Sustainable Materials

Project Overview 

Humanity has an unsustainable relationship with our natural environment. There are multiple natural resources that are being consumed more rapidly than they can be replenished. One such resource is lumber. Lumber harvested from old-growth trees can require 25-50 years to regrow. Lumber serves as an important component of its biomes and acts as significant carbon sinks. Commercially available synthetic lumber only has a life of about 8-11 years, does not reproduce natural counterparts well, and is limited in reuse and recycling. The research project’s goal is to create lumber alternatives and a method that guarantees sustainable usage and disposal to combat excessive consumption of natural resources. The project intends to address the need to lessen reliance on old-growth timber while lowering carbon emissions connected with lumber production and contribute to a more sustainable future by looking at alternative materials and techniques.   

Objectives 

  1. Develop preliminary materials that can be used to replicate lumber for structural use.
  2. Produce a prototype sample for testing.
  3. Utilizing testing results, update material composition and/or approach.

Major Tasks 

The major tasks of the project are outlined below. These are nominal and are likely to change somewhat throughout the course of the year. These are meant to illustrate the general nature of the work that the position entails.

  1. Intermediate research on lumber and its characteristics
  2. Develop a composite material prototype to test
  3. Utilize waste materials (chitosan, wood flour, etc.) to create the composite
  4. Experiment with 3-D printing and other synthetization methods
  5. Manage and report findings

Open Positions 

Preferred Skills and Interests 

  • Good communication, writing, and presentation skills 
  • Literature research 
  • Green engineering 
  • Sustainability 
  • Forestry 
  • Materials Science 
  • Chemistry 
  • Woodworking 
  • Agriculture 
  • Farming 
  • Gardening 
  • Microscopy  
  • Carpentry 
  • Environmental science 
  • Chemistry and Organic Chemistry 
  • 3D printing 
  • Materials characterization 

Preferred Academic Years 

  • Looking for Sophomore/Junior level students, but will consider first-year students  

Preferred Majors

  • College of Natural Resources and Environment
    • Sustainable Biomaterials
    • Forestry
  • College of Science
    • Chemistry
    • Biochemistry
    • Systems Biology
  • College of Engineering
    • Biological Systems Engineering

How to Apply 

Applications will be reviewed by Dr. Gray and by continuing researchers on the team.  After a review of the application, our team will contact candidates to schedule an interview (likely to be conducted via zoom).  Review for the positions will be conducted over the 2024 Summer break starting around 7/14/24. Please complete the MS Form, uploading the following documents:

  • A brief (~1 page) essay or cover letter explaining which of the projects you are interested in, and why you think you might be a good fit for that project (or those projects).  If you are applying for multiple projects, extend your essay a little and describe your interest and qualifications for each position.  Be sure to let us know your major and where you are in your academic career (sophomore, junior, etc.) 
  • A resume outlining your work experience and education 

Please reach out to Dr. Gray (dagray3@vt.edu) if you have any questions or concerns. 

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