It has already been known for some time that the properties of materials arise from the nanoscale assembly and organization of components. Dr. Linder is especially interested in how proteins function in assembly processes and for giving materials their properties. Biomimetic models suggest an important role of adhesion modules and interaction units that are connected by linkers. He used modular engineered proteins having such components to form assemblies together with cellulose nano-fibrils and showed how engineering proteins can be used to change mechanical properties. Dr. Linder sees this as a route towards designing high performance materials that can be produced in a biological and sustainable way.