{"id":10,"date":"2021-07-28T15:51:03","date_gmt":"2021-07-28T15:51:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.cnr.ncsu.edu\/safi\/?page_id=10"},"modified":"2026-04-21T22:07:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T22:07:02","slug":"the-team","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/research.cnr.ncsu.edu\/safi\/the-team\/","title":{"rendered":"The Team"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n
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Co-directors <\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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\n \"Dr.Ronalds\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dr. Ronalds Gonzalez<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

919-515-7477
rwgonzal@ncsu.edu

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. <\/p>\n\t \t \n

Read full bio<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n\n\n \n

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\n \"Dr.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dr. Hasan Jameel<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

919-515-7739
jameel@ncsu.edu

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.<\/p>\n\t \t \n

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\n \"Dr.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dr. Richard Venditti<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

919-515-6185
richard_venditti@ncsu.edu

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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Read full bio<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n\n\n \n

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\n \"Dr.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dr. Joel Pawlak<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

919-513-0511
joel_pawlak@ncsu.edu

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. <\/p>\n\t \t \n

Read full bio<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n\n

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\n \"Dr.Naycari\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dr. Naycari Forfora<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Assistant Director<\/strong>
ngforfor@ncsu.edu

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\u2013compliant life cycle assessment of bio-based products. She has demonstrated expertise in modeling environmental impacts and quantifying greenhouse gas emissions (GHG Protocol Scopes 1\u20133) 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.<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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\n \"Mariana\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Mariana Lendewig<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Operations Manager<\/strong>
mlendew@ncsu.edu

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\u2013property 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.<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Doctoral students<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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\n \"Ivana\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Ivana Azuaje <\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Research Leader<\/strong>
Life Cycle Analysis
ipvillas@ncsu.edu<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n
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\n \"Jorge\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Jorge Franco<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Research Leader<\/strong>
Pulping
jhfranc2@ncsu.edu<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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\n \"Fernando\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Fernando Urdaneta<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Research Leader<\/strong>
Pulping
feurdane@ncsu.edu<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n
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\n \"Alonzo\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Alonzo Pifano<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Techno-economic assessment (TEA)
aapifano@ncsu.edu<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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\n \"Rhonald\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Rhonald Ortega<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Sustainability
raortega@ncsu.edu<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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\n \"Isabel\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Isabel Urdaneta<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Sustainability
icurdane@ncsu.edu<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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\n \"Jannatun\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Jannatun Nayeem<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Pulping
jnayeem@ncsu.edu<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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\n \"Soumen\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Soumen Saha<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Pulping
ssaha9@ncsu.edu<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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\n \"Yefrid\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Yefrid Cordoba<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Pulping
yacordob@ncsu.edu<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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\n \"Howard\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Howard Sun<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Pulping
hsun28@ncsu.edu<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n
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\n \"Anibal\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Anibal Mor\u00e1n<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Pulping
ajmoran@ncsu.edu<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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\n \"Isabel\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Isabel Dorado<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Life Cycle Analysis
icdorado@ncsu.edu<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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\n \"Dipta\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dipta\u00a0Mozumder<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Pulping
dmozumd@ncsu.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Research associates <\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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\n \"Isabel\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Isabel Enriquez<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Research Visiting Scholar
ifenriqu@ncsu.edu<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n
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\n \"Sam\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Sam Copenhaver<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Lab Assistant
sscopenh@ncsu.edu<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n
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\n \"Juan\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Juan Ospina<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Research Visiting Scholar
jdospina@ncsu.edu<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n
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\n \"Jose\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Jos\u00e9 Ocampo<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Research Visiting Scholar
jaocampo@ncsu.edu<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Faculty Experts <\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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\n \"Dr.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dr. Richard Phillips <\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Process Economics
North Carolina State University <\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n

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Dr. Hou-min Chang <\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Lignocellulosic Chemistry
North Carolina State University<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n

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\n \"Dr.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dr. Ting Feng Yeh <\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Lignocellulosic Chemistry
North Carolina State University <\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n \n

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\n \"Dr.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dr. Ericka Ford <\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Sustainable Textile Fibers & Fiber Spinning
North Carolina State University <\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n

<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n\n\n \n

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\n \"Dr.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dr. Sudipta Dasmohapatra<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Analytics, Data Science, Marketing
Georgetown University<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n

<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n\n\n \n

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\n \"Dr.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dr. Orlando Rojas<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Biobased Materials and Renewable Products
The University of British Columbia<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n

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\n \"Dr.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dr. Alex Woodley<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Crop and Soil Sciences
North Carolina State University<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n

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\n \"Dr.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dr. David Suchoff<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Alternative Crops
North Carolina State University<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n

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\n \"Dr.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dr. Daniel Saloni<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Supply Chain
North Carolina State University <\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n

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\n \"Dr.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dr. Jason Delborne <\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Social Science Scientist
North Carolina State University <\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n

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\n \"Dr.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dr. Lokendra Pal<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Product Development
North Carolina State University <\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n

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\n \"Dr.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dr. Med Byrd<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Nonwood Pulping
North Carolina State University <\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n

<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n\n\n \n

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\n \"Dr.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dr. Melissa Pasquinelli <\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Textile Molecular Modeling
North Carolina State University <\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n

<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n\n\n \n

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\n \"Dr.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dr. Soledad Peresin<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Biobased Materials & Renewable Products
Auburn University<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n

<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n\n\n \n

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\n \"Dr.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Dr. Steve Kelley <\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Sustainability
North Carolina State University <\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n

<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n\n\n \n

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\n \"Dr.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dr. Quinshi Tu <\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Sustainability and Life Cycle Analysis
The University of British Columbia<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n

<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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support staff<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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\n \"Mike\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Mike Maltby<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Bench-scale and Pilot Operation Maintenance <\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n

<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Past members<\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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\n \"Dr.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dr. Ryen Frazier <\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Business Development Manager-BASF
rfrazie@ncsu.edu
<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n
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\n \"Dr.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dr. Keren Vivas<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Wisconsin Paper Council
kvivasm@ncsu.edu<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n
\n
\n \"Dr.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dr. Ramon Vera <\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Kimberly Clark
rverave@ncsu.edu
<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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\n \"Dr.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dr. Ronald Marquez<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Universidad de Girona, Spain
rjmarque@ncsu.edu<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n
\n
\n \"Dr.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dr. Amelys Brito<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Mohawk Industries
ambritoc@ncsu.edu<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n
\n
\n \"Dr.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dr. Rajnish Kumar<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Suominen Corporation
rkumar9@ncsu.edu<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n
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\n \"Dr.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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Dr. Laura Covinich
<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

National University of Misiones – CONICET
lgcovini@ncsu.edu<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"pageIntro\":\"Our initiative brings together a multidisciplinary team of faculty, researchers, students, and staff who are leading innovation in sustainable and alternative fiber technologies\u2014combining expertise in pulping, life cycle analysis, economics, and biobased materials to create real-world impact.\"}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.cnr.ncsu.edu\/safi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.cnr.ncsu.edu\/safi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.cnr.ncsu.edu\/safi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.cnr.ncsu.edu\/safi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.cnr.ncsu.edu\/safi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/research.cnr.ncsu.edu\/safi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3432,"href":"https:\/\/research.cnr.ncsu.edu\/safi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10\/revisions\/3432"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.cnr.ncsu.edu\/safi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}