Whether it's paper used in packaging or metals designed for structural applications, manufacturers rely on testing to understand how materials will perform before they reach the real world. 

Most people never think about paper as an engineered material. Yet everything from shipping boxes and food packaging to paper towels and specialty products depends on materials performing exactly as intended. 

At Georgia Tech's Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), Jonathan Jean-Louis helps answer those questions. 

A 2019 Georgia Tech mechanical engineering graduate, Jean-Louis works in materials testing, helping industry partners and researchers evaluate paper, metals, and other materials. While much of his work focuses on paper products, he also performs testing on metals and other engineered materials, providing data that companies use to assess quality, compare materials, and guide product development. 

Jean-Louis was drawn to the role because it allowed him to combine engineering with hands-on research and testing. Since joining RBI, he has worked with a variety of clients, ranging from Georgia Tech researchers and students to companies and organizations seeking independent materials evaluation. Among them is the Library of Congress, which relies on materials testing as part of its preservation efforts. 

For Jean-Louis, one of the most overlooked aspects of his field is the amount of engineering behind products people use every day. Materials that appear simple on the surface often undergo extensive testing before reaching consumers. Packaging must withstand transportation. Paper products must meet performance standards. Manufacturers depend on testing data to understand how materials behave under real-world conditions. 

At RBI, that work supports both research and industry. Whether evaluating paper, metal, or emerging materials, Jean-Louis helps generate the data needed to understand how materials will perform under real-world conditions. 

Much of that work happens out of sight, but the results shape products and materials people encounter every day. 

Learn more about RBI's paper, board, and box testing services.