The Team

Our initiative brings together a multidisciplinary team of faculty, researchers, students, and staff who are leading innovation in sustainable and alternative fiber technologies—combining expertise in pulping, life cycle analysis, economics, and biobased materials to create real-world impact.

Dr. Ronalds Gonzalez

919-515-7477
[email protected]

Dr. Ronalds Gonzalez is an Associate Professor of Conversion Economics & Sustainability at NC State University. His work focuses on developing tools and knowledge to create value in both the bio- and circular economy. He has been recognized by the Brazilian Association of Pulp & Paper Technologists and granted the NC State University Faculty Scholar distinction as well as the Chancellor Innovation Award for his innovative contributions to the industry and academia.

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Dr. Hasan Jameel

919-515-7739
[email protected]

Dr. Hasan Jameel is a Jordan Family Distinguished Professor for Natural Resource Innovation with a focus on pulp and paper unit processes and pulping process analysis. As a member of the faculty in the Department of Forest Biomaterials since 1987, Jameel has received numerous honors recognizing his teaching, mentoring, and scholarship.

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Dr. Richard Venditti

919-515-6185
[email protected]

Dr. Richard Venditti is the Elis-Signe Olsson Professor of Pulp and Paper Science and Engineering in the Forest Biomaterials Department at NCSU. He has 26 years of experience in research in the areas of pulp/paper, bioeconomy, recycling, and environmental LCA. His research and teaching are involved in developing effective systems to transform renewable plant-based resources into sustainable products. Venditti uses environmental life cycle analysis to guide and analyze research in bioproducts.

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Dr. Joel Pawlak

919-513-0511
[email protected]

Dr. Pawlak is a graduate of the College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University. His renowned research program has received recognition four times by the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI). His research focuses on developing structured fiber products to enhance performance and optimize economics, the creation of novel products from low-value byproducts of agricultural and forestry processes, and finding new applications for forest-based biomaterials. He currently teaches at both the graduate and undergraduate levels with areas of expertise in paper physics, paper testing, specification development, process troubleshooting, biomaterials physics, product development, and product design.

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Dr. Naycari Forfora

Assistant Director
[email protected]

Naycari Forfora, PhD in Forest Biomaterials (NCSU) and former Sustainability Research Leader at SAFI.
She has over four years of experience in sustainable packaging development and ISO 14040/44/67–compliant life cycle assessment of bio-based products. She has demonstrated expertise in modeling environmental impacts and quantifying greenhouse gas emissions (GHG Protocol Scopes 1–3) using openLCA, SimaPro, and advanced process-simulation tools, generating actionable insights to inform sustainability strategy and decision-making. Her technical background also includes fiber property optimization, handsheet preparation, and end-use performance evaluation for pulp and paper products.

Mariana Lendewig

Operations Manager
[email protected]

PhD student in Forest Biomaterials at North Carolina State University with a research focus on nanocellulose. Research centers on the processability and mechanical performance of fibrillated cellulose derived from non-wood feedstocks, aiming to enable high-value sustainable materials. Work examines intrinsic structure–property relationships governing fibrillation efficiency and material performance. Complementary research on PFAS provides a risk-aware perspective that supports safer material development and regulation-aligned decision making.