Bringing advanced cellulose nanofiber biomaterials to commercialization through a proprietary technology that transforms waste resources into cellulose nanofibers at a fraction of the cost they sell for today.

Activate empowers scientists to reinvent the world by launching startups to address climate change and other global challenges. Working between government, philanthropy, universities, and the private sector, Activate transforms scientists into high-impact entrepreneurs through the Activate Fellowship, a two-year immersive experience that provides funding and fosters the resources, knowledge, networks, investors, and partnerships that fellows need to succeed. Activate’s entrepreneurial research… Show more Activate empowers scientists to reinvent the world by launching startups to address climate change and other global challenges. Working between government, philanthropy, universities, and the private sector, Activate transforms scientists into high-impact entrepreneurs through the Activate Fellowship, a two-year immersive experience that provides funding and fosters the resources, knowledge, networks, investors, and partnerships that fellows need to succeed. Activate’s entrepreneurial research fellowship model originated at Cyclotron Road, a division of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and founding Activate partner. Activate supports fellows in communities across the U.S.: Activate Berkeley, Activate Boston, Activate New York, and Activate Anywhere. Learn more at Activate.org. Show less

Entrepreneurial lead of a team awarded a $50,000 grant from the National Science Foundation for a customer discovery project to determine the market need for cellulose nanofibers in the paints and coatings industry.Our customer discovery research focused on innovation and sustainability in the paints and coatings industry. We talked to individuals with experience in different areas, including formulation R&D, sales, business development, marketing, procurement, and more.

Biofuels and Bioproducts LaboratoryLed and executed research projects on the production of biofuels and biomaterials from renewable feedstocks with a focus on conversion process development and techno-economic feasibility:• Production of nanocellulose materials from low-cost agricultural waste feedstocks: process development, techno-economic analysis, and process robustness. Project part of a larger research initiative to construct an integrated biorefinery in Lewis County, WA.•… Show more Biofuels and Bioproducts LaboratoryLed and executed research projects on the production of biofuels and biomaterials from renewable feedstocks with a focus on conversion process development and techno-economic feasibility:• Production of nanocellulose materials from low-cost agricultural waste feedstocks: process development, techno-economic analysis, and process robustness. Project part of a larger research initiative to construct an integrated biorefinery in Lewis County, WA.• Bioconversion of hybrid poplar feedstocks into ethanol: effects of biomass preprocessing on monomeric sugar recovery and ethanol fermentation yields. Project part of the $40 million Advanced Hardwood Biofuels Northwest program funded by the USDA. Specific research experience includes:• Planning and execution of various laboratory experiments including biomass pretreatment (steam explosion, pulping), mechanical treatments (PFI refining, microfluidizer, ultrasonication), enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation, separation (Soxhlet extraction, filtration, centrifugation), biomass characterization (Klason analysis, HPLC), material characterization at macro and nano scale (tensile tester, optical microscope, SEM, AFM, XRD, FTIR, UV-VIS spectrophotometer).• Handling different feedstocks (short-rotation poplar, wheat straw, corn stover, industrial hemp, and reed canary grass).• Aspen modeling and techno-economic analysis for a scale-up feasibility assessment.• Training and supervision of 15 undergraduate research assistants.• Management of laboratory inventory, selection and purchase of equipment and supplies, and laboratory maintenance. Show less

I participated in the conceptualization and execution of all program-related activities for CABLE fourth cohort, including the organization of an extensive application process to select new student delegates for the program, bioeconomy-focused webinars, conferences, assignments, etc. I also mentored new student delegates during their time in the program.

I led a group of 9 doctoral students, faculty members, and CABLE administrators from different fields and universities across the United States to write a collaborative peer-reviewed publication entitled "The United States bioeconomy at the intersection of technology, policy, and education". Our manuscript was published in the Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining Journal as a perspective piece.

I was selected as one of 20 students from across the United States to be a delegate of the Consortium for Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Education (CABLE). As a CABLE delegate in Cohort 3, I received training on bioeconomy leadership, participated in conferences, and worked on a group project about biobased chemicals utilized in the food industry. Our group presented this project at the NREL facility and got invited to record a podcast entitled "Food Ingredients and the Advanced Bioeconomy" for… Show more I was selected as one of 20 students from across the United States to be a delegate of the Consortium for Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Education (CABLE). As a CABLE delegate in Cohort 3, I received training on bioeconomy leadership, participated in conferences, and worked on a group project about biobased chemicals utilized in the food industry. Our group presented this project at the NREL facility and got invited to record a podcast entitled "Food Ingredients and the Advanced Bioeconomy" for the Biobased Radio. Show less

Biotechnology Department (Sponsored by CNPq)Conducted research on biochemical conversion of sugarcane bagasse into bioethanol. Project name: "Biotechnology applied to bioethanol production from D-xylose: biodetoxification of hemicellulosic hydrolysate and cell immobilization".