characteristics of iron oxides and hydroxides under the influence of external factors
- 2015 – 2016: Grant for Early Career Researchers, ~7 k€ (co-author)/National Academy of Science of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
Synthesis of magnetite from hematite or goethite, localized in iron ores, under the influence of various reducing agents
- 2020: Award of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for young scientists
2021, 2023: Seal of Excellence under the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions call HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01-01
2023: Certificate of Appreciation for the best poster presentation at the 6th Annual International Conference on Eco-Sustainable Construction Materials
My research interests are mainly focused on the development of sustainable technologies for low carbon cement production, metal extraction, and material manufacturing.
Research supervision and leadership experience:
- Joint supervisor of 2 Master students from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (the topics related to biomineralogy and iron oxide nanoparticles)
- Joint supervisor of a Master student and Principal Supervisor of a Master students from the University of Oulu (the topics related to alkali-activated non-ferrous metallurgical slags).
- Principal Investigator of the project for young scientists of NAS of Ukraine
- Science Leadership” Class of ’23” - program for advanced level postdocs (10 ECTS)
- Joint supervision of a PhD student at the University of Oulu with the topic related to “Hydration and carbonation reactivity of electric arc furnace slags”
- Joint supervision of a PhD student at the UNSW with the topic related to “Using treated and untreated waste soils as supplementary cementitious materials”
Other key academic merits:
- Acting as an expert evaluator for two Ph.D. thesis (University of Oulu)
- Organization of international conferences: "Geochronology and ore genesis of the Precambrian and Phanerozoic", NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
- Referee for scientific publications in several international journals, including Minerals, Powder Technology, Resources, Conservation & Recycling, etc.
- Promoting open science via collaboration with Comenius University according to the grant No 3007/01/01 as part of the project funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme
My Research Supervision
- Joint supervision of a PhD student at the University of Oulu, Finland with the topic related to “Hydration and carbonation reactivity of electric arc furnace slags”
- Joint supervision of a PhD student at the UNSW with the topic related to “Using treated and untreated waste soils as supplementary cementitious materials”
My Teaching
- Graduate research assistantship at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (2013–2015)
Introduction to University Pedagogy at the University of Oulu (2022)
Guest lecture on “Recycling of metallurgical slags in alkali-activated binders for construction sector” at the University of Oulu course Recycling and Treatment of Process Rejects (2022-2023)
Teaching demonstration on the topic “Circular economy challenges in pyrometallurgical processes” at the Aalto University, Finland (2024)