{"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":""}}}