Available Graduate Opportunities

Research Project Description: The Department of Sustainable Biomaterials has over a decade of history in the cross-laminated-timber (CLT) research and application. Virginia Tech researchers have developed a CLT structural analysis methodologies, predicted strength properties for new species and configurations, in addition to investigating the use of hardwood in CLT manufacture. We continue to push innovation for CLT and wood materials through research, education and outreach. 

We seek a highly motivated and collaborative researcher with expertise in wood science, sustainable materials, or engineering to contribute to our ongoing research on improving the hygrothermal performance, structural modeling, and durability of CLT, including hybrid and thermally modified wood systems.

Required Qualifications: 

•  Ph.D. in Sustainable biomaterials, wood science, engineering or related field. PhD must be awarded no more than four years prior to the effective date of appointment with a minimum of one year eligibility remaining.
• Demonstrated experience in wood property testing, mass timber research and wood adhesion studies.
• Proven record of publishing refereed journal articles and presenting at professional conferences.
• Strong understanding of wood physics and experience in developing physics-informed models related to hygrothermal or moisture diffusion processes.
• Experience with experimental design, data collection, and analysis.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to lift or carry 50 lbs., and obtain and maintain a valid Virginia Driver's license.
• Position requires considerable walking, standing, stooping, and bending, and requires the use of personal protective equipment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Skills in modeling and simulation, preferably using scientific machine learning (SciML) or related computational approaches, with emphasis on physics-informed or mechanics-informed modeling.
• Experience with the manufacture of and testing of thermally modified wood properties

Research Project Description: The Department of Sustainable Biomaterials at Virginia Tech invites applications for a Postdoctoral Associate to support a project titled “Advancing the Competitiveness of Virginia’s Forest Sector Industry: A Mixed-Methods Approach.” This interdisciplinary research initiative integrates stakeholder engagement, market analysis, and policy evaluation to develop a strategic competitiveness framework for Virginia’s forest sector.

The successful candidate will work closely with Dr. Pipiet Larasatie and collaborators across academia, industry, and extension to conduct mixed-methods research, develop extension materials, and contribute to peer-reviewed publications. The position offers opportunities for professional development in applied research, science communication, and stakeholder collaboration.

Required Qualifications: 

• Ph.D. in Forest Products, Forestry, Natural Resources, Sustainability, or a related field. PhD must be awarded no more than four years prior to the effective date of appointment with a minimum of one year eligibility remaining.
• Demonstrated experience in qualitative and/or quantitative research methods.
• Strong communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with stakeholder engagement or extension programming.
• Familiarity with statistical software (e.g., SPSS) and qualitative analysis tools (e.g., NVivo).
• Knowledge of forest sector dynamics, rural development, or bioeconomy transitions.
• Experience in publishing peer-reviewed research and developing outreach materials.

Research Project Description: The Department of Sustainable Biomaterials has over a decade of history in the testing and design of pallets and packaging systems. A new venture is the design methods and testing of wood used in transportation, including principles for design of crates, containers and other elements. This position blends knowledge of transportation with the engineering design of wood, wood composites and connections.

The successful candidate with work closely with Dr. Daniel Hindman, and industry collaborators to conduct research supporting the understanding and development of crate and wood container design procedures including loading conditions, material variability studies, and connections.

The Department of Sustainable Biomaterials is looking for a person with strong research and publication skills to support engineering design for the use of wood in transportation. The individual will be responsible for:

• Conducting research related to the mechanical strength of wood, wood composites and connections used in wood transportation packaging (nails, screws, brackets, etc.).
• Knowledge of supply chain for wooden containers including transportation, logistics, storage conditions, and support conditions.
• Collecting and analyzing test data, analysis and presentation of results.
• Publishing results in reports, refereed journals and professional conferences as appropriate.

Required Qualifications: 

• Ph.D. in sustainable biomaterials, packaging or related engineering or material science field. PhD must be awarded no more than four years prior to the effective date of appointment with a minimum of one year eligibility remaining.
• Experience conducting standardized testing related to wood properties and connections, wood in transportation packaging research or similar engineering materials.
• Demonstrated record of publishing refereed journal articles and presenting at professional conferences.
• Knowledge of the current design methods for wood materials in the United States including the National Design Specification for Wood Construction (NDS).
• Experience with design of experiments and sampling size of materials
• Experience supporting research projects
• Ability to work in a team or independently
• Good interpersonal skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Have an EIT (Engineer-In-Training) Designation
• Experience with finite element analysis (FEA) methods and tools
• Experience programming with C++
• Experience using numerical methods, including linear algebra, for structural modeling

• Research Project Description: The Department of Sustainable Biomaterials and the Laboratory for Sustainable Packaging Materials are internationally recognized leaders in sustainable packaging research and innovation. Our state-of-the-art facilities support advanced manufacturing processes involving biopolymers, bioplastics, and other functional materials. Through strong collaborations with industry and government partners, we conduct cutting-edge research on paper-coating technologies using aqueous spray-coating methods to address emerging challenges in food and healthcare packaging.
  
  We are seeking a highly motivated and collaborative researcher with expertise in engineering, materials science, or related computational fields to contribute to our growing research program in sustainable food packaging. Current initiatives include developing advanced aqueous emulsion and suspension systems for spray coating, predictive modeling of packaging performance, and optimizing packaging designs for high-value product applications. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical and experimental skills to address complex challenges related to packaging dynamics, product protection, and sustainable material performance.

Responsibilities:

• Design and conduct experimental research on paper-based materials for food packaging applications.
• Develop predictive models for packaging performance using machine learning and physicochemical modeling approaches.
• Investigate interactions between food products and paper-based packaging materials across diverse product categories.
• Collect, process, and analyze experimental data, including antimicrobial testing; prepare technical reports and presentations.
• Conduct literature reviews and analyze existing vibration data conversion methodologies to assess applicability to paper packaging systems.
• Develop practical design guidelines, simplified analytical models, and best-practice documentation for industrial implementation.
• Prepare research findings for publication in peer-reviewed journals and present work at national and international conferences.
• Collaborate with industry partners on applied research and technology transfer initiatives, including workshops and distribution of design tools.
• Mentor graduate students in research methods and laboratory procedures.
• Assist in developing competitive grant proposals for external funding from agencies such as NSF and USDA NIFA.
• Participate in limited teaching or outreach activities as assigned.
• Work on-site; this position is not eligible for telework.

Required Qualifications: 

• Ph.D. in Packaging Science, Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Paper Science, Wood Science, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering, or a related field. PhD must be awarded no more than four years prior to the effective date of appointment with a minimum of one year eligibility remaining.
• Strong background in computational modeling, AI-assisted modeling, microbial testing, or paper chemistry and structural evaluation.
• Experience with fiber-based packaging for consumer products, including specialty crops.
• Demonstrated record of publishing refereed journal articles and presenting at professional conferences.
• Demonstrated authorship in peer-reviewed publications.
• Strong understanding of experimental design, data collection, and statistical analysis.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment.
• Excellent technical writing, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to perform tasks requiring substantial walking, standing, stooping, and bending; must use appropriate personal protective equipment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in food packaging applications utilizing fiber-based packaging systems.
• Background in food science, materials science, or chemical engineering.
• Familiarity with statistical evaluation methods.
• Familiarity with AI technologies.
• Knowledge of packaging performance testing standards.
• Experience with fiber material properties, orthotropic material modeling, or joint behavior under cyclic loading.