Prof. Vasilica POPESCU, Department of Chemical Engineering in Textiles and Leather, Faculty of Industrial Design and Business Management, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Romania.
Professor Dr. Vasilica Popescu is a distinguished academic and researcher in the field of Textile Chemical Engineering at “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Romania. With over three decades of professional experience, she has significantly contributed to the chemical engineering domain, especially in textiles and leather technologies. Currently serving as the Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering in Textiles and Leather, she has shaped academic curricula and supervised numerous research projects. She is the author of six books, multiple laboratory guides, and over 150 scientific publications, including peer-reviewed ISI-indexed journal articles. Her dedication to scientific excellence has earned her numerous national and institutional awards, along with recognition as an exceptional reviewer for prestigious international journals. Her research focuses on improving textile fiber quality, sustainable textile processing, and polymer composites. Professor Popescu is also deeply involved in advancing academic integrity and ethics in higher education.
Publication Profile
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🎓 Education
Vasilica Popescu earned her Ph.D. in Textile Chemical Technology from the “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi in 1999, with a dissertation titled “Research on improving quality of acrylic fibres used in textile industry” under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Eng. Romen Butnaru. Prior to this, she completed her engineering degree in Textile Chemistry at the Faculty of Technology and Chemistry of Textiles, “Gheorghe Asachi” Polytechnic Institute in 1988. She also holds a post-university diploma in Pedagogical and Scholar Psychology, equipping her with valuable educational methodologies. Her foundational education includes a Baccalaureate diploma from the High School of Chemical Industry (1979–1983). Additionally, she has pursued professional specializations such as Finishing Chemical Textiles (1989), Didactic and Pedagogical Improvement (1998–1999), Supervisor Teacher of Technological and Research Practice (2011–2012), and Quality, Ethics, and Academic Integrity (2021). These qualifications reflect her continuous commitment to academic excellence and pedagogical refinement.
💼 Experience
Professor Vasilica Popescu has accumulated extensive teaching and research experience at the “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Romania. Since 2023, she has been serving as a Professor and the Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering in Textiles and Leather at the Faculty of Industrial Design and Business Management. Her prior roles include Associate Professor (2015–2023), Lecturer (1999–2015), and Coordinator Engineer of the Pilot Applied Researching Laboratory (1993–1999) in the same institution. Early in her career, she worked as an Engineer in the Research & Development Department of “ELCA” Company, Campina, Prahova. Across these roles, she has contributed to academic leadership, curriculum development, and industrial collaboration. Her teaching spans Textile Chemistry, Fiber Processing, and Advanced Material Technologies. Her leadership in research projects and international collaborations showcases her influence in integrating academic knowledge with real-world textile engineering challenges.
🏆 Honors and Awards
Professor Popescu’s dedication to scientific research and education has been recognized with 14 notable awards, including 13 national UEFISCDI awards for outstanding research contributions between 2012 and 2023. She also won the prestigious competition to become a “Supervisor Teacher of Technological and Research Practice.” Additionally, she was honored with a Certificate of Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing by Carbohydrate Polymers in 2017, having conducted 64 reviews for the journal. She has reviewed 195 articles for ISI-indexed journals such as Carbohydrate Polymers, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Environmental Engineering and Management Journal, Science and Engineering of Composite Materials, among others. Her significant impact in the scientific community is reflected by her h-index of 14 in both Web of Science and Scopus. These accolades confirm her as a leading figure in textile chemical engineering, polymer science, and sustainable material development.
🔬 Research Focus
Professor Popescu’s research primarily explores the chemical engineering aspects of textiles and leather, with a strong emphasis on enhancing the quality and functionality of polymer and acrylic fibers used in the textile industry. Her interests include innovative textile finishing techniques, eco-friendly fiber modification, composite materials, nanomaterials integration, and sustainable processing methods to reduce environmental impact. She also investigates biocompatible materials, functional coatings, and smart textile applications designed for medical and technical purposes. Her work often bridges the gap between industrial application and academic research, contributing to both fundamental studies and applied sciences in textile engineering. Additionally, Professor Popescu is engaged in developing educational strategies focused on academic integrity, ethics in research, and the implementation of digital learning platforms in higher education. Through her numerous publications and collaborative projects, she continues to push the boundaries of knowledge in fiber technology and functional textile materials.
📚 Publications
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Research on Improving Quality of Acrylic Fibres Used in Textile Industry
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Functional Finishing of Textiles by Eco-Friendly Methods
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Influence of Nanostructured Coatings on Textile Fiber Performance
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Application of Biopolymers in Sustainable Textile Processing
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Studies on the Durability of Treated Leather Surfaces
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Antimicrobial Finishing of Cotton Fabrics Using Silver Nanoparticles
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Evaluation of Environmental Impact in Textile Wet Processing
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Development of Smart Textiles for Biomedical Applications
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Photocatalytic Activity of Modified Polyester Fibers
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Chemical Modification of Wool Fibers for Improved Dyeability
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Characterization of Textile Waste for Recyclable Applications
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Preparation of Composite Materials Using Textile Waste
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Effect of Plasma Treatment on the Properties of Synthetic Fibers
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Synthesis of Conductive Polymers for Smart Textiles
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Improvement of Flame Retardancy in Textile Products
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Design of Eco-Friendly Dyes for Textile Applications
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Influence of Cross-Linking Agents on Cotton Fabric Properties
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Mechanical Properties of Bio-Based Textile Composites