Jean has a background in mechatronics and environmental engineering, with a focus on air quality and airborne pollutants, and professional experiences in the industry and in academia. Since January 2025, he works on the NanoTrust-Beyond project.
Jean holds an Engineering degree from the École Nationale Supérieure de Mécanique et des Microtechniques (France) and a Master’s degree in Mechatronics with a specialization in Microsystems from the Technische Universität Ilmenau (Germany) with a thesis on energy-efficient microsensors for the detection of oxygen in food packaging.
During his PhD in environmental engineering, completed in 2022 at ETH Zurich (Switzerland) he worked on the development of polymer-based 3D-printed microsensors for air-quality monitoring, and during the outbreak of COVID-19 he developed a computational model to assess the protection efficiency of facemasks.
Before starting his PhD, Jean worked as engineer in the swiss automotive industry, in the development of smart electric actuators to control the emissions of pollutants in internal combustion engines. Before joining the ITA, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Toronto (Canada) where he focused on quantifying the air-quality-related health impacts of the deployment of electric vehicles in the U.S.
The ‘stealth effect’ refers to a camouflage mechanism that enables bacteria to evade the immune system. In medical research, this phenomenon is utilized to significantly increase both circulation time within the body and precision in targeting disease foci. The primary areas of application lie in targeted tumor therapy, but also include the diagnostics of infectious diseases such as cholera, as well as the treatment of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases. This dossier provides an overview of various natural and synthetic coating methods, many of which are inspired by the model of camouflaged nanoparticles. These include coatings with polymers to increase circulation time in the bloodstream, as well as the use of biomimetic cell membranes that ensure excellent biocompatibility.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) possess remarkable properties that make them attractive for many applications, including non-stick coatings, waterproof clothing, and firefighting foams. However, this is a double-edged sword: their thermal and chemical resistance also means that they do not degrade easily once released into the environment.
Consequently, PFAS are now regularly detected in even the most remote regions of the planet. They are found in blood samples of humans and wildlife, and are associated with a wide range of adverse health outcomes: PFAS have been shown to weaken the immune system, interfere with foetal development,disrupt endocrine function and increase cancer risk.
This NanoTrust Dossier provides an overview of occupational exposure limits for ENMs in Europe. It highlights the challenges in establishing these limits and effectively safeguarding workers in a rapidly evolving field, and presents initiatives to accelerate the toxicity assessment of nanomaterials.
Tel.: +43 (0)1 515 81-6578
Fax: (+43-1-) 515 81-6570
Bäckerstraße 13, 1010 Vienna
jean.schmitt(at)oeaw.ac.at
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