BIOBIT project
BIOBIT (2026-2029) is a trilateral project between Warsaw University of Technology (Poland), University of Antwerp (Belgium), and TU Wien (Austria), focusing on studies of the replacement potential of bitumen with bio-materials based on a multi-performance compatibility analysis.
The project is funded by NCN Narodowe Centrum Nauki (National Science Center), Research Foundation Flanders – FWO, and Austrian Science Fund FWF under the OPUS LAP/WEAVE funding scheme.
The project advances the research field through the following contributions:
🌿Identifying the maximum possible levels of bitumen replacement with bio-materials using a multi-scale testing framework;
🌿 Establishing principles for bio-modified bitumen compatibility in terms of chemomechanical, rheological, and durability performance to deepen understanding of this phenomenon;
🌿 Expanding knowledge on the recyclability and ecotoxicity of bio-modified binders;
🌿 Identifying pre-treatment methods and procedures required for bio-materials to be used as bitumen binder replacements;
🌿Critically assessing the suitability of existing testing methodologies for evaluating bio-modified bitumen.
Project updates
News
JOB OFFERS
WUT is hiring!
BIOBIT project is hiring a post-doc researcher in the field of pavement engineering and chemistry/materials science for a period of 3 years+ at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Road Construction Technology.
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JOB OFFERS
UAntwerp is hiring!
BIOBIT project is hiring a senior postdoctoral researcher in the field of pavement engineering and materials science for a period of 2 years at the SuPAR – Sustainable Pavements and Asphalt Research.
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Meetings
Pre kick-off meeting
On September 16th, 2025 BIOBIT held his pre kick-off meeting between the 9 core partner members. We’re going to recruit 3 new PhDs, 2 postdocs and 1 technician, as well as purchase 2 DSC and 1 TG devices, with a total project budget exceeding 2 million EUR.
Stay tuned for the project updates!
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LET’S MEET!
Team
We are a group of asphalt materials’ enthusiasts: professors, post-docs and PhD students.
PI
PROF. JAN KRÓL
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Prof. Jan Król has been a professor at the Warsaw University of Technology since 2019, affiliated with the Department of Road Construction Technology at the Institute of Roads and Bridges. He has gained international and industry experience through roles at TPA Institute for Technical Research, research stays at University of Nottingham, and as a visiting professor at University of Parma, alongside fellowships from NAWA and active involvement in RILEM and Polish Committee for Standardization.
Main research interests: bitumen rheology, microstructural testing, digital image analysis, asphalt pavement recycling.
co-PI
DR. KATARZYNA KONIECZNA
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Katarzyna Konieczna is a PhD in road materials engineering at Warsaw University of Technology (Politechnika Warszawska), Faculty of Civil Engineering. She holds BSc and MSc degrees in concrete technology. Her research involves advanced laboratory testing of physico-chemical and rheological properties of bitumen and functional characterisation of asphalt mixtures, focusing on the modification of bitumen and asphalt mixtures using bio-modifiers and recycled materials. She has contributed to multiple R&D projects in the road engineering sector, with research on asphalt pavement recycling, innovative bituminous binders, and self-healing technologies.
Main research interests: cold recycling, bitumen rheological testing, bitumen modification, self-healing pavements,
co-INVESTIGATOR
DR. ADAM LIPHARDT
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Adam Liphardt is an Assistant Professor at Warsaw University of Technology. His research focuses on asphalt pavement recycling, as well as modification of bitumen and asphalt mixtures, with involvement in numerous research projects, including 9 funded by the National Centre for Research and Development.
Main research interests: asphalt pavement recycling, bitumen modification, bitumen rheology and aging.
CO-Investigator
Post-doc
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PhD Student
MSc. Miftah Farid
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Miftah Farid is a PhD candidate in pavement materials technology with research focused in the recycling of pavement that contains polymer-modified binders (PMB). His work combines advanced laboratory testing, material characterization, and performance evaluation to support both academic research. He contributes to the BIOBIT project, investigating bio-modified binders in terms of compatibility, recyclability, and performance across multiple scales.
Main research interests: PMB, bitumen aging, sustainable pavement, RAP, fatigue performance
PhD Student
MSc. Laura Janusz
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Laura Alicja Janusz is a PhD candidate and researcher at the Warsaw University of Technology, working in the Department of Road Construction Technology. She holds an MSc in Road Engineering and conducts research on bituminous binders and their performance, building on her earlier work on binder redistribution in reclaimed asphalt pavement. Her current work within the BIOBIT project focuses on bio-based modifiers, particularly bio-oils, for sustainable asphalt materials.
Main research interests: asphalt pavement recycling, bitumen testing, bio-based modifiers, bio-modified bitumen emulsions.
PI
PROF. Wim Van den bergh
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Prof. Wim Van den bergh is a professor and Chair of the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Antwerp, and a research leader within the SuPAR (Sustainable Pavements and Asphalt Research) group. He obtained his PhD from TU Delft, focusing on recycling and self-healing in asphalt mixtures, and has since built a strong academic and industry-oriented profile in sustainable pavement engineering. His work integrates asphalt innovation, recycling technologies, and digitalisation in road construction, with extensive involvement in international research projects and initiatives such as the SURPAVE consortium.
co-PI
DR. Georgios pipintakos
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Georgios Pipintakos is a Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) postdoctoral research fellow within the Sustainable Pavements and Asphalt Research (SuPAR) group of the Faculty of Applied Engineering at the University of Antwerp.
In 2022 he was successfully awarded the title of Doctor in Applied Engineering from the UAntwerp. His PhD dissertation investigated via a number of spectroscopic, microscopic, thermoanalytical and rheological techniques the ageing mechanisms of bitumen.
co-INVESTIGATOR
DR. Seyed Reza Omranian
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Seyed Reza Omranian received his PhD from Universiti Sains Malaysia, awarded Best PhD Thesis (2019) for scientific quality and impact, and since November 2019 has been a Doctoral Assistant at the University of Antwerp, combining teaching and research in the Faculty of Applied Engineering. His expertise lies in pavement engineering, with a focus on structural and mix design, material characterization, performance enhancement, and the sustainability assessment of asphalt materials. More recently, his work has expanded to climate change, emissions from bituminous materials, urban heat island effects, and infrastructure resilience. He is actively involved in several national and international research projects, including the CRIPI COST Action, the BIOBIT project, and the EPAIC project.
Main research interests: climate-resilient infrastructure, warm-mix asphalt technologies, asphalt materials emissions, pavement monitoring, urban heat island effects.
co-INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Christina Makoundou
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Christina Makoundou is a chemist by training, a researcher in materials science at the University of Antwerp, and a three-time Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action awardee. She specialises in the conceptualisation, development, and characterisation of sustainable materials. Her current research bridges chemistry, engineering, and environmental studies to propose innovative materials and processes, with a particular focus on bio-based resources, waste valorisation and circularity across diverse sectors.
Her research interests: bio-based resources, alternative paving materials, waste valorisation, lignin, leaching, ecotoxicity.
co-INVESTIGATOR
POST-DOC
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PHD STUDENT
MSC. Arianna angelini
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Arianna Angelini is a PhD student at the university of Antwerp, part of SuPAR research group, currently working on the BIOBIT project. Prior to that she did her master’s degree in infrastructure and transportation systems in Politecnico di Torino, Italy, with an Erasmus exchange at KTH, Stockholm. Consequently, she worked for a year in Hamburg, Germany as a civil engineer, on infrastructure’s projects.
Her research interests: investigating thermal compatibility of bio-binders with bitumen, using the DSC, contributing to the advancement of research on sustainable road materials.
PI
DR. Johannes Mirwald
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Johannes Mirwald is a Postdoctoral Researcher at TU Wien. He received his PhD in 2020 from the Institute of Materials Chemistry at TU Wien. His research focuses on various topics, including realistic ageing simulations of bitumen and bio-binders, spectroscopic, chemo-mechanical and morphological assessments of these materials.
Main research area: bio-binders and bituminous materials, spectroscopy, microscopy, chromatography, rheology, environmental ageing.
co-PI
Prof. bernHard Hofko
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Bernhard Hofko is a civil engineer by training and professor for road engineering at TU Wien. He is head of the research center for road engineering and the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Chemo-Mechancial Analysis of Bituminous Materials.
Main research interests: asphalt, bitumen, viscoelasticity, rheology, aging, sustainability.
PhD student
Msc. Maximilian Lorenz
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Maximilian Lorenz is a research assistant and PhD candidate at Technische Universität Wien. With a master’s degree with specialisation in Environmental Engineering at Technische Universität Wien, Max has built a solid interdisciplinary background in technical solutions for water, energy, soil, and infrastructure systems.
Under the supervision of Prof. Bernhard Hofko and Dr. Johannes Mirwald, Max completed his master’s thesis on the ageing behaviour of biobinders, forming the basis of his ongoing doctoral research. In the BIOBIT project, he investigates the long-term ageing performance of different biobinders and dosages, assessing their suitability for sustainable infrastructure.
Project at a glance
BIOBIT IN NUMBERS
Dissemination
– Project WORKFLOW
work Packages
WP1: Characterization of raw materials and selection of bio-material dosage for bio-modified bitumen
WP2: Evaluation of chemical, structural, thermal and emission properties in the aspect of bio-modified
bitumen performance
WP3: Aging behavioUr
and durability assessment of bio-modified bitumen
and asphalt mixtures
WP4: Integrated analysis of viscoelasticity, chemomechanics and environmental impact of bio-modification of
bitumen in terms of the complex compatibility phenomenon
INTERESTED IN OUR RESEARCH?
Contact us!
If you are interested in the BIOBIT project, potential collaboration, or would like to learn more about our research on bio-based materials for asphalt and sustainable pavements, we would be happy to hear from you.
Researchers, industry partners, and stakeholders are welcome to get in touch regarding scientific collaboration, dissemination activities, or project-related inquiries.
We will do our best to respond to your message as soon as possible.
Contact us at: jan.krol@pw.edu.pl, wim.vandenbergh@uantwerpen.be,
or johannes.mirwald@tuwien.ac.at.
© 2025 BIOBIT WUT