Greg Fike serves as the vice president of Research and Development at Georgia-Pacific. He earned his doctoral degree in chemical and biomolecular engineering with an emphasis on paper science and engineering from Georgia Tech in 2005. Shortly after, he joined Georgia-Pacific as a research scientist. Over the years, Fike has advanced to his current role, where he leads the R&D teams supporting the Dixie® business. He recalls his time as an IPST Fellow, reflecting on how the fellowship influenced his career trajectory.

“I was at the Institute of Paper Science and Technology from 1999 to 2005, working under the mentorship of Professor Emeritus Sujit Banerjee. My Ph.D. thesis focused on adhesive polymer film development through surface characterization, while my master's thesis utilized infrared thermography to image the drying of polymer surfaces. Being part of the IPST research community allowed me to interact with distinguished Georgia Tech researchers and other IPST RBI Fellows, who influenced my development as an engineer and helped shape my research. Additionally, I had the privilege of teaching, which enabled me to engage with a diverse array of students from various majors. Upon starting my career at Georgia-Pacific in Neenah, Wisconsin, I had the opportunity to connect with many IPC alumni who helped broaden my professional network. During my time as a Fellow at IPST, I got to know IPST's history and its evolution over time. I recall the challenging transition from a private school to becoming part of Georgia Tech, but the Renewable Bioproducts Institute has maintained its mission and continues to support student research effectively."

Chris Luettgen is a professor of the practice in Georgia Tech’s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and is RBI’s lead for the process efficiency and intensification of pulp, paper, packaging, and tissue manufacturing initiative. He also holds an external position as executive director of The Alliance for Pulp and Paper Technology Innovation (APPTI). Luettgen is an RBI (IPST) Fellow who graduated in 1991. He has over 25 years of industry experience, with Scott Paper and Kimberly-Clark Corporation and has held positions in product development and innovation as well as in capital project management and manufacturing facility leadership.

For several years, Luettgen has served on the Georgia Tech Renewable Bioproducts Institute Industry Board of Advisors and currently serves as a faculty advisor for the student chapter of TAPPI. Luettgen provides his perspective on the RBI Fellowship program:

“It has been inherently interdisciplinary, even before it required proposals from multiple schools. My own thesis combined fluid dynamics with surface chemistry, and many other fellows from my time had to integrate different disciplines to complete their work. This environment fostered lifelong friendships with classmates -- including my friend Chris Farrell, now an expert in evaporators at International Paper, and Dan Bunker, a senior researcher in Stockholm. Upon graduating, I had nine offers in the paper industry, ultimately choosing Scott Paper Company to help start a Greenfield mill. This decision led to a rewarding career in consumer products, diverging from my initial path and providing a unique and fulfilling experience. Now, the fellows often find careers in national labs, academia, chemical companies, and notably, Intel's packaging division.”

Julene Tong’s research addresses challenges in the interdisciplinary fields of bioresource engineering and sustainable chemistry, focusing on developing innovative technologies for producing chemicals, materials, energy, and fuels from renewable resources. Tong was an RBI Fellow while pursuing her doctoral degree at Georgia Tech and now is a faculty advisor for RBI Fellows.

“The RBI Fellowship Program has played a significant role in shaping my career by providing invaluable support and opportunities. First, the program allowed me to work on generating preliminary data, a crucial step for securing grant funding and advancing my research. It also fostered interdisciplinary collaboration by connecting me with faculty from other academic units, enriching my perspective and broadening the scope of my work. Presenting student posters at RBI workshops helped disseminate my research ideas to RBI-affiliated industries, member companies, and other key stakeholders, significantly enhancing my ability to pursue industry collaborations.

Additionally, the program trained students in emerging fields such as sustainable materials and biorefinery, equipping us with the knowledge and skills essential for successful careers in these cutting-edge areas. My experience as a fellow during my Ph.D. was remarkable. I fondly remember our team vacation in Savannah, Georgia, where I got a chance to know other fellows. One of them, Joseph, recommended me for my first internship at Kemira, a Chemical Company. It’s such a unique program that has profoundly affected the career path of so many, including me!”

Joe Bozeman spearheads the Social Equity and Environmental Engineering lab. Elnaz Jamshidi, a graduate student from the School of Materials Science and Engineering is a 2024 RBI Fellow working on the topic, “Sustainable Bonding: Enhancing Wood Strands Through Sodium Hydroxide Immersion Without Traditional Adhesives.” Bozeman also has two other RBI Fellows working on his research projects. Bozeman shares his perspective on the fellowship program from an advisor’s lens.

“The RBI Fellowship program was monumental in helping to establish my lab as a tenure-track, junior faculty. It provided funding for a few of my Ph.D. students with some investigatory latitude which facilitates organic idea and methodological formation across disciplines. It also helped to connect me and my research lab with vital industry partners and key academic administrators, and helped me to secure external funding through preliminary data development, publications, and the like.”

Under the guidance of Christopher Jones and Sankar Nair, Ojelade's doctoral research focuses on developing a catalytic pathway to produce bio-lubricants and waxes from kraft black liquor-derived organic hydroxy acids. Originally from Nigeria, Ojelade enjoys spending quality time with his family and playing table tennis in his free time.

"The RBI fellowship is instrumental in my development as a graduate researcher. Through this support, I am advancing technology to convert biomass resources into bio-lubricants, pushing forward circular economy and biorefinery innovation. The fellowship not only provides a monthly stipend, allowing me to focus on my work, but also offers resources, mentorship, and a collaborative environment to drive important research and professional growth in sustainable technology."

Thomas is a Ph.D. student and graduate researcher in the McDowell Lab for Battery Research. She is co-advised by Matthew McDowell and Kyriaki Kalaitzidou. Her current research areas include the characterization and functionalization of cellulosic matrices, solid-state battery chemistries, and developing novel lignin-based anode materials for high-performance battery systems.

"The RBI Fellowship has been instrumental to my research development at Georgia Tech. From a young age, I was always passionate about engineering sustainable systems for the greater good of both the environment and humanity. This fellowship has been pivotal in allowing me to pursue these passions and redefine technology pathways through cutting-edge battery research. I am also very grateful for the mentorship and professional development opportunities that have allowed me to network with key industry professionals in my field."

Vichare is advised by Blair Brettmann and Victor Breedveld. She is a Ph.D. student and an RBI Fellow working on redesigning the dewatering process that will improve water removal prior to evaporation in paper machines.

“I always wanted to work on sustainable science and conduct research that connects the laboratory to the real world. As a fellow on this RBI project, I have an opportunity to be involved in the product's first stage of design for the paper manufacturing process. RBI is a great platform that allows me to connect with industry members who will help me gain insight into current developments that favor sustainability.”

Banner is jointly advised by Michael Filler, Eric Vogel, and Victor Breedveld. Her doctoral research focuses on the mass customization of flexible microelectronics, utilizing advanced techniques such as electrohydrodynamic jet printing and silicon-on-insulator transistor fabrication.

“The RBI Fellowship has equipped me with invaluable resources and opportunities to engage in highly interdisciplinary research that breaks traditional field boundaries. Through this fellowship, I have been able to explore intersections between paper science, chemical engineering, semiconductor fabrication, and electrical engineering —an endeavor that would typically be difficult to pursue. As I progress in my program, I am committed to utilizing this interdisciplinary foundation to tackle longstanding challenges with fresh perspectives and creative solutions.”

Writer and Media Contact: Priya Devarajan | priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu
Photos: Courtesy of Georgia Tech