2023

Dr. Michael Gangi

Ph.D., February 2023 – Virginia Tech

Project Title: Bench Scale Screening Test for ASTM E119

Initially employed with Jensen Hughes in Georgia, US as a Staff Consultant.

2022

Talbot Rueppel

M.S., June 2022 – Oregon State University

Thesis Title: Fluorescence Spectrometry to Quantify Percent Wood Failure in Adhesive Bonds

Initially employed with the US Army Corps of Engineers – ERDC in Illinois, as a Research Materials Engineer.

María A. Muñoz Torres

M.S., May 2022 – Oregon State University

Thesis Title: Elucidating the Mechanism of CNF Reinforcement in Wood Adhesives and Composites

Initially employed with Bakelite Synthetics in Oregon, US as a Technical Service Representative.

Dr. Saeid Nikafshar

Ph.D., January 2022 – Michigan State University

Thesis Title: Developing Lignin-Based Epoxy and Polyurethane Resins

Initially employed with ITW in Illinois as a Sustainable Polymers Research Analyst.

Sweta Mahapatra

M.S., December 2021 – Oregon State University

Thesis Title: Understanding the Durability of Wood-based Composites using Fracture Toughness

Initially employed with Valero Energy Corporation in Texas, US as a Specification Management Initiator.

Dr. Maria Celeste Iglesias

Ph.D., December 2021 – Auburn University

Thesis Title: Interfacial behavior of lignin-containing cellulose nanofibrils (LCNFs) and their impact on composite materials

Initially employed with Auburn University as a Postdoctoral Fellow.

Dylan Willard

M.S., July 2021 – Oregon State University

Thesis Title: Analysis of adhesive atomization on composite bond performance

Initially employed with Hexion in Montana, US as a Technical Sales Representative.

Kerrigan Strong

M.S., June 2021 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Investigating Moisture Gradient-Induced Warpage of Veneers

Initially employed with Arclin in Oregon, US as an Applications Engineer.

Matthias C. Wind

M.S., May 2021 – Oregon State University

Thesis Title: Effects of Temperature and Moisture Content on Bonding Performance of Mass Plywood Panels

Initially employed with Henkel in Salzburg, Austria as an Application Engineer Engineered Wood Adhesives.

Philip McMichael

B.S., May 2021 – Auburn University

Pursuing a Master’s of Applied Science, Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of British Columbia.

Micah Sutfin

MS, December 2020 – Oregon State University

Project Title: Characterizing Accelerated Weathering Conditions for Wood Adhesive Bonds

Initially employed with Arclin in Oregon, US as an Applications Engineer.

Dr. Yuqin Li

Ph.D., December 2020 – Virginia Tech

Project Title: Factors Affecting the Structural Integrity of Wood-Based Composites: Elevated Temperature and Adhesive Bonding

Initially employed with Intel Corporation in Arizona, US as a Packaging Research and Development Engineer.

Luis Molina

MS, June 2020 – Oregon State University

Project Title: Moisture Resistance of Wood-Based Composite Materials

Initially employed with Oxiquim in Coronel, Chile as a Technical Service Representative

Niloofar Shivyari

MS, May 2020 – Virginia Tech

Project Title: Isotope Ratios Determination of Formaldehyde Emissions

Kenya Hazell

MS, December 2019 – Oregon State University

Project Titles: WBC INTERN Experience, and Analysis of Vertical Density Profile During Hot Pressing

Pursued Ph.D. degree with Oregon State University’s Global Hemp Innovation Center in Materials Science

Harrison Wood

MS, May 2019 – Virginia Tech

Project Title: Geometry and Mechanics of Panel Warpage

Initially employed with Moog in Blacksburg, Virginia as a Manufacturing Engineer

Christina Verdi

BS, May 2019 – North Carolina State University

Project Title: Investigating the Use of Biopolymers for Additive Manufacturing

Initially worked with a Catholic church in Boston, Massachusetts in mission work

Cody Wykle

MS, April 2019 – Virginia Tech

Project Title: Adhesive Challenges with Maple and Hickory Veneer at Low Moisture Contents

Initially employed with Hoover Treated Wood Products in Thomson, Georgia as a Management Trainee

Carlos Leca

MS, December 2018 – North Carolina State University

Project Title: Understanding the Machinability of MDF and HDF

Pursued Ph.D. degree in Production Systems and Logistics at North Carolina State University in Raleigh

Dr. Daniel Way

Ph.D., August 2018 – Oregon State

Project Title: Understanding Moisture Gradients During Accelerated Weathering through Numerical Modeling

Initially employed with Boise Cascade in White City, Oregon as a Senior Product Engineer Technician

Dr. Somayyeh (Isal) Kalami

Ph.D., August 2018 – Mississippi State University

Project Title: Comparative Analysis of Different Lignins as Phenol Substitutes

Initially employed with the University of Texas/Austin as a Post-Doctoral Associate

Dr. Mohammad Tasooji

Ph.D., May 2018 – Virginia Tech

Project Title: MDF Fiber Quality

Initially employed with Hexion in Diboll, Texas, as a Research & Development Chemist

Elijah Wilson

MS, March 2018 – Oregon State University

Project Title: Checking in Maple Plywood

Initially employed with States Industries in Eugene, Oregon, as an Industrial Manufacturing Engineer

Luis Molina

BS, September 2017 – University of Bio Bio, CHILE (Oregon State University Intern)

Project Title: Comparison of Accelerated Weathering Test Protocols

Initially employed with Oxiquim S.A. in Coronel, CHILE, as a Research Engineer

Dr. Chad Hammerquist

Ph.D., September 2017 – Oregon State University

Project Title: Numerical Simulations of Adhesive Penetration in Various Wood Species

Initially employed with FracGeo in Houston, Texas, as an Applied Mathematician

Christa Stables

M.S., June 2017 – Virginia Tech

Project Title: Wetting and Diffusion Associated with Selected Liquid/Wood Interfaces

Initially employed with Arclin-USA in Moncure, North Carolina as an Application Technologist II

Jacob Staudhammer

B.S., June 2017 – Oregon State University

Project Title: Bio-based Polyamide with Oligomeric Lignin Backbone

Initially employed with Costanoan Biotechnologies in Portland, Oregon as an Associate Engineer

Dr. Guigui Wan

Ph.D., December 2016 – Virginia Tech

Project Title: Biogenic Formaldehyde Emission

Initially employed with Ingevity in Charleston, South Carolina as a Senior Chemist

Conrad Michael

B.S., December 2016 – North Carolina State University

Project Title: Determination of Tool Life During CNC Machining Operations for Four Panel Products

Initially employed with Shaw Industries in S. Pittsburg, Tennessee as a Technical Process Engineer

Paige McKinley

M.S., August 2016 – Oregon State University

Project Title: Multi-scale Investigation of Adhesive Bond Durability

Initially employed with Boise Cascade in Medford, Oregon as an Industrial Engineer

Xuyang (Chuck) Wang

M.S., August 2016 – Virginia Tech

Project Title: Organic Fillers Used in PF Resoles

Initially employed with R.J. Reynolds in Winston-Salem, North Carolina as a Scientist

Lyndsey Campbell

B.S., May 2016 – North Carolina State University

Project Title: The Use of Acoustic Emissions to Classify Wood Chip/Particles

Initially employed with Horizon Forest Products in Raleigh, North Carolina as an Account Representative/Inside Sales

Dr. Babak Mirzaei

Ph.D., March 2016 – Oregon State University

Project Title: Methodologies for Ranking Resins by their Effects on Durability of Wood Composites

Initially employed with Collins Wood Products as a Research Engineer

Dr. Shawn Freitas

Ph.D., December 2015 – Oregon State University

Project Title: In-situ Surface Modification of Wood with Different Hot Pressing Platen Metallurgies

Initially employed with Thermochem Recovery International in Baltimore, Maryland as a Biomass Energy Consultant

Dr. P. Frederik Laleicke

Ph.D., December 2015 – Oregon State University

Project Title: Application of Accelerated Weathering for the Development of a Non-Destructive Test, Product Durability Assessment Toolkit

Initially employed with Oregon State University’s Department of Wood Science and Engineering as Assistant Professor

Coleman Burch

M.S., November 2015 – Virginia Tech

Project Title: Adhesion Fundamentals in Spotted Gum (Corymbia citriodora).

Initially employed with Hexion in Louisville, Kentucky as a Technical Service Representative

Kyle Mirabile

M.S., September 2015 – Virginia Tech

Project Title: Investigating Differences between Douglas-fir and Southern Yellow Pine Bonding Properties.

Initially employed with Hexion in Diboll, Texas as a Technical Service Representative

Ashley Hellenbrand

M.S., December 2014 – University of Maine

Project Title: Formaldehyde emissions from native wood.

Initially employed with Pharmaceutical Product Development in Middleton, Wisconsin as Chemist

Dr. Xing Yang

Ph.D., 2014 – Virginia Tech

Project Title: Influence of filler particle size on adhesive penetration and performance

Initially employed with Viance in Charlotte, North Carolina as an R&D Scientist

Dr. Matthew Schwarzkopf

Ph.D., 2014 – Oregon State University

Project Title: Microscale wood adhesive interaction (Characterization of load transfer in wood-based composites)

Initially employed with Oregon State University’s Department of Wood Science and Engineering as a Faculty Research Assistant

Mohammad Tasooji

M.S., 2014 – Virginia Tech

Project Title: Formaldehyde determination through liquid extraction

Initially employed with Virginia Tech’s Macromolecular Science and Engineering Program as a Doctoral Candidate

Dr. Jesse Paris

Ph.D., 2014 – Oregon State University

Project Title: Microscale wood adhesive interaction

Initially employed with Willamette Valley Company in Eugene, Oregon as an R&D Chemist

Nicholas Lampert

M.S., 2014 – Oregon State University

Project Title: Resin efficiency for non-structural panels

Initially employed with Space-X in Hawthorne, California as a Structures Engineer

Jorn Dettmer

M.S., 2013 – University of British Columbia

Project Title: Properties Comparison of North American Manufactured Particleboard and Medium-Density Fiberboard

Initially employed at the University of British Columbia’s Wood Science Department as Technical Operations Manager.

Paul Boehm

M.S., 2013 – University of Salzberg, Austria (Oregon State Exchange Student)

Project Title: Preliminary investigation of adhesive bonds using IR microscopy

Initially employed with Lemke Consulting, Hamburg, Germany as a Junior Consultant

Skyler Mlasko

B.S., 2012 – Oregon State University

Project Title: Impact of short length veneer on bending properties of LVL

Initially employed with Northwest Hardwoods in Longview, Washington as a Manufacturing Technician

Matthias Belda

Dip. Ing., 2012 – University of Hamburg, Germany (Oregon State Exchange Student)

Project Title: Impact of short length veneer on bending properties of LVL

Initially employed with Fraunhofer WKI in Braunschweig, Germany as a Research Engineer

Dr. Sudip Chowdhury

Ph.D., July 2011 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Advancing characterization techniques for structure-property determination of in-situ lignocelluloses

After completing a Post-Doc at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Dr. Chowdhury joined Willamette Valley Company in Eugene, Oregon as an R&D Chemist

Dr. Dakai Ren

Ph.D., November 2010 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Moisture-Cure Polyurethane Wood Adhesives: Wood/Adhesive Interactions and Weather Durability

Initially employed with Dow Chemical in Midland, Michigan as a Research Scientist

Dr. Arijit Sinha

Ph.D., September 2010 – Oregon State University

Thesis Title: The Effect of Elevated Temperature on Mechanical Behavior of Structural Wood and Wood-Based Composites

Initially employed with Oregon State University’s Department of Wood Science and Engineering as an Assistant Professor

Joshua Hosen

M.S., September 2010 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Fundamental Analysis of Wood Adhesion Primers

Initially employed with QAI Laboratories, Huntley, Virginia as an Engineering Field Technician

Dr. Richard Johnson

Ph.D., August 2010 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Tempo-Oxidized Nanocelluloses: Surface Modification and use as Additives in Cellulosics Nanocomposites

Initially employed with Celanese Corporation in Narrows, Virginia as an Advanced Engineer

Jesse Paris

M.S., August 2010 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Carboxymethylcellulose Acetate Butyrate Water-Dispersions as Renewable Wood Adhesives

Initially employed with Oregon State University’s Department of Wood Science and Engineering as a Graduate Research Assistant, pursuing a Ph.D. degree

Dr. Edoardo Nicoli

Ph.D., July 2010 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Characterization of Mixed-Mode Fracture Testing of Adhesively Bonded Wood Specimens

Initially employed with Dow Chemical in Midland, Michigan as a Research Scientist

Spencer Perry

M.S., May 2010 – University of Maine

Thesis Title: Measuring Strand Dynamics During Oriented Strand Composite Mat Formation

Initially employed with Huber Engineered Woods in Easton, Maine as a Process Control Specialist

Jung Ki Hong

M.S., November 2009 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Effect of Cellulose Nanocrystals on the Rheology, Curing Behavior, and Fracture Performance of Pheno-Formaldehyde Resol Resin

Initially employed with Virginia Tech’s Department of Wood Science and Forest Products as a Graduate Research Assistant, pursuing a Ph.D. degree

Zhou (Angela) Yu

M.S., September 2008 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Nanoscale Surface Modification of Wood Veneers for Adhesion

Initially employed with Virginia Tech’s Sustainable Engineered Materials Institute (SEMI) as a Student Research Assistant

Dr. Xuelian Zhang

Ph.D., May 2008 – University of Maine

Thesis Title: Characterization of Wood Resin-Adhesive Spray

Initially employed with Penn State University’s School of Forest Research as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate

Martin Miesner

M.S., May 2008 – University of British Columbia

Thesis Title: Photo-stabilization of thermosetting adhesives

Initially employed with a European wood products consulting company in Germany, as a Consultant

Darren Riedlinger

M.S., February 2008 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Characterization of PFResol/Isocyanate Hybrid Adhesives

Initially employed with Arclin in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, as a Research Chemist

David Finkenbinder

M.S., September 2007 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: An Experimental Investigation of Structural Composite Lumber Loaded by a Dowel in Perpendicular to Grain Orientation at Yield and Capacity

Initially employed with Simpson Strong-Tie in Columbus, Ohio as a Branch Design Engineer

S. Kate Harrison

M.S., March 2006 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Comparison of Shear Modulus Test Methods

Initially employed with iLevel by Weyerhaeuser in Sutton, West Virginia as a Technical Team Leader

John Kirkpatrick

M.S., July 2005 – Mississippi State University

Thesis Title: Mechanical and Physical Properties of Preservative-treated Strandboard

Initially employed with iLevel by Weyerhaeuser in Valdosta, Georgia as a Quality Assurance Special Projects Supervisor

Dr. Cheng (Peter) Zhang

Ph.D., June 2005 – Oregon State University

Thesis Title: Improved Interfacial Adhesion in Wood-Plastic Composites: Development of New Compatibilizers

Initially employed with Weyerhaeuser’s Chemically Enhanced Materials Unit in Federal Way, Washington as a Research Scientist

Brian Scott

M.S., June 2005 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Evaluation of Phenol Formaldehyde Resin Cure Rate

Initially employed with iLevel by Weyerhaeuser in Boise, Idaho as a Research Scientist.

Jonathan Hood

M.S., July 2004 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Changes in OSB mat permeability during hot pressing

Initially employed with iLevel by Weyerhaeuser in Chavies, Kentucky as a Process Engineer

Dr. Jeff Smith

Ph.D., July 2004 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: An investigation of nailed connection performance in a cyclic humidity environment

Initially employed with iLevel by Weyerhaeuser in Chavies, Kentucky as a Process Engineer

Dr. Scott Renneckar

Ph.D., June 2004 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Modification of wood fiber with thermoplastics by reactive steam explosion processing

Initially employed with Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia as an Assistant Professor

Dr. Nicole Robitaille-Brown

Ph.D., January 2004 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: The influence of NMA Latex Distribution on the Performance of Crosslinking-PVA Adhesives

Initially employed with the Pennsylvania State University as an Assistant Professor of Wood Chemistry

Jessica (McLaughlin) Jennings

M.S., February 2003 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Investigating the Surface Energy and Bond Performance of Compression-Densified Wood

Initially employed with Georgia-Pacific Resins in Decatur, Georgia as a Senior Technologist

Dr. Jun Zheng

Ph.D., December 2002 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Studies of PF Resole / Isocyanate Hybrid Adhesives

Initially employed with Borden Chemical in Springfield, Oregon as Senior Research Chemist

Dr. Milan Sernek

Ph.D., April 2002 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Comparative Analysis of Inactivated Wood Surfaces

Initially employed with the Department of Wood Science and Technology at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

Dr. Marie-Pierre Laborie

Ph.D., February 2002 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Investigation of the Wood/Phenol-Formaldehyde Adhesive Interphase Morphology

Initially employed with the Wood Materials Engineering Lab at Washington State University as Assistant Professor

Addie Cranstoun

B.S., May 2002 – Virginia Tech

Initially employed with Trex in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

Jaret Brochmann

M.S., December 2001 – University of Minnesota

Thesis Title: Effect of Resin Type and Flake Thickness on Bonding Efficiency for Improving Dimensional Stability of Oriented Strandboard

Initially employed with Borden Chemical in Diboll, Texas as a Resin Technologist

Dr. Edgar Deomano

Ph.D., July 2001 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Mechanism of Flake Drying and Its Correlation to Quality

Initially employed with National Wooden Pallet and Container Association in Arlington, Virginia

Mathew Gates,

B.S., June 2001 – University of Minnesota

Initially employed with Sheltersource in Lakeville, Minnesota as a Building Performance Specialist

Christopher Scoville

M.S., June 2001 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Characterizing the Durability of MDI and PF Adhesives Through Fracture Testing

Initially employed with J.M. Huber Corporation in Commerce, Georgia as a Research Scientist

Susan Gibson

B.S., May 2001 – Virginia Tech

Initially employed with Universal Forest Products in California

Cassandra (Holt) Bowman

B.S., May 2001 – Virginia Tech

Initially employed with Columbia Forest Products in Craigsville, West Virginia

Tim Larsen

B.S., May 2001 – University of Minnesota

Initially employed with Georgia-Pacific Corporation in Denver, Colorado

Dr. Balazs Zombori

Ph.D., April 2001 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Modeling the Transient Effects During the Hot-Pressing of Wood-Based Composites

Balazs was fatally injured in an automobile accident in December 2002, shortly after starting as Assistant Professor at Washington State University

Keith Scott

M.S., April 2001 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Feasibility of Implementing a Resin Distribution Measurement System for MDF Fiber

Initially employed with Trus Joist – A Weyerhaeuser Business in Valdosta, Georgia

Jerone Gagliano

M.S., February 2001 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Improvements in the Fracture Cleavage Testing of Adhesively-Bonded Wood

Initially employed with IMR Test Labs in Ithaca, New York as a Materials Engineer

Vladimir Kochkin

M.S., September 2000 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Analysis and Testing of a Ready-to-Assemble Wood Framing System

Initially employed with the National Association of Home Builders

Dr. Mansur Ahmad

Ph.D., August 2000 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Analysis of Calcutta Bamboo for Structural Composite Materials

Initially employed at the Universiti Teknologi Mara in Malaysia

Arnold “Bucky” Kirk

B.S., May 2000 – Virginia Tech

Initially employed with Southeastern Adhesives Company in Lenoir, North Carolina

Brett Knudsen

B.S., May 2000 – Oregon State University

Initially employed with Dynea in Springfield, Oregon

Tony Ory

B.S., May 2000 – Mississippi State University

Initially employed with Georgia-Pacific Resins in Louisville, Mississippi

J.W. Tapp

B.S., May 2000 – Virginia Tech

Initially employed with Nevamar Corporation in Virginia

Andrew Kuti

B.S., May 2000 – Virginia Tech

Initially employed with Dynea in Moncure, North Carolina

Indrajit Ghosh

M.S., 1999 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Lyocell Fiber-Reinforced Cellulose Ester Composites Manufacturing Considerations and Properties

Initially employed with American Management Systems, Inc., Charlotte, North Carolina

Kevin C. Seavey

M.S., September 1999 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Lyocell Fiber-Reinforced Cellulose Ester Composites – Surface Modification and Consolidation

Continued education toward Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, at Virginia Tech

Dr. Christopher Lenth

Ph.D., May 1999 – Virginia Tech

Thesis Title: Wood Material Behavior in Severe Environments

Initially employed with Forest Research, Inc., Rotorua, New Zealand