The Department of Sustainable Biomaterials at Virginia Tech

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!

08/11/2026

SBIO is excited to announce a new publication in the Forest Products Journal from Abasali Masoumi and Brian Bond. Their article, titled “Outdoor Moisture Durability of Hybrid Cross-Laminated Timber,” explores how we can make cross-laminated timber (CLT) more durable and better suited for challenging outdoor environments.

One of the biggest hurdles for CLT is moisture. Over time, exposure to moisture can cause wood to swell, warp, crack, or even separate layers. Masoumi and Bond investigated a promising solution: using thermally modified wood (TMW) for the outer layers of CLT panels.

The results were impressive and showed that thermally modified outer layers helped improve moisture durability without trapping moisture inside the panel. The findings demonstrate how a relatively simple change could help create more moisture-resistant, durable mass timber products - potentially expanding where and how these sustainable building materials can be used.

Research like this is helping move mass timber technology forward. Congratulations to Masoumi and Bond on their contribution to the future of sustainable wood construction!

Read their full article here: https://fpj.kglmeridian.com/view/journals/fpro/76/3/article-p346.xml

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!

05/27/2026

Earlier this month, SBIO’s Brian Bond in conjunction with Matthew Labrenze, Forest Products Specialist, Alaska Lumber Grading Program, UAF Cooperative Extension Services, delivered two full-day workshops in Fairbanks and Palmer focused on the design, operation, and application of solar lumber drying technology.

The workshops were organized in collaboration with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service as part of their focus on the Alaska Lumber Grading Program. The Alaska Lumber Grading Program (ALG) is a state-developed training and certification program that allows small- and medium-scale sawmill operators in Alaska to visually grade and self-certify locally produced dimension lumber for certain residential structural applications without participating in the traditional third-party grade-stamp system used across North America.

Hosted at the National Laboratory of the Rockies, Alaska Campus, and the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center, the workshops provided participants with hands-on instruction and discussion on solar kiln construction, operation, and adaptation for northern environments. Attendees included wood producers, landowners, woodworkers, and forestry professionals interested in improving lumber quality and creating greater value from local wood resources.

Participants explored key concepts in wood drying, including moisture management, kiln sizing, collector orientation, lumber stacking, defect reduction, and practical approaches to achieving high-quality dried lumber using passive solar energy. The workshops emphasized how solar kilns can serve as an accessible, low-cost technology for small-scale and remote operations where conventional kiln infrastructure may be limited.

Bond’s work on solar lumber drying builds on decades of applied research and Extension programming focused on increasing the sustainable use and value of wood products. Solar lumber drying offers a practical pathway to support local forest-based economies while reducing energy demand and improving access to properly dried material for manufacturing and construction applications.

We’re proud to see our department’s expertise helping communities across the country innovate with renewable, locally sourced materials!

05/18/2026

Caps off to the newest graduates of the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials!

Last week we celebrated our incredible group of students as they crossed the stage and began the next chapter of their lives. From the late nights in labs, to hands-on projects, field trips, research, internships, and lifelong friendships, these Hokies have left a lasting impact on our department.

We are proud of everything they’ve accomplished and can’t wait to see where their talents take them next. Congratulations, SBIO graduates!

05/08/2026

We had a great time celebrating our graduating students at yesterday’s SBIO Graduation Luncheon!

Dozens of students and faculty came together for free food, small gifts, laughs, memories, and one last chance to connect before graduation. Events like this are what make our department special - the friendships, mentorships, and communities built here go far beyond the classroom.

We’re proud of everything our SBIO 2026 graduates have accomplished and can’t wait to see where they go next. Once a Hokie, always a Hokie!

05/05/2026

VT is leading the way in workforce innovation and SBIO faculty member Dr. Pipiet Larasatie is at the center of it with a new $200,000 AgriProspects grant focused on AI-driven training for the forestry sector.

Larasatie’s project, “Logging Smarter: AI-Enhanced Hardwood Bucking Training for Adult Workforce Development,” uses artificial intelligence and interactive tools to help loggers make better real-time decisions, improving both efficiency in and value from the field. By modernizing how hardwood bucking is taught, Larasatie’s work is bridging the gap between traditional forestry practices and cutting-edge technology - strengthening the workforce and advancing the future of sustainable forest products.

Read more: https://news.vt.edu/articles/2026/04/cnre-vce-grant-ai-training.html

Virginia Tech will use a $200,000 AgriProspects grant to develop AI-based training tools that help loggers improve decision-making and value recovery in hardwood forests.

04/30/2026

Big news for SBIO researchers – we are featured in a VT Daily News article! Young-Teck Kim’s research team is leading the way in rethinking the future of packaging with a breakthrough in sustainable bioplastics.

Their latest work focuses on replacing petroleum-based plastics with scalable, safer, and more environmentally friendly alternatives - especially for single-use packaging. By developing innovative processes that improve performance while reducing environmental impact, this research brings us one step closer to packaging that protects both products and the planet.

It’s innovations like this that defines what we do in the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials - combining the sciences, environmental concerns, and real-world impact to solve global sustainability and packaging challenges.

Read more: https://news.vt.edu/articles/2026/04/cnre-research-bioplastics.html

The work brings safer, compostable packaging closer to everyday use.