Graduate Students

The Department of Sustainable Biomaterials is one of four academic departments within Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources and Environment (CNRE). We are dedicated to advancing education and research in sustainable biomaterials, packaging, wood science, nanomaterials, polymer science, and forest products. Our curriculum spans an impressive range—from the fundamentals of nanotechnology and materials science to the processing, design, manufacturing, marketing, and management aspects of multiple industry sectors. Many of our research efforts are conducted in collaboration with specialized research centers, fostering innovation and cross-disciplinary partnerships.

Students, faculty, and collaborators benefit from excellent laboratory, classroom, and outreach resources in Blacksburg, Virginia, as well as at partner facilities across the state. On the main campus, research and instructional activities are centered in Cheatham Hall and Kelly Hall, with additional specialized laboratories at the Brooks Forest Products Center, located just 1.5 miles from campus near the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center.

Cheatham Hall houses research and teaching spaces, forestry research laboratories, and college-wide computing facilities. Its laboratories are equipped for advanced analysis and characterization of materials, including: Liquid and gas chromatographic separation of wood components, Thermal analysis of cellulose-based materials, Molecular weight determination, Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), FT-IR and UV-VIS spectroscopy, Contact angle measurement, Light and electron microscopy for structure and property evaluation, and Wide-angle X-ray diffraction for crystallinity and microfibril angle studies.

The Brooks Forest Products Center offers classrooms, offices, and extensive research facilities. These include equipment for manufacturing pressed panels, engineering testing machines, woodworking and metalworking shops, pallet and container research areas, packaging evaluation systems, and specialized instrumentation for testing wood- and fiber-based composites. This combination of resources enables our department to support cutting-edge research while preparing graduates for leadership roles in academia, industry, and beyond.

Our graduate program is offered jointly by the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials and the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation. Through this collaboration, students can pursue one of three degrees:

• Master of Science in Forestry and Forest Products (M.S.) – Thesis-based
• Master of Forestry (M.F.) – Non-thesis, professional option
• Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry and Forest Products (Ph.D.)

The M.S. program is research-focused and requires the completion of a thesis. The M.F. program is a non-thesis, terminal degree designed for professional preparation. Students in the M.F. track complete additional coursework, write a report on a problem of their choice, and participate in departmental seminars by both attending and presenting. While the M.F. program does not require original research, it offers strong professional training for applied careers.

Most of our graduate students choose the M.S. thesis option, which provides an in-depth research experience under the mentorship of a faculty advisor.

Regardless of the track chosen, graduates of our program receive a diploma that reads "Forestry and Forest Products" upon completion of all degree requirements.

All applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Virginia Tech Graduate School. Complete information on the Graduate School - including the online application process, transcript and recommendation letter submission, TOEFL and GRE requirements, deadlines, and other details - can be found on the Graduate School’s admissions website.

Admission requires a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree from an accredited college or university, along with evidence of strong potential for graduate-level study. In evaluating applications, the Graduate School considers academic performance, professional experience, three letters of recommendation, and standardized test scores. Admission categories and graduate status classifications are outlined in the Graduate School’s Graduate Catalog.

Applicants who do not meet Graduate School requirements will be notified directly by the Graduate School. The Department of Sustainable Biomaterials (SBIO) does not have the authority to overturn Graduate School admission decisions.

Application Submission
Applicants are responsible for submitting all required documents and paying all applicable fees. When applying to our program, please indicate the curriculum abbreviation FPR for the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials.

Standardized Testing

• The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test is required for all applicants to SBIO.
• Applicants whose undergraduate degrees were earned from institutions where English is not the primary language of instruction must also submit TOEFL scores. TOEFL scores are not required for U.S. permanent residents or naturalized U.S. citizens.
• Official scores should be sent directly to the Virginia Tech Graduate School (Institution Code: 5859).

Application Review Process
Once an application is complete, the Graduate School moves it to the Department Review stage in the Slate system. The SBIO department then circulates the application among relevant faculty members for review. After faculty provide feedback, the department head makes a recommendation to the Dean of the Graduate School, who issues the final admission decision.

Applicants are typically notified within six to eight weeks.

After Admission
Admitted students should promptly contact faculty members in their area of interest to discuss potential financial support, available research opportunities, course planning, and other program-specific details.

Financial support from the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials is limited to the number of available Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA) and Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA). These stipends (a form of payment or salary) are granted for a specified period of time provided that the recipient's progress toward their degree is satisfactory. Each year a decision based on the results of the annual performance review is made regarding continuation of the stipend. At the end of each academic year, the stipend is discontinued if the student's overall grade point average (GPA) falls below a 3.00. Discontinuance may also be considered at the end of an academic semester on the basis of the student's performance in research.

The department has a limited number of assistantships available each year. The majority of our graduate students are supported on research projects being directed by our faculty. Because of this, early contact with individual faculty members in your area of interest is crucial to explore funding opportunities for your graduate study.

Financial assistance is not normally provided for students enrolled in the M.F. program.

Assistantships

One of the most common sources of funding is the graduate assistantship. Assistantships can be in support of general administrative duties, teaching assignments, or research projects.

We routinely evaluate graduate admission applications for the possibility that the student can fill an available assistantship position. Current students in search of funding should check with us to discuss the availability of assistantships and assistantship eligibility requirements. The Graduate School also keeps a list of students in need of tuition or an assistantship.

a) Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Graduate research assistants are graduate students conducting academically significant research under the direction of a faculty member, who is generally a principal investigator on an external grant or contract. Graduate Research Assistantships are awarded by departments and professors who are engaged in research projects. Research assistantships offer exciting opportunities to participate in our department's research program.

b) Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate teaching assistants provide academic program support under the supervision of a faculty member. GTAs may assist faculty in the department in teaching undergraduate courses, including laboratory teaching assignments, or in providing other appropriate professional assistance, including grading examinations, problem sets, and/or lab assignments, setting up displays for lectures and laboratory sections, and preparing or maintaining equipment used in laboratory sections.

c) Assistantship Agreement Contract

Students offered an assistantship must sign a Graduate Assistantship Agreement form (aka, Grad Agreement), which is a contract between the student and department. The agreement will stipulate the beginning and ending dates of the contract, the type of appointment, the amount of the monthly stipend, whether the student is expected to work during school breaks, and any other special conditions. The agreement also indicates whether a tuition scholarship, academic fee, and engineering fee will be paid by the department, and whether or not the out-of-state portion of the tuition will be waived.

d) Academic Eligibility to Hold a Graduate Assistantship

Assistantships may be offered to degree seeking graduate students with a GPA of 3.0 or greater. To continue to be eligible for an assistantship, a student must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher and be making satisfactory progress towards the achievement of their graduate degree. The Graduate School may allow a student one semester on probationary status to remedy grade deficiencies while maintaining their assistantship. Students on assistantship must be enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours per academic year semester. Audited courses do not qualify in satisfying this minimum.

e) Graduate Assistantship Workshop

All graduate research and teaching assistants in the Department are required to be enrolled and attend the GTA Workshop (GRAD 5004, 1 credit, P/F) during the semester(s) of their assistantship appointment. Students who hope to qualify for an assistantship in the future should take the course in their first semester. The workshop is managed by the graduate school and is held a week prior to the start of classes.  Visit this site for more information.

Fees and Taxes

Comprehensive/Technology/Capital Fees: Students are responsible for comprehensive fees, each semester. Out-of-state students must also pay a Capital Fee. See the Bursar's web page for a description of fees. The Capital Fee requirement cannot be waived and is not part of the tuition charges.

Taxes: Federal and state taxes, if applicable, are withheld from the assistantship stipend check, which is issued semi-monthly at approximately the 1st and 16th of each month. Students on summer assistantships, who are not enrolled in classes, will be taxed at a higher, non-student rate.

Because serious illness or injury may require treatment beyond the services provided by the Schiffert Health Center, all students are strongly encouraged to carry medical insurance for themselves and, if applicable, their families. Having adequate coverage ensures you can access necessary care without unexpected financial strain.

Graduate Assistants holding at least a 50% assistantship (10 or more hours per week) may be eligible for VT health insurance benefits, including a university-provided subsidy toward the cost of coverage. For details, visit the Student Medical Insurance Benefits webpage.

At Virginia Tech:

• Domestic students are encouraged, but not required, to have personal health insurance.
• International students are required to have health insurance, either through the university’s Student Health Insurance Plan or through a comparable plan that meets university requirements.

Any Graduate Assistants who wish to apply for a university health care subsidy must enroll in the Virginia Tech Student Health Insurance Plan.

Graduate research and teaching assistantships are funded through research grants, contracts, and university resources. As a result, all graduate students holding these positions are considered half-time employees of the university. The major professor is responsible for assigning and overseeing the work to be performed. In most cases, graduate assistants are expected to work a minimum of 20 hours per week for their professor. Please note that time spent meeting academic requirements - such as attending classes or completing coursework - does not count toward these 20 hours.

Graduate assistants are expected to observe the office hours established by the Graduate School, with exceptions for class attendance and scholarly activities. Students who are not employed by the university should still keep their major professor informed of their schedule and must remain available for collaborative work on research or teaching projects. Holidays are set and published annually by the University Registrar, and students follow the same holiday schedule as other university personnel.

As part-time employees, graduate assistants do not receive benefits such as accrued annual vacation or sick leave. There is no vacation entitlement for GRA or GTA positions. Any planned absences - whether for vacation, personal reasons, or other commitments - must be approved in advance by the major professor to ensure there is no conflict with research or teaching obligations. It is expected that any work hours missed will be made up either before or after the absence.

Graduate students should also be aware that there may be times when extended working hours will be necessary to meet their academic or research deadlines. It is the responsibility of each student to meet all of their deadlines regardless of the working hours required. Data collection, laboratory work, teaching preparation, and field activities may require working evenings, weekends, or even certain holidays during periods of high activity.

Center-Supported Graduate Research
Some graduate students receive support directly from research centers affiliated with our department. These arrangements follow the same expectations and responsibilities as other assistantships and require close coordination with the supervising professor or center director.

Before starting your graduate journey, consider visiting Blacksburg and the Virginia Tech campus to get a true feel for your future home. Stroll through the university’s iconic Drillfield, explore the cutting-edge research facilities, and experience the welcoming atmosphere that makes VT unique. Beyond campus, Blacksburg offers a vibrant small-town charm with local cafés, scenic trails, and a strong sense of community—an ideal backdrop for both academic focus and personal growth.

The Graduate School offers a lot of information about visiting Blacksburg, including virtual tour videos of the Virginia Tech campus.

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a documented disability, please contact the Services for Students with Disabilities office located in the Kent Square building, 250 S. Main Street, Suite 300.