PhD, Chemical Engineering – Auburn University – 2018Major Advisor: Dr. William R. AshurstThesis Topic:“Defatted Soy Flour Substitution in Phenol Formaldehyde and Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate Wood Adhesives and their Curing Kinetic Behavior”Pending Patent:Use of soy flour in resin formulations used to manufacture engineered wood compositesVia, B., Hand, W. G., & Banerjee, S. U.S. Application. No. 15/067,729. 2016Awarded National Science Foundation - Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (NSF-IGERT) in the Integrated Biorefining for Sustainable Production of Fuels and ChemicalsResearch Areas include:Bio-adhesives for wood composites:- Soy protein substitution in Phenol Formaldehyde and Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate wood adhesivesCellulose nanofibril (CNF) production:- Reinforcement of Phenol Formaldehyde in wood composites- Sensor paper for food safety applications

Industrial packaging manufacture of two-ply kraft linerboard used to make boxes for produce, poultry, and online retailers- Led Integrated Action Plan (IAP) Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) team- Supported Operations in Finished Products department employing Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma process improvement tools- Simultaneously supervised Secondary Fibers departmentLed improvement projects in paper machine start-up, machine draws, screen rotor design, and consistency transmitter maintenance as well as a safety project involving pedestrian paths in the mill.

- Supervised 15 hourly, union employees on all three shifts- Responsible for the Operation of a 500 ton per day Recycled Paper PlantResponsibilities included safety, product quality, productivity, cost, employee engagement and training, and performance management.

- Led IAP OEE team- Participated in REACH engineering program - included mill rotation- Process Engineer in Finished Products department (August 2012 – September 2012)- Process Engineer in Reliability/Safety department (June 2012 – August 2012)- Process Engineer in Powerhouse department (January 2012 – May 2012)- Process Engineer in Fibers department (October 2011 – December 2011)- Process Engineer in Finished Products department (June 2011 – September 2011)- Led projects includingCost savings projects: winder loss, sludge waste, bark tracking, water balance, and SaveAll waste;Improvement projects: high density storage tanks, tank heel, Autoline formation, and polar angle cutter;Reliability projects: winder reliability, refiner hoses, and consistency transmitter reliability;Safety projects: pedestrian pathway analysis- Participated in projects including paper machine speed increase, break recovery, steam and condensate system, kappa increase, sulfidity, paper grade energy cost, and STFI analysisOther responsibilities included outage assistance (contractor coordinator, data analysis, and supervisor shadowing), PI page updates, health and safety audits, and safety posts.

Folding carton manufacture for beverages including 6, 12, and 24-pack cartons- Operated Gallus (formerly BHS) flexographic, in-line printing press for one year (involved with startup)- Operated Kidder central impression, flexographic printing press for 5 years (involved with startup)Responsibilities included:- safety, product quality, and productivity- preventative maintenance of printing side of machine- coordinating change over on printing side of machine- led 6 person team during change over and normal press operation

- Conducted quality checks on beverage packaging product- Operated pre-feed machine from printing press to glue line machines- Trained as ink technician as well as filled in for position for one year