NC State PSE Faculty & Staff Profiles
Faculty
Dr. Dimitris S. Argyropoulos (Professor)
Ph.D. McGill University Montreal
His research interests are centered around the Organic Chemistry of Wood Components with emphasis on the development on new Forest-based Advanced Materials. Current research in his group includes the development of novel processing platforms (ionic liquids), oxidation chemistry, and catalysts for the synthesis of bio-based monomers, polymers, and solvents.
Phone: 919.515.7708
E-mail: dsargyro@ncsu.edu
Dr. Medwick V. Byrd (Teaching Assistant Professor)
Ph.D. North Carolina State University
His research interests are mechanical pulping, chemical pulping and bleaching, and non-wood pulping. Other areas of his research and technical services are agricultural fibers and biomass.
Phone: 919.515.5790
E-mail: med_byrd@ncsu.edu
Dr. Hou-Min Chang (Reuben B. Robertson Professor Emeritus)
Ph.D. University of Washington
His research interests are in the chemistry of lignin, chemical processing of wood, chemistry of pulping and bleaching processes, pollution abatement in pulp and paper mills, and chemical and morphological characterization of wood as related to tree breeding and transgenetic trees.
Phone: 919.515.7712
E-mail: hchang@ncsu.edu
Dr. Vincent Chiang (Jordan Family DistinguishedProfessor for Natural Resources Innovation)
Ph.D. University of Washington
His research interests are chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology of lignin biosynthesis with a focus on systems approach; cellulose and hemicellulose biosynthesis; functional genomics and genomic reconstruction for wood formation.
Phone: 919.513.0098
E-mail: vincent_chiang@ncsu.edu
Dr. John A. Heitmann, Jr. (Professor)
Ph.D. Institute of Paper Chemistry
He is a specialist in papermaking science. His research interests are recycled fibers, biotechnological applications to papermaking processes, wet end chemistry, and other aspects of papermaking.
Phone: 919.757.8418
E-mail: heitmann@ncsu.edu
Dr. Martin A. Hubbe (Buckman Professor)
Ph.D. Clarkson University
His research focus areas include electrokinetics, dry-strength development, and effects of polyelectrolytes on the papermaking process.
Phone: 919.513.3022
E-mail: hubbe@ncsu.edu
Dr. Hasan Jameel (Elis and Signe Olsson Professor)
Ph.D. Princeton University
His research interests are pulping and bleaching processes, process modeling and simulation, and black liquor gasification.
Phone: 919.515.7739
E-mail: h_jameel@ncsu.edu
Dr. Steven Kelley (Department Head)
Ph.D. Virginia Tech
His research work is focused on the development and characterization of bioenergy, and biomaterials. In the bioenergy arena he works with colleagues to develop improved analytical tools and
processes for the production of liquid fuels and other products. In the biomaterials arena he has focused on the development and characterization of polymer blends and crosslinked materials that are
useful for membranes and composites.
Phone: 919.515.5321
E-mail: steve_kelley@ncsu.edu
Dr. Adrianna Grant Kirkman (Professor and Assoc. Dean)
Ph.D. North Carolina State University
Her research interests are process analysis, mathematical modeling and simulation.
Phone: 919.515.6191
E-mail: a g_kirkman@ncsu.edu
Dr. Michael J. Kocurek (Professor)
Ph.D. College of Forestry at Syracuse University
Dr. Kocurek is a recognized educator in pulp and paper. His area of expertise are Paper Properties and Pulp and Paper Technology.
Phone: 919.515.5812
E-mail: mike_kocurek@ncsu.edu
Dr. Lucian A. Lucia (Associate Professor)
Ph.D. University of Florida
Research in The Laboratory of Soft Materials & Green Chemistry includes developing renewable and bio-compatible scaffolds for tissue engineering, generating bio-composites, synthesizing renewable materials based on lignin and polysaccharides, and enhancing the use of wood and North Carolina pocosin biomass for bioenergy via novel pretreatment technologies.
Phone: 919.515.7707
E-mail: lucian.lucia@ncsu.edu
Dr. Sunku Park (Assistant Professor)
Ph.D. North Carolina State University
His research focuses on the bioenergy production from ligno-cellulosic materials. Current research interests include the investigation of biomass recalcitrance affecting enzymatic action efficiency, development of novel pretreatment process, and process simulation of bioenergy production.
Phone: 919.515.0473
E-mail: sunkyu_park@ncsu.edu
Dr. Joel Pawlak (Associate Professor)
Ph.D. College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University
His research interests include new materials from natural polymers, micro-cellular foams, organic/inorganic composites, 100 % natural composites, and the physical behavior of paper. His teaches classes in the areas of paper physics, forest biomaterials physics, and product design.
Phone: 919.513.0511
E-mail: jjpawlak@ncsu.edu 
Dr. Richard Phillips (Executive in Residence)
Ph.D. North Carolina State University
His research is focused on the technical and economic evaluation of biomass conversion processes.
Phone: 919.515.5580
E-mail: richard_phillips@ncsu.edu
Dr. Orlando J. Rojas (Associate Professor)
Ph.D. Auburn University
His research focuses on colloid and surface science and the adsorption behaviors of surfactants and (bio)polymers at solid/liquid interfaces. His group currently works on the dynamics of enzymatic degradation; biosensor development; friction and adhesion in polymeric interfaces; adsorption dynamics and, the separation, derivatization and use of natural polymers and surfactants.
Phone: 919.513.7494
E-mail: ojrojas@ncsu.edu
Dr. Richard A. Venditti (Associate Professor, Director of Graduate Programs)
Ph.D. Princeton University
Research interests include (1) novel processing and applications for cellulose, lignin and other forest biomaterials,(2) lignocellulosic feedstocks to produce biofuels, (3) efficient paper recycling processes and (4) life cycle analysis.
Phone: 919.515.6185
E-mail: richard_venditti@ncsu.edu
sTAFF
Pat Hill (Administrative Support Specialist; Paper Science & Engineering)
Phone: 919.515.2888
E-mail: pat_hill@ncsu.edu
Jane Howe (Executive Assistant for Dept. of Wood & Paper Science)
Phone: 919.515.3120
E-mail: jane_howe@ncsu.edu
Wes Johnson (Coordinator of Applied Research; Pilot Plant Manager)
Phone: 919.515.7761
E-mail: wes_johnson@ncsu.edu
Natalie Phillips (
Development Officer)
MBA Meredith College/BA North Carolina State University
Phone: 919.515.0475
E-mail: natalie_phillips@ncsu.edu