{"690000":{"#nid":"690000","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Inside RBI\u2019s Labs: Scott Sinquefield\u2019s Work Behind More Efficient Industrial Systems","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/scott-sinquefield-2862a4\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EScott Sinquefield\u003C\/a\u003E is a senior research engineer at Georgia Tech\u2019s Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), where he leads research on black liquor gasification and advanced chemical recovery systems.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis work at Georgia Tech is closely tied to the development and operation of the Pressurized Entrained Flow Reactor (PEFR), one of the largest university-operated reactors of its kind used for high-temperature, high-pressure research. The system enables testing under conditions that reflect industrial recovery processes, supporting both fundamental research and applied work with industry partners.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESinquefield brings more than two decades of experience in chemical engineering, with a focus on pilot-scale reactor design, control systems, and thermodynamic modeling of aqueous electrolyte systems. He has also worked extensively on boiler fire-side fouling, a persistent issue in industrial recovery operations that affect efficiency, maintenance, and cost.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EBefore joining Georgia Tech, Sinquefield completed his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at Oregon State University and conducted experimental combustion research at Sandia National Laboratories\u2019 Combustion Research Facility in Livermore as part of the Multi-Fuel Combustion Group.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAcross his work, Sinquefield focuses on developing and operating systems that support more efficient and reliable recovery processes, with applications in both industry and research.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELearn more about RBI\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rbi.gatech.edu\/services\/recovery-testing\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERecovery Testing\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/scott-sinquefield-2862a4\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EScott Sinquefield\u003C\/a\u003E is a senior research engineer at Georgia Tech\u2019s Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), where he leads research on black liquor gasification and advanced chemical recovery systems.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Scott Sinquefield is a senior research engineer at Georgia Tech\u2019s Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), where he leads research on black liquor gasification and advanced chemical recovery systems. "}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-04-24 15:47:27","changed_gmt":"2026-04-24 17:55:32","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-24T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-24T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ychernet3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EYanet Chernet\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690013":{"#nid":"690013","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Inside RBI\u2019s Labs: Jamshad Mahmood Tackles Corrosion Across Industrial Systems","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECorrosion remains a critical challenge across pulp and paper operations as well as a wide range of manufacturing processes and materials. It directly impacts the performance and longevity of equipment such as recovery boilers, digesters, reactors, storage tanks, piping systems, and paper machines. At the Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), Jamshad Mahmood leads efforts to evaluate and mitigate these challenges through laboratory testing and field analysis.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMahmood is a mechanical engineer with more than 23 years of experience in corrosion testing and the manufacturing of recovery boilers and pressure vessels. His work focuses on understanding material behavior under real operating conditions and identifying approaches to improve equipment reliability and safety.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt RBI, Mahmood oversees corrosion laboratories and chemical inventories that support both industry partners and research initiatives. His work includes slow strain rate testing, electrochemical analysis, high-temperature aqueous corrosion testing, and molten salts corrosion studies\u2014methods used to assess material performance and inform industrial decision-making.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn parallel, Mahmood conducts field studies in operating facilities, evaluating in-situ corrosion in critical equipment such as recovery boiler tubes, digesters, paper machines, and storage systems. This combination of laboratory and field work provides a more complete understanding of corrosion mechanisms and their impact on industrial processes.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThrough this work, Mahmood contributes to RBI\u2019s efforts to improve the reliability, efficiency, and sustainability of industrial systems.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rbi.gatech.edu\/services\/corrosion-testing\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ELearn More\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;At the Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), Jamshad Mahmood leads efforts to tackle corrosion across industrial systems and mitigate these challenges through laboratory testing and field analysis.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":" At the Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), Jamshad Mahmood leads efforts to tackle corrosion across industrial systems and mitigate these challenges through laboratory testing and field analysis. "}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-04-24 17:54:34","changed_gmt":"2026-04-24 17:54:51","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-24T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-24T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ychernet3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EYanet Chernet\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689800":{"#nid":"689800","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Inside RBI\u2019s Labs: John Xu Advances More Efficient, Sustainable Papermaking","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/hanjiang-john-xu\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EHanjiang (John) Xu\u003C\/a\u003E serves as director of the Multiphase Forming Lab at Georgia Tech\u2019s Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), where he leads efforts to advance more efficient and sustainable approaches to paper formation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/feature\/multiphase-forming-lab\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EMultiphase Forming Lab\u003C\/a\u003E is the only system of its kind in North America, designed to significantly reduce the amount of water required in the papermaking process. Lowering water usage\u2014by up to 70 percent\u2014the system also reduces the heat and energy needed for drying, one of the most energy-intensive stages in production. This work has direct implications for improving efficiency, reducing costs, and supporting more sustainable manufacturing practices across the industry.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EXu brings more than 20 years of experience in laboratory and pilot-scale papermaking systems, with expertise spanning fluid mechanics, materials science, instrumentation development, and process design. His work has consistently focused on bridging research and application, supporting both product development and process optimization.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EXu works with RBI members and industry partners to apply research insights to real-world manufacturing challenges, with a focus on reducing energy consumption and advancing next generation bioproducts.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rbi.gatech.edu\/services\/multiphase-forming-pilot-facility\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELearn More\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/hanjiang-john-xu\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EHanjiang (John) Xu\u003C\/a\u003E serves as director of the Multiphase Forming Lab at Georgia Tech\u2019s Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), where he leads efforts to advance more efficient and sustainable approaches to paper formation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Hanjiang (John) Xu serves as director of the Multiphase Forming Lab at Georgia Tech\u2019s Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), where he leads efforts to advance more efficient and sustainable approaches to paper formation. "}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-04-16 19:35:41","changed_gmt":"2026-04-16 19:36:21","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-16T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-16T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679974":{"id":"679974","type":"image","title":"XU-2025-photo.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1776368149","gmt_created":"2026-04-16 19:35:49","changed":"1776368149","gmt_changed":"2026-04-16 19:35:49","alt":"Headshot of John Xu","file":{"fid":"264201","name":"XU-2025-photo.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/16\/XU-2025-photo.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/16\/XU-2025-photo.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1771850,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/16\/XU-2025-photo.jpeg?itok=ja66mJhA"}}},"media_ids":["679974"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ychernet3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EYanet Chernet\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689785":{"#nid":"689785","#data":{"type":"news","title":"RBI Announces New Fellowships, Expanding Interdisciplinary Reach  ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rbi1.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ERenewable Bioproducts Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (RBI) has announced its newest cohort of 12 fellowship projects, an expansion that reflects both growing interest and a broader vision for bioproducts research at Georgia Tech. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis year\u2019s cohort is one of the largest in recent years, signaling renewed momentum in the research areas it supports. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis year\u2019s projects reflect the strength of our core areas while also showing how the field is expanding,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/carson-meredith\u0022\u003ECarson Meredith\u003C\/a\u003E, executive director of RBI. \u201cWe\u2019re seeing faculty from more disciplines engage in bioproducts research in ways that open up new opportunities for collaboration and impact.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat expansion is reflected in where the fellowships are being awarded. For the first time, RBI has selected faculty from the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/arch.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Architecture (ARCH)\u003C\/a\u003E in the College of Design and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Biological Sciences (BIOS)\u003C\/a\u003E in the College of Science, continuing to broaden participation beyond its traditional base in chemistry and engineering.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe projects themselves reflect that shift. This year\u2019s projects work on topics ranging from microbial approaches to strengthening forest health to developing next-generation packaging materials, including high-performance barrier coatings and cellulose-derived materials.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe projects also advance the use of AI and machine learning in bioproducts development, the physics of fiber networks, and converting biomass into pharmaceuticals and synthetic leather.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany of these efforts align closely with industry priorities, particularly in packaging, papermaking, and sustainable materials\u2014areas where demand for scalable, sustainable solutions continues to grow.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETogether, the 2026 cohort points to a program that is expanding its reach across disciplines while staying focused on real-world applications of bioproduct research.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe 2026 RBI Fellowship projects and associated faculty are listed below.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPhysics-Guided Learning of Mechanical Behavior in Forming-Stage Fiber Networks\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/xia\u0022\u003EShuman Xia\u003C\/a\u003E*, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/zhu-1\u0022\u003ETing Zhu\u003C\/a\u003E*, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/hanjiang-john-xu\u0022\u003EJohn Xu\u003C\/a\u003E (ME\/RBI)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUpcycling Wood-Derived Cellulose Nanomaterials into Circular Barrier Coatings for Postharvest Preservation\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/vida-jamali\u0022\u003EVida Jamali\u003C\/a\u003E*, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/amirali-aghazadeh\u0022\u003EAmirali Aghazadeh\u003C\/a\u003E*, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/lily-cheung\u0022\u003ELily Cheung\u003C\/a\u003E (ChBE\/ECE)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EReimagining Southern Forests: Microbial Biotechnology for High Value Climate-Ready Biomass Feedstocks\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/joel-kostka\u0022\u003EJoel Kostka\u003C\/a\u003E*, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/e-m-ulrika-egertsdotter\u0022\u003EUlrika Egertsdotter\u003C\/a\u003E (BIOS\/RBI)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIntegrated Experimental-Computational-ML Framework for Accelerated Evaluation and Design of Biodegradable Barrier Coating for Paper-Based Packaging\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ce.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/aditya-kumar\u0022\u003EAditya Kumar\u003C\/a\u003E*, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/yuhang-hu\u0022\u003EYuHang Hu\u003C\/a\u003E*, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ce.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/danny-smyl\u0022\u003EDanny Smyl\u003C\/a\u003E* (CEE\/ME)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDirect Method for Analysis of Fiber Orientation in Multiphase Forming\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/user\/1086\u0022\u003ESuhas Jain\u003C\/a\u003E*, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/aidun\u0022\u003ECyrus Aidun\u003C\/a\u003E (ME)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERobust Packaging Insert via Phase-Separated Lignin Aerogel Particle-Supported Cellulose Hydrogel Composites\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mse.gatech.edu\/people\/shucong-li\u0022\u003EShucong Li\u003C\/a\u003E*, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/zhaohui-julene-tong\u0022\u003EJulene Tong \u003C\/a\u003E(MSE\/ChBE)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETowards Continuous Processes from Biochar to Pharmaceuticals\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/andreas-bommarius\u0022\u003EAndy Bommarius\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/people\/anthony-j-bo-arduengo\u0022\u003EAnthony \u0022Bo\u0022 Arduengo\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/people\/jesse-mcdaniel\u0022\u003EJesse McDaniel\u003C\/a\u003E (ChBE\/CHEM)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EALD Modification of Nanocellulosic Films for Ultra-High Barrier Performance\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mse.gatech.edu\/people\/mark-losego\u0022\u003EMark Losego\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mse.gatech.edu\/people\/meisha-shofner\u0022\u003EMeisha Shofner\u003C\/a\u003E (MSE)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBiomass-Derived Glycosyl Furans for the Development of Novel Value-Added Materials\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/people\/stefan-france\u0022\u003EStefan France\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/christopher-jones\u0022\u003EChris Jones\u003C\/a\u003E (CHEM\/ChBE)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDesign and Scale-Up of Mechanochemical Reactors for Cellulose Biorefining\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/fani-boukouvala\u0022\u003EFani Boukouvala\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/carsten-sievers\u0022\u003ECarsten Sievers\u003C\/a\u003E (ChBE)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EXylohyde\u2122: The Sustainable Production of Synthetic Leather from Cellulose\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/people\/anthony-j-bo-arduengo\u0022\u003EAnthony \u0022Bo\u0022 Arduengo\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/christopher-luettgen\u0022\u003EChris Luettgen\u003C\/a\u003E (CHEM\/RBI\/ChBE)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETailorable PLA-Alginate High-Performance Bio-Nanocomposites via Chitosan Cationic Bridging of Sargassum-Derived Alginate and Polylactic Acid (PLA)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mse.gatech.edu\/people\/karl-jacob\u0022\u003EKarl Jacob\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/arch.gatech.edu\/people\/inge-rocker\u0022\u003EIngebourg Rocker\u003C\/a\u003E*, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/kalaitzidou\u0022\u003EKyriaki Kalaitzidou\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mse.gatech.edu\/people\/hamid-garmestani\u0022\u003EHamid Garmestani\u003C\/a\u003E (ME, ARCH, MSE)\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003E*Indicates first-time RBI fellowship recipients.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI) has announced its newest cohort of 12 fellowship projects, an expansion that reflects both growing interest and a broader vision for bioproducts research at Georgia Tech. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI) has announced its newest cohort of 12 fellowship projects, an expansion that reflects both growing interest and a broader vision for bioproducts research at Georgia Tech.  "}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-04-16 06:37:58","changed_gmt":"2026-04-16 15:30:14","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-16T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-16T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ychernet3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EYanet Chernet\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689776":{"#nid":"689776","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Inside RBI\u2019s Labs: Rallming Yang\u2019s Work Supporting Industry and Biomass Research","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI) supports industry and research partners through a range of testing and analysis services\u2014and much of that work runs through the labs led by Rallming Yang, a senior research scientist at the institute.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith a Ph.D. in Environmental and Resource Engineering from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and earlier degrees in pulping and paper engineering from the South China University of Technology, Yang brings decades of experience in wood chemistry, chemical analysis, analytical method development, and lab management. He joined Georgia Tech in 2000 and has since taken on increasing leadership roles across RBI\u2019s lab operations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYang\u2019s work sits at the intersection of research and industry. His team provides research, chemical testing and analysis for manufacturers working with biomass\u2014everything from pulp and paper mills to research groups developing new bio-based products. The goal is straightforward: understand what\u2019s in the material, how it behaves, and how to make processes more efficient and reliable.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToday, he oversees research and testing services that support both industry partners and academic communities. These services range from chemical composition analysis to process troubleshooting, helping companies better understand materials derived from biomass and optimize their operations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to leading lab operations, Yang also teaches the Pulp \u0026amp; Bleaching Lab course at Georgia Tech, giving students hands-on experience with the same analytical techniques used in industry. As industries continue to look for more efficient and environmentally responsible ways to use natural resources, Yang\u2019s work and his labs play a critical role in making that transition possible.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELearn more about the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rbi.gatech.edu\/services\/chemical-analysis-testing\u0022\u003EChemical Analysis Lab\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rbi.gatech.edu\/services\/pulp-analysis-testing\u0022\u003EPulp Analysis Lab\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI) supports industry and research partners through a range of testing and analysis services\u2014and much of that work runs through the labs led by Rallming Yang, a senior research scientist at the institute.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech\u2019s Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI) supports industry and research partners through a range of testing and analysis services\u2014and much of that work runs through the labs led by Rallming Yang, a senior research scientist at the institute."}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-04-15 19:40:17","changed_gmt":"2026-04-15 19:42:29","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-15T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-15T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679966":{"id":"679966","type":"image","title":"Rallming Yang.png","body":null,"created":"1776282028","gmt_created":"2026-04-15 19:40:28","changed":"1776282028","gmt_changed":"2026-04-15 19:40:28","alt":"Photo of Rallming Yang in a lab holding a syringe ","file":{"fid":"264193","name":"Screenshot-2026-04-15-at-3.39.13-PM.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/15\/Screenshot-2026-04-15-at-3.39.13-PM.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/15\/Screenshot-2026-04-15-at-3.39.13-PM.png","mime":"image\/png","size":784983,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/15\/Screenshot-2026-04-15-at-3.39.13-PM.png?itok=6iDp64hy"}}},"media_ids":["679966"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ychernet3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EYanet Chernet\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689006":{"#nid":"689006","#data":{"type":"news","title":"The Conversation: Researchers develop biodegradable, plant\u2011based packaging from natural fibers \u2013 new research","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=YpxchNkAAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0022\u003EJie Wu\u003C\/a\u003E, an engineering graduate student, was studying a type of striking white beetle found in Southeast Asia and attempting to figure out how to mimic its brilliant color when an unexpected discovery upended the experiment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJie and I had been hoping to identify naturally occurring whitening pigments that could be used in paper and paints. The beetle\u2019s white exoskeleton is made from a compound called chitin, which is a type of carbohydrate \u2013 one that is also commonly found in crab and lobster shells.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERead the full article in The Conversation here: https:\/\/bit.ly\/4uBteYr\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=YpxchNkAAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0022\u003EJie Wu\u003C\/a\u003E, an engineering graduate student, was studying a type of striking white beetle found in Southeast Asia and attempting to figure out how to mimic its brilliant color when an unexpected discovery upended the experiment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJie and I had been hoping to identify naturally occurring whitening pigments that could be used in paper and paints. The beetle\u2019s white exoskeleton is made from a compound called chitin, which is a type of carbohydrate \u2013 one that is also commonly found in crab and lobster shells.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Jie Wu, an engineering graduate student, was studying a type of striking white beetle found in Southeast Asia and attempting to figure out how to mimic its brilliant color when an unexpected discovery upended the experiment."}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-03-17 20:13:54","changed_gmt":"2026-04-06 17:36:08","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-17T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-17T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"194974","name":"go-theconversation"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: ychernet3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYanet Chernet\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer I\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688798":{"#nid":"688798","#data":{"type":"news","title":"$8.9 Million Approved for Georgia Forestry Innovation Initiative ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia\u2019s forest industry has long been a pillar of the state\u2019s rural economy. But in recent years, mill closures and shifting markets have put pressure on landowners, workers, and entire communities, particularly in south Georgia. A recently approved $8.9 million \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gatrees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Forestry-Task-Force-Report-FINAL.pdf\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Forestry Innovation Initiative\u003C\/a\u003E will help chart a new path forward, creating more value from Georgia\u2019s abundant forest resources and expanding opportunities for the people and regions depending on them.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech is pleased to partner with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gatrees.org\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Forestry Commission\u003C\/a\u003E on the approved $8.9 million Georgia Forestry Innovation Initiative included in Gov. Brian Kemp\u2019s amended FY 2026 budget. This effort aims to transform low-value wood and mill byproducts into high-value materials, strengthening Georgia\u2019s forest-based economy and supporting new commercial opportunities across the state. The initiative will establish pilot facilities and accelerate technology to business transfer in partnership with industry, with the long-term goal of enabling multiple manufacturing sites across Georgia.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe appreciate the state\u2019s investment in helping move these innovations from the lab to Georgia businesses,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/2863\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECarson Meredith\u003C\/a\u003E, executive director of Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERenewable Bioproducts Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (RBI). \u201cWe also acknowledge the critical support of industry collaborators and partners like the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gfagrow.org\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Forestry Association\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gffgrow.org\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Forestry Foundation\u003C\/a\u003E.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe work builds on collaborative interdisciplinary research at Georgia Tech involving \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chbe.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESchool of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E Professors \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/andreas-bommarius\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EAndreas Bommarius\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/christopher-luettgen\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EChris Luettgen\u003C\/a\u003E and Meredith; \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESchool of Chemistry and Biochemistry\u003C\/a\u003E Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/people\/stefan-france\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EStefan France\u003C\/a\u003E and Professor of the Practice \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/people\/anthony-j-bo-arduengo\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EA.J. \u201cBo\u201d Arduengo\u003C\/a\u003E; and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/isye.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EH. Milton Stewart School of Industrial Systems and Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/users\/valerie-thomas\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EValerie Thomas\u003C\/a\u003E. Gary Black, RBI program manager, has also contributed to this effort. It is led by RBI\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rbi1.gatech.edu\/research\/center-for-renewables-based-economy-from-wood\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECenter for a Renewables-Based Economy from Wood\u003C\/a\u003E (ReWOOD.) The effort reflects years of cross-disciplinary collaboration among faculty and staff committed to advancing sustainable, wood-based technologies.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech is pleased to partner with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gatrees.org\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Forestry Commission\u003C\/a\u003E on the approved $8.9 million Georgia Forestry Innovation Initiative included in Gov. Brian Kemp\u2019s amended FY 2026 budget. This effort aims to transform low-value wood and mill byproducts into high-value materials, strengthening Georgia\u2019s forest-based economy and supporting new commercial opportunities across the state.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech is pleased to partner with the Georgia Forestry Commission on the approved $8.9 million Georgia Forestry Innovation Initiative included in Gov. Brian Kemp\u2019s amended FY 2026 budget. "}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-03-06 17:18:30","changed_gmt":"2026-03-20 13:02:58","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-10T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-10T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679569":{"id":"679569","type":"image","title":"georgia-forest.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech is pleased to partner with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gatrees.org\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Forestry Commission\u003C\/a\u003E on the approved $8.9 million Georgia Forestry Innovation Initiative included in Gov. Brian Kemp\u2019s amended FY 2026 budget.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1773166846","gmt_created":"2026-03-10 18:20:46","changed":"1773166846","gmt_changed":"2026-03-10 18:20:46","alt":"Tall pine trees in a sunlit forest with dense green grasses and undergrowth covering the forest floor.","file":{"fid":"263745","name":"georgia-forest.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/10\/georgia-forest.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/10\/georgia-forest.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1769985,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/10\/georgia-forest.jpeg?itok=tKeLvrC4"}}},"media_ids":["679569"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EJennifer Martin\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jennifer.martin@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ejennifer.martin@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689054":{"#nid":"689054","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Researchers Develop Biodegradable, Plant\u2011Based Packaging From Natural Fibers","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022theconversation-article-body\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=YpxchNkAAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0022\u003EJie Wu\u003C\/a\u003E, an engineering graduate student, was studying a type of striking white beetle found in Southeast Asia and attempting to figure out how to mimic its brilliant color when an unexpected discovery upended the experiment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJie and I had been hoping to identify naturally occurring whitening pigments that could be used in paper and paints. The beetle\u2019s white exoskeleton is made from a compound called chitin, which is a type of carbohydrate \u2013 one that is also commonly found in crab and lobster shells.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFirst, Jie extracted chitin nanofibers from crab shells obtained from food waste that are chemically the same as those found in the white beetles. But instead of creating a white material as intended, Jie produced dense, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/bm501416q\u0022\u003Etransparent films\u003C\/a\u003E. The nanofibers more readily assembled in tightly packed films than in the porous structures Jie desired.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-right zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/721546\/original\/file-20260303-57-g7dkdj.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022Two white beetles\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/721546\/original\/file-20260303-57-g7dkdj.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=237\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/721546\/original\/file-20260303-57-g7dkdj.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=882\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/721546\/original\/file-20260303-57-g7dkdj.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=882\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/721546\/original\/file-20260303-57-g7dkdj.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=882\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/721546\/original\/file-20260303-57-g7dkdj.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=1109\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/721546\/original\/file-20260303-57-g7dkdj.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=1109\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/721546\/original\/file-20260303-57-g7dkdj.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=1109\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EAn attempt to mimic the striking white color of \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003ECyphochilus\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003E beetles led researchers to a unique discovery.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cyphochilus#\/media\/File:Cyphochilus_beetles.jpg\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003EOlimpia1lli\/Wikimedia Commons\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003E, \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\u0022license\u0022 href=\u0022http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003ECC BY-NC-ND\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn a whim, Jie measured the rate at which oxygen passed through the film. The result was astonishing: The barrier allowed less oxygen through than many existing packaging plastics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat serendipitous finding in 2014 shifted \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=3qOG6PUAAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0022\u003Emy team\u003C\/a\u003E of engineering students\u2019 focus from color to packaging. We asked whether natural materials could rival the performance of common plastics. In the years since, our team has used this discovery to create biodegradable films that offer a more sustainable and effective alternative to plastic packaging.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EChallenges of Plastic Packaging\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPlastic packaging is commonly used to protect food, pharmaceuticals and personal care products. These plastics keep out moisture and oxygen from the air, so products stay \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/C2012-0-00246-3\u0022\u003Efresh and safe\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMost packaging has several layers that work together to keep air out, but these layers hinder reuse and recycling efforts. As a result, most of this plastic barrier packaging is discarded to landfills as single-use materials.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany researchers have sought alternatives that are renewable, biodegradable or recyclable, yet just as effective. At Georgia Tech, my team of students and post-docs has spent more than a decade tackling this problem. This journey began with that beetle.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EBuilding a Better Barrier\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/chitin\u0022\u003EChitin\u003C\/a\u003E is widely available in food waste and mushrooms, and it is used in products such as water filters and wound dressing. However, our early attempts to scale up the film technology based on the beetle-inspired experiment failed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2018, the team made an important leap forward by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acssuschemeng.8b01536\u0022\u003Eusing spray coating to create layers\u003C\/a\u003E of chitin and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.niehs.nih.gov\/health\/topics\/agents\/sya-nano\u0022\u003Ecellulose nanomaterials\u003C\/a\u003E. Cellulose, like chitin, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/cellulose\u0022\u003Eis a carbohydrate polymer\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 a chain of repeating carbohydrate units \u2013 and it is obtained from plants. These abundant natural materials have opposite electric charges, which led to better barrier performance when we combined them than either material alone.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn this approach, the team sprayed down a layer of chitin, followed by a layer of cellulose. The opposite charges between the chitin and cellulose created a long-range attraction between them that binds the layers to create a dense interface.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELater, in collaboration with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=BrXwtO4AAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0022\u003EMeisha Shofner\u003C\/a\u003E, a materials scientist, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/harris\u0022\u003ETequila Harris\u003C\/a\u003E, a mechanical engineer, other students showed these coatings could be applied with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acsami.2c09925\u0022\u003Escalable, roll-to-roll techniques\u003C\/a\u003E. Roll-to-roll coating methods are preferred in industry because the coatings are applied continuously to large rolls of a substrate material, such as paper or other biodegradable plastics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\u0022440\u0022 height=\u0022260\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EBNyjJFB8Zc?wmode=transparent\u0026amp;start=0\u0022 frameborder=\u00220\u0022 allowfullscreen=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003ERoll-to-roll coating allows manufacturers to easily apply thin layers of coating to a base material, called a substrate.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStill, humidity posed a major challenge, limiting any real-world applications. Moisture swelled the film, allowing more oxygen to sneak through.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThen came another breakthrough. In 2024, another collaborator, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=ZILIcOwAAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0022\u003ENatalie Stingelin\u003C\/a\u003E, and I discovered that two common food components resisted water vapor when combined: carboxymethylcellulose \u2013 which is found in ice cream, for example \u2013 and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/compound\/Citric-Acid\u0022\u003Ecitric acid\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe result was a film that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1039\/D4SU00425F\u0022\u003Ehindered the transmission of moisture\u003C\/a\u003E. The citric acid reacted with the cellulose to form cross-links, which are chemical junctions that bind the cellulose molecules. Once bound, they reduced the film\u2019s moisture uptake.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe integrated this new discovery with the prior work by combining the citric acid and cellulose, and then casting this mixture as a freestanding film by coating it onto a substrate, such as chitin.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, that formulation did not have strong oxygen barrier properties because it did not contain the highly crystalline cellulose nanomaterials from our first film. Our team\u2019s most \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acsapm.5c02909\u0022\u003Erecent achievement\u003C\/a\u003E, from October 2025, combines the above innovations. As a result, we\u2019ve created a bio-based film that is an excellent barrier to both oxygen and moisture.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710006\/original\/file-20251220-56-gcunhe.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022A diagram showing a rectangle representing a biodegradable film, with an arrow deflecting off of it showing how it keeps out water vapor and oxygen. On the right is the film.\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710006\/original\/file-20251220-56-gcunhe.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710006\/original\/file-20251220-56-gcunhe.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=300\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710006\/original\/file-20251220-56-gcunhe.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=300\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710006\/original\/file-20251220-56-gcunhe.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=300\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710006\/original\/file-20251220-56-gcunhe.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=377\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710006\/original\/file-20251220-56-gcunhe.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=377\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710006\/original\/file-20251220-56-gcunhe.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=377\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EAn oxygen and water vapor barrier film composed of blended cellulose and chitin.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution source\u0022\u003EJ. Carson Meredith\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EScaling Up Production\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen cast into thin films, these components self-organize into a dense structure that resists swelling with water vapor. Tests showed that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acsapm.5c02909\u0022\u003Eeven at 80% humidity\u003C\/a\u003E the film matched or outperformed common packaging plastics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe materials are renewable, biodegradable and compostable. Our team has filed several patent applications, and we are working with industry partners to develop specific packaging uses.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne challenge that applications face is a limited supply of the bio-based components compared to the high volume of conventional plastics. Like any new material, it would take time for manufacturers to develop supply chains as the films begin to be used.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor example, the market demand for purified chitin is small right now, as it is used in niche applications, such as wound dressings and water filtration. Due to its variety of uses, packaging could increase that market demand.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe next challenge is scaling up from experimental films to industrial production, which would likely take several years. The team is exploring roll-to-roll coating techniques and working with industry partners to integrate these materials into existing packaging lines.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPolicy and consumer demand will also play a role. As governments push for \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/why-stop-at-plastic-bags-and-straws-the-case-for-a-global-treaty-banning-most-single-use-plastics-109857\u0022\u003Ebans on single-use plastics\u003C\/a\u003E and companies set sustainability targets, bio-based films could become part of the solution.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe story of this breakthrough reminds me that science often advances through unexpected results. From a failed attempt to mimic a beetle\u2019s color to a promising alternative to plastic, this research shows how curiosity can lead to solutions for some of our biggest challenges.\u003C!-- Below is The Conversation\u0027s page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --\u003E\u003Cimg style=\u0022border-color:!important;border-style:none;box-shadow:none !important;margin:0 !important;max-height:1px !important;max-width:1px !important;min-height:1px !important;min-width:1px !important;opacity:0 !important;outline:none !important;padding:0 !important;\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/271262\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\u0022 alt=\u0022The Conversation\u0022 width=\u00221\u0022 height=\u00221\u0022 referrerpolicy=\u0022no-referrer-when-downgrade\u0022\u003E\u003C!-- End of code. If you don\u0027t see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E under a Creative Commons license. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/researchers-develop-biodegradable-plant-based-packaging-from-natural-fibers-new-research-271262\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"full_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJie Wu, an engineering graduate student, was studying a type of striking white beetle found in Southeast Asia and attempting to figure out how to mimic its brilliant color when an unexpected discovery upended the experiment.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Jie Wu, an engineering graduate student, was studying a type of striking white beetle found in Southeast Asia and attempting to figure out how to mimic its brilliant color when an unexpected discovery upended the experiment."}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2026-03-17 16:36:23","changed_gmt":"2026-03-19 16:43:18","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-17T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-17T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679693":{"id":"679693","type":"image","title":"Plastic packaging fills up landfills \u2013 engineers are working on a bio-based alternative that could replace the kind shown here. tuk69tuk\/iStock via Getty Images","body":"\u003Cp\u003EPlastic packaging fills up landfills \u2013 engineers are working on a bio-based alternative that could replace the kind shown here. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/photo\/white-plastic-bag-on-black-background-royalty-free-image\/1211742906?phrase=plastic%2Bwrap\u0022\u003Etuk69tuk\/iStock via Getty Images\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1773938347","gmt_created":"2026-03-19 16:39:07","changed":"1773938347","gmt_changed":"2026-03-19 16:39:07","alt":"Plastic packaging fills up landfills \u2013 engineers are working on a bio-based alternative that could replace the kind shown here. tuk69tuk\/iStock via Getty Images","file":{"fid":"263885","name":"file-20260303-57-8ad4eq.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/19\/file-20260303-57-8ad4eq.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/19\/file-20260303-57-8ad4eq.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":128914,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/19\/file-20260303-57-8ad4eq.jpg?itok=MPEKR6lv"}}},"media_ids":["679693"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/researchers-develop-biodegradable-plant-based-packaging-from-natural-fibers-new-research-271262","title":"Read This Article on The Conversation"}],"groups":[{"id":"1237","name":"College of Engineering"},{"id":"658168","name":"Experts"},{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"117301","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute"},{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1240","name":"School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering"},{"id":"660398","name":"Sustainability Hub"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Ch5\u003EAuthor:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/j-carson-meredith-2540164\u0022\u003EJ. Carson Meredith\u003C\/a\u003E, Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/georgia-institute-of-technology-1310\u0022\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eshelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688680":{"#nid":"688680","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute Names Strategic Initiative Leaders to Advance Microbial Innovation and Business Integration ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERenewable Bioproducts Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (RBI) has appointed two additional Strategic Initiative Leaders (SILs) to help shape the next phase of its research and engagement strategy: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/2842\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EJoel Kostka\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/21500\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ETitiksha Fernandes\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESILs serve on \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/about\/people?role=62\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERBI\u2019s leadership team\u003C\/a\u003E and play a strategic role in expanding interdisciplinary collaboration, strengthening Georgia Tech\u2019s leadership in the bioeconomy, and catalyzing new research and education initiatives across campus.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u201cRBI\u2019s work has always been about connecting strong science and engineering to the needs of Georgia\u2019s forestry and renewable materials industries,\u201d said Carson Meredith, director of RBI. \u201cJoel and Titiksha bring leadership that strengthens both sides of that work \u2014 advancing the biological foundations of renewable systems while building the business and entrepreneurship capacity needed to translate discovery into durable impact.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAdvancing Microbial Biotechnology for the Forest Bioeconomy\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/people\/joel-kostka\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EJoel Kostka,\u003C\/a\u003E Tom and Marie Patton Distinguished Professor and Associate Chair for Research in the School of Biological Sciences, will lead a strategic initiative focused on microbial biotechnology in renewable bioproducts. His initiative leverages microbiology and microbiome engineering in a systems approach to address woody biomass utilization, biorefining, microbial contamination in pulp and paper processing, and the development of forest and plant feedstocks.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe effort complements RBI\u2019s existing strengths in chemistry and engineering, including initiatives such as the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/research\/center-for-renewables-based-economy-from-wood\u0022\u003ECenter for a Renewables-Based Economy from Wood (ReWOOD)\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/research\/center-for-renewables-based-economy-from-wood\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E,\u003C\/a\u003E by bringing cutting-edge microbial science into the modernization of the forest industry.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe initiative centers on two core areas: improving biomass deconstruction and bioconversion, and engineering plant and soil microbiomes to support the development of climate-resilient biomass feedstocks.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cNatural microbiomes, those microbes that are intimately associated with plants and soils, already drive the natural cycles that break down organic matter, recycle nutrients, and help plants to grow better,\u201d said Kostka. \u201cIf we understand and engineer those systems more intentionally, we can unlock more efficient bioconversion pathways and help build a forest bioeconomy that is both productive and climate resilient.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKostka\u2019s research studies the role of microbes in the functioning of ecosystems ranging from oceans to terrestrial subsurface environments. Through this initiative, he aims to connect that foundational microbial science to use-inspired solutions in renewable bioproducts.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBridging Business and Bioproducts\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/people\/titiksha-fernandes\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ETitiksha Fernandes\u003C\/a\u003E will lead RBI\u2019s initiative to develop structured collaboration with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/index.html\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EScheller College of Business\u003C\/a\u003E. Her effort will establish a strategic framework for exploring deeper RBI\u2013Scheller engagement across research, education, and entrepreneurship.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe initiative will explore integrating business training into RBI fellowship programs, engaging business graduate students in RBI research, strengthening industry partnerships, and advancing joint entrepreneurship activities that translate scientific discoveries into ventures.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cScientific innovation alone doesn\u2019t create impact,\u201d said Fernandes. \u201cWe need the strategy, entrepreneurship, and systems thinking that allow discoveries to move from the lab into markets and communities. This initiative is about building those pathways intentionally.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFernandes currently serves as extension professional for the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/centers-and-initiatives\/ray-c-anderson-center-for-sustainable-business\/drawdown\/index.html\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EDrawdown Georgia Business Compact,\u003C\/a\u003E an initiative of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/centers-and-initiatives\/ray-c-anderson-center-for-sustainable-business\/index.html\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERay C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business\u003C\/a\u003E. In this role, she advances initiatives in materials circularity and food and agriculture. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy and is a Certified Circular Economy Manager, with experience designing sustainability and resource efficiency policy at national and state levels, including work on e-waste reform in India and circular economy implementation in the U.S.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003ERBI\u2019s Strategic Initiative Leaders are appointed for renewable 12-month terms and are expected to foster new interdisciplinary collaborations that extend beyond their home units. Leaders participate in shaping research directions, reviewing fellowship proposals, developing workshops and symposia, and connecting faculty, students, industry, and national laboratories.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI) has appointed two additional Strategic Initiative Leaders (SILs) to help shape the next phase of its research and engagement strategy: Joel Kostka and Titiksha Fernandes.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI) has appointed two additional Strategic Initiative Leaders (SILs) to help shape the next phase of its research and engagement strategy: Joel Kostka and Titiksha Fernandes. "}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-03-03 19:26:26","changed_gmt":"2026-03-04 18:22:00","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-03T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-03-03T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679510":{"id":"679510","type":"image","title":"2sded.jpg","body":null,"created":"1772565994","gmt_created":"2026-03-03 19:26:34","changed":"1772565994","gmt_changed":"2026-03-03 19:26:34","alt":"Side-by-side photos of Joel Kostka and Titiksha Fernandes","file":{"fid":"263682","name":"2sded.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/03\/2sded.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/03\/2sded.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1008966,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/03\/2sded.jpg?itok=5hmBs1l4"}}},"media_ids":["679510"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: ychernet3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYanet Chernet\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer I\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687332":{"#nid":"687332","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Celebrating a Decade of Impact: The Center for Sustainable Communities Research and Education (SCoRE) Marks 10 Years of Community-Engaged Sustainability at Georgia Tech","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s Center for Sustainable Communities Research and Education (SCoRE) is celebrating its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of transformative work that has bridged campus and community to advance sustainability across Atlanta and beyond.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVisionary Beginnings\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELaunched in 2015 as Serve-Learn-Sustain (SLS), SCoRE aimed to integrate sustainability and community engagement into Georgia Tech\u2019s undergraduate curriculum across all of its colleges. The program came about through a campuswide Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), required for Georgia Tech to retain its accreditation. The designation comes once every 10 years from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cSLS was ahead of its time, bringing together sustainability and community engagement to change the culture at Georgia Tech,\u201d observes Ellen Zegura, a three-decade veteran of Georgia Tech who co-founded SLS with Beril Toktay, now executive director of the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS).\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scre.research.gatech.edu\/node\/3250\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERead more \u00bb\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s Center for Sustainable Communities Research and Education (SCoRE) is celebrating its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of transformative work that has bridged campus and community to advance sustainability across Atlanta and beyond.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech\u2019s Center for Sustainable Communities Research and Education (SCoRE) is celebrating its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of transformative work that has bridged campus and community to advance sustainability across Atlanta and beyond."}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-01-14 21:29:52","changed_gmt":"2026-01-14 21:31:01","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-01-06T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-01-06T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678994":{"id":"678994","type":"image","title":"vipwawaclassroom--5.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Building for Equity and Sustainability undergraduate research class celebrates the opening of the outdoor classroom that they designed and built with the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance in Bush Mountain (April 14, 2025). \u0026nbsp;Credit: SCoRE\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1768426201","gmt_created":"2026-01-14 21:30:01","changed":"1768426201","gmt_changed":"2026-01-14 21:30:01","alt":"The Building for Equity and Sustainability undergraduate research class celebrates the opening of the outdoor classroom that they designed and built with the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance in Bush Mountain (April 14, 2025). ","file":{"fid":"263103","name":"vipwawaclassroom--5.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/14\/vipwawaclassroom--5.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/14\/vipwawaclassroom--5.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":16687967,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/14\/vipwawaclassroom--5.jpg?itok=hm3gbnly"}}},"media_ids":["678994"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686991":{"#nid":"686991","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Nuclear Waste: What It Is \u2014 and What It Isn\u2019t","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen people hear \u201cnuclear waste,\u201d they often imagine glowing green sludge leaking into the ground \u2014 a scene straight out of science fiction. The truth is far less dramatic and far more manageable. In fact, all the civilian nuclear waste produced by U.S. power plants so far could fit on a single football field stacked just 10 yards high. Managed under strict safety protocols, this byproduct of nuclear energy poses manageable risk compared to the billions of tons of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels. Today, researchers at Georgia Tech and around the world are working on safer reactor designs, advanced monitoring, and innovative recycling methods to turn nuclear waste into new opportunities \u2014 from clean energy to ultra-long-lasting batteries and even power for space missions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/node\/44646\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERead more \u00bb\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen people hear \u201cnuclear waste,\u201d they often imagine glowing green sludge leaking into the ground \u2014 a scene straight out of science fiction. The truth is far less dramatic and far more manageable. In fact, all the civilian nuclear waste produced by U.S. power plants so far could fit on a single football field stacked just 10 yards high. Managed under strict safety protocols, this byproduct of nuclear energy poses manageable risk compared to the billions of tons of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels. Today, researchers at Georgia Tech and around the world are working on safer reactor designs, advanced monitoring, and innovative recycling methods to turn nuclear waste into new opportunities \u2014 from clean energy to ultra-long-lasting batteries and even power for space missions.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Nuclear waste can be managed safely with proper safety protocols. Researchers at Georgia Tech and around the world are working on safer reactor designs, advanced monitoring, and innovative recycling methods to turn nuclear waste into new opportunities \u2014 f"}],"uid":"27255","created_gmt":"2025-12-18 19:42:21","changed_gmt":"2025-12-30 15:01:11","author":"Josie Giles","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-18T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-18T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678901":{"id":"678901","type":"image","title":"1.-MarthaGroverTeam.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EMartha Grover, professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, with her research team. [Photo by Christopher McKenney]\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1767106727","gmt_created":"2025-12-30 14:58:47","changed":"1767106727","gmt_changed":"2025-12-30 14:58:47","alt":"Georgia Tech Professor Martha Grover with her research team","file":{"fid":"262994","name":"1.-MarthaGroverTeam.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/30\/1.-MarthaGroverTeam.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/30\/1.-MarthaGroverTeam.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":5334947,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/30\/1.-MarthaGroverTeam.jpg?itok=hG_9ee7m"}}},"media_ids":["678901"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"},{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E || SEI Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686988":{"#nid":"686988","#data":{"type":"news","title":"RBI Releases 2025 Year End Report","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThank you to the entire RBI community for participating in a transformative 2025. \u0026nbsp;Please enjoy reviewing the accomplishments we made together. \u0026nbsp;We look forward to partnering with you in 2026.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/emma-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/6csgb\/2321eb10fcabdecfd741b2b51777e4d9\/2025_RBI_Annual_Report_Updated.pdf\u0022\u003ERead the Report here.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThank you to the entire RBI community for participating in a transformative 2025. \u0026nbsp;Please enjoy reviewing the accomplishments we made together. \u0026nbsp;We look forward to partnering with you in 2026.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Thank you to the entire RBI community for participating in a transformative 2025.  Please enjoy reviewing the accomplishments we made together.  We look forward to partnering with you in 2026."}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2025-12-18 16:25:58","changed_gmt":"2025-12-19 17:01:45","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-18T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-18T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678893":{"id":"678893","type":"image","title":"Screenshot-2025-12-17-at-11.42.02-AM.png","body":null,"created":"1766075861","gmt_created":"2025-12-18 16:37:41","changed":"1766075861","gmt_changed":"2025-12-18 16:37:41","alt":"RBI Annual Report","file":{"fid":"262983","name":"Screenshot-2025-12-17-at-11.42.02-AM.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/18\/Screenshot-2025-12-17-at-11.42.02-AM_0.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/18\/Screenshot-2025-12-17-at-11.42.02-AM_0.png","mime":"image\/png","size":2911125,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/18\/Screenshot-2025-12-17-at-11.42.02-AM_0.png?itok=W8jRMQbx"}}},"media_ids":["678893"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"188020","name":"go-rbi"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686528":{"#nid":"686528","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Ranked No. 7 Globally in Interdisciplinary Science Rankings","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology has been ranked 7th in the world in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.timeshighereducation.com\/world-university-rankings\/interdisciplinary-science-rankings\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E2026 Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Rankings\u003C\/a\u003E, in association with Schmidt Science Fellows. This designation underscores Georgia Tech\u2019s leadership in research that solves global challenges.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cInterdisciplinary research is at the heart of Georgia Tech\u2019s mission,\u201d said Tim Lieuwen, executive vice president for Research. \u201cOur faculty, students, and research teams work across disciplines to create transformative solutions in areas such as healthcare, energy, advanced manufacturing, and artificial intelligence. This ranking reflects the strength of our collaborative culture and the impact of our research on society.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs a top R1 research university, Georgia Tech is shaping the future of basic and applied research by pursuing inventive solutions to the world\u2019s most pressing problems. Whether discovering cancer treatments or developing new methods to power our communities, work at the Institute focuses on improving the human condition.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETeams from all seven Georgia Tech colleges, 11 interdisciplinary research institutes, the Georgia Tech Research Institute, Enterprise Innovation Institute, and hundreds of research labs and centers work together to transform ideas into \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/real-life\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ereal results\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"The recognition highlights Tech\u2019s leadership in cross-disciplinary research that solves complex challenges."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology has been ranked 7th in the world in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.timeshighereducation.com\/world-university-rankings\/interdisciplinary-science-rankings\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E2026 Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Rankings\u003C\/a\u003E, in association with Schmidt Science Fellows. This designation underscores Georgia Tech\u2019s leadership in research that solves global challenges.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech has been ranked 7th in the world in the 2026 Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Rankings"}],"uid":"27561","created_gmt":"2025-11-19 12:50:26","changed_gmt":"2025-11-20 14:07:38","author":"Angela Ayers","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-11-20T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-11-20T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678686":{"id":"678686","type":"image","title":"cancer-researchers.jpg","body":null,"created":"1763591127","gmt_created":"2025-11-19 22:25:27","changed":"1763591127","gmt_changed":"2025-11-19 22:25:27","alt":"Three Georgia Tech researchers working together in the lab on cancer research","file":{"fid":"262747","name":"cancer-researchers.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/19\/cancer-researchers.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/19\/cancer-researchers.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":96118,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/11\/19\/cancer-researchers.jpg?itok=Xb8D05Lg"}}},"media_ids":["678686"],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"},{"id":"155831","name":"Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI)"},{"id":"217141","name":"Georgia Tech Materials Institute"},{"id":"1276","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI)"},{"id":"545781","name":"Institute for Data Engineering and Science"},{"id":"197261","name":"Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology"},{"id":"69599","name":"IPaT"},{"id":"142761","name":"IRIM"},{"id":"1317","name":"News Briefs"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"},{"id":"145171","name":"Cybersecurity"},{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"},{"id":"39451","name":"Electronics and Nanotechnology"},{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"193654","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"},{"id":"193653","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"},{"id":"39461","name":"Manufacturing, Trade, and Logistics"},{"id":"39471","name":"Materials"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"},{"id":"39481","name":"National Security"},{"id":"193656","name":"Neuro Next Initiative"},{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"},{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"},{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"},{"id":"39521","name":"Robotics"},{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"},{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"},{"id":"39541","name":"Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAngela Ayers\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["angela.ayers@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}