The Department of Sustainable Biomaterials at Virginia Tech

10/09/2026

Ready to explore how you can make an impact? Visit www.sbio.vt.edu/s3 to learn more about S3 and the career paths you can take!

10/09/2026

Interested in Packaging Systems and Design? Visit our website to learn more! www.sbio.vt.edu/psd

09/29/2026

Two standout SBIO researchers, one award-winning poster, and exciting possibilities for sustainable materials! Congratulations to Zunhuang He from Dr. Young Kim’s lab and Fiorella Mazzini from Dr. Kevin Edgar’s lab, both in Virginia Tech’s Macromolecular Science and Engineering (MACR) program conducting research in the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials. They received Student Best Poster Award at the Macromolecules Innovation Institute (MII) conference, sponsored by Eastman Chemical Company. Only ten students from more than 100 participants earned this recognition. Here’s what they shared about their research:

Zunhuang He: “I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Macromolecular Science and Engineering (MACR) program, conducting my doctoral research under the guidance of Dr. Young-Teck Kim. My research focuses on the development of biodegradable, biobased, bioplastic-coated paper using a novel spray-coating method. In particular, I am working on developing aqueous bioplastic suspensions for diverse packaging applications.”

Fiorella Mazzini: “I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Macromolecular Science and Engineering (MACR) program, conducting my doctoral research under the guidance of Dr. Kevin Edgar. My research focuses on the development of regioselective modifications of dextran, a bacterial polysaccharide. My current research involves conjugating cholesterol to dextran regioselectively at the non-reducing end for applications in drug delivery. The motivation for this work is to replace polyethylene glycol (PEG), a petroleum-based polymer currently used in liposomes, with dextran-cholesterol.”

Daniel Lobree: “I am a Ph.D. student in the Macromolecular Science and Engineering (MACR) program, conducting my doctoral research under the guidance of Dr. Kevin Edgar and Dr. Stephen Martin. My research is focused on the development and characterization of amphiphilic cellulose ethers for amorphous solid dispersion drug delivery, which aims to improve the uptake and bioavailability of orally administered hydrophobic drugs.”

(Daniel is 3rd from the left in the front row, Fiorella is the 5th from the left in the front row and Zunhuang is the 1st on the right in the second row).

09/28/2026

What could the next generation of polymers make possible? SBIO faculty are exploring that question through research on biodegradable polymers - materials with the potential to change how we think about products, packaging, and the waste they leave behind.

VT’s new video offers a look at our people and ideas behind their work. It’s a glimpse of research driven by curiosity and a big challenge: how do we create useful materials while building a more sustainable future?

Our work spans materials science, packaging design, health safety, and sustainability. By understanding where plastic waste and microplastics come from, our faculty and students can help design better products and better systems for using them.

Watch the video to meet the researchers and see their ideas taking shape: https://news.vt.edu/videos/y/2026/09/6iiO2Nda4Pg.html

Polymers have transformed modern life, but many are made from petrochemicals and can break down into harmful microplastics. Researchers are developing sustainable alternatives using natural materials like carbohydrates and lignin and creating biodegradable plastics and renewable adhesives that can r...

09/24/2026

The Department of Sustainable Biomaterials (SBIO) is proud to announce that Kihyeon Ahn, a Ph.D. Candidate conducting his doctoral research under the guidance of Dr. Young-Teck Kim, has been selected by the Macromolecules Innovation Institute (MII) as the recipient of the Garth L. Wilkes Interdisciplinary Student Scholar Award.

Presented only once every 18 months to a single MII-affiliated graduate student, the award recognizes interdisciplinary excellence and sustained achievement across research, teaching, and engagement. Kihyeon was formally recognized as the award recipient at the MII Technical Conference & Review on September 21, 2026.

Named in honor of Professor Garth L. Wilkes, an internationally recognized interdisciplinary scholar who made significant contributions to polymer research and interdisciplinary graduate education at Virginia Tech, the award celebrates the broad scholarly excellence and interdisciplinary spirit represented by his legacy.

In his own words, Kihyeon reflects on the recognition:

“I am deeply honored to receive the Garth L. Wilkes Interdisciplinary Student Scholar Award. It is especially meaningful to have my research accomplishments and broader scholarly contributions recognized through an award that celebrates interdisciplinary excellence across research, teaching, and engagement.

As a Ph.D. Candidate in the Macromolecular Science and Engineering (MACR) program, conducting my doctoral research in the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials under the guidance of Dr. Young-Teck Kim, my work brings together polymer science, sustainable materials, processing, and packaging. Through my research and publications, I have focused on developing practical and scalable approaches to sustainable polymer processing, particularly water-based processing and multilayer structures using bio-based and biodegradable polymers.

I am sincerely grateful to Dr. Kim, my collaborators, colleagues, and the MII and SBIO communities for their mentorship, collaboration, and support throughout my doctoral journey. Receiving an award that carries Professor Garth L. Wilkes’ legacy of interdisciplinary scholarship is a tremendous honor and motivates me to continue advancing sustainable polymer research and translating fundamental materials science into practical applications.”

Please join us in congratulating Kihyeon on this outstanding recognition!

09/16/2026

SBIO’s Abasali Masoumi has published his latest research, “AI for Mass Timber Construction (MTC): Design, Optimization, Manufacturing, and Digital Twin Integration: A Scoping Review,” in the Mass Timber Construction Journal. The article was co-authored with Brian Bond, Sara Hashemi, Daniel Hindman, and Paul Kremer.

The review explores how artificial intelligence is being integrated throughout the mass timber construction lifecycle, from material characterization and structural design to manufacturing automation, robotics, structural monitoring, and sustainability assessments. The authors highlight emerging technologies that could improve the efficiency, precision, and long-term performance of mass timber systems, while also identifying challenges such as limited standardized datasets, interoperability, and the need for greater real-world validation.

Congratulations to Abasali and collaborators on this publication and their research to advance the intersection of AI and mass timber construction! Read their full article here: https://www.journalmtc.com/index.php/mtcj/article/view/58

08/28/2026

SBIO’s Dr. Dan Hindman was recently interviewed by WVTF/Radio IQ about his research exploring the potential to turn local sheep wool into insulation for homes.

For many sheep farmers in Virginia and across Appalachia, wool has become a resource without a strong market. Farmers still need to shear their sheep, but that wool has little economic value and is often discarded. Dr. Hindman and his team are investigating a different possibility: using this renewable, locally available biomaterial to create useful building insulation.

The team has already begun producing and testing small samples of wool insulation in the lab. Finding new uses for Virginia wool could help keep valuable materials out of the waste stream, create new opportunities for farmers, support locally sourced building materials, and contribute to more sustainable approaches to construction.

This is a great example of the work happening in the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials - finding innovative ways to transform renewable resources into practical solutions!

Read or listen to the WVTF/Radio IQ story:
https://www.wvtf.org/news/2026-08-27/could-wool-from-sheep-help-insulate-homes-in-appalachia

08/24/2026

Congratulations to SBIO’s Abasali Masoumi, Brian Bond, Daniel Hindman, and Audrey Zink-Sharp (retired) on the publication of their article “Adhesive bonding quality of cross-laminated timber made of thermally modified and unmodified wood” in the European Journal of Wood and Wood Products!

Their study investigates how bonding pressure affects the adhesive performance of thermally modified yellow-poplar used in hybrid CLT. It was found that thermal modification substantially changes adhesive pe*******on and bonding behavior, making conventional processing conditions for unmodified wood unsuitable without adjustment. The results identify 0.70 MPa as an optimal bonding pressure, providing a practical manufacturing parameter for incorporating thermally modified wood into CLT and supporting the development of durable, mass timber products from hardwood resources.

Research like this helps build the knowledge needed to develop innovative and durable, wood-based building systems. SBIO is proud of our research team for this exciting contribution to the future of mass timber!

Read the full article here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00107-026-02481-7

08/12/2026

A fond farewell to Mimi Harrison! For the past several years, Mimi has been an important part of the Sustainable Biomaterials team, serving as our Cheatham Hall Lab Technician and Safety Specialist. From helping to keep our labs stocked to making sure our faculty, staff, and students could work safely, Mimi has made a lasting impact on our department. We recently had the chance to take Mimi out to lunch to celebrate her time with us and share some laughs. We’ll miss seeing her around the department, but we wish her nothing but the best in her next adventure!

06/23/2026

Last week, faculty and staff from the SBIO Department took a break from meetings, classes, and research to enjoy a walk to downtown Blacksburg together. Our destination? Sugar Magnolia, a local favorite, where everyone enjoyed a well-deserved ice cream treat while spending time connecting outside the office and classroom.

Building a strong department isn't just about the work we do - it's also about the relationships we build along the way. Thanks to everyone who joined us for a fun afternoon of fresh air, conversation, and ice cream!