{"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":""}}}