Jingxin Wang Named Reuben B. Robertson Professor

Jingxin Wang, professor and head of the Department of Forest Biomaterials at the NC State College of Natural Resources, has been awarded the Reuben B. Robertson Professorship. He is the fifth faculty member to receive the professorship since it was established in 1953. Previous recipients include Robert Hitchings, Alfred Stamm, Hou-min Chang and Stephen Kelley, respectively. 

The Reuben B. Robertson Professorship was established from shares of Champion Paper stock given to the former Pulp and Paper Foundation, which has merged into the Natural Resources Foundation. The stock was given to honor Reuben B. Robertson, an industry leader and former chairman of the Board of Champion, who was instrumental in providing support for the beginning of the Paper Science and Engineering program.

Criteria for the professorship include being an outstanding scholar in their assigned department; being worthy of the respect and admiration of the general faculty of NC State; and being favorably known to scholars beyond the university, state and region. The professorship provides recipients with annual funding for teaching and research, including a salary supplement, student support and operating expenses. 

“Dr. Wang’s demonstrated leadership experience and extensive research expertise make him incredibly deserving of this recognition,” said Myron Floyd, dean of the College of Natural Resources. “He is actively working to strengthen the Department of Forest Biomaterials, and I am confident that he will continue to cultivate a future-focused environment that fosters innovation, academic success and cutting-edge research.”

Before joining NC State in January 2024, Wang spent more than two decades on the faculty at the Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at West Virginia University. He served as the Benedum Distinguished Scholar, Davis Michael Professor of Forestry and Natural Resources, director of the Center for Sustainable Biomaterials and Bioenergy, and associate director for research in the Division of Forestry and Natural Resources.

Wang has more than 20 years of experience in teaching, research and outreach in sustainable bioproducts and bioenergy, forest biomaterials and engineering. A recognized expert across disciplines, his research interests include biomass energy and bioproducts, forest carbon management and decarbonized bioeconomy, computer simulation and system modeling, and forest ecosystem services and climate change.

Since 2000, Wang has secured a total of more than $25 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation and other agencies. He has authored or co-authored more than 200 peer-reviewed journal articles and 12 books or book chapters. Wang has also delivered  more than 300 technical presentations and workshops around the world. 

Wang currently serves as lead investigator for five federally-funded projects, including the Mid-Atlantic Sustainable Biomass for Value-added Products Consortium. The $10 million, multi-institutional project aims to “transform sustainable biomass resources and conversion technologies into agricultural and industrial enterprises.” He has published six peer-reviewed journal articles and obtained two grants totaling $500,000 from the U.S. Forest Service since joining NC State. 

As head of the Department of Forest Biomaterials, Wang continues to lead efforts to increase undergraduate enrollment and scholarships, hire new faculty and staff, renovate laboratory and classroom facilities, expand corporate partnerships, strengthen collaborations with other colleges across campus, and promote international exchange programs with China, Finland and other countries. 

“My vision is to drive innovation, empower our scholars, and lead with significant impacts in paper science and engineering and sustainable biomaterials,” Wang said. “The Reuben B. Robertson Professorship will help further strengthen my work and impacts at NC State and beyond and to significantly contribute to the success of the Department of Forest Biomaterials.” 

Wang has established strong working relationships with regional and national forest and paper products, bioenergy and biomaterials industry partners. He has chaired and organized regional, national and international workshops each year to engage with stakeholders. He serves as a board member and associate editor for four international journals and is an active member in six international professional societies, including the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers and Forest Products Society.

Wang earned three degrees (B.S., M.S. and Ph.D.) in forest/mechanical engineering from Jilin Forestry College and Northeast Forestry University in China. He also received a M.S. in computer science from West Virginia University and a Ph.D. in forest resource management from the University of Georgia. He served as an assistant/associate professor at Northeast Forestry University and then as a research assistant/coordinator at the University of Georgia before joining the faculty at West Virginia University in 2000.