FBRI & the Middle School Connection

By Professor Stephen Shaler

Merging Maine’s forest past and forest future (pdf file)

Professor of Chemical Engineering

Research Interests

Fundamental chemical engineering aspects of pulp production and forest biomass conversion processes; in particular those of pulping, bleaching, recovery of pulping chemicals, and production of biomaterials and biofuels.

My work is interdisciplinary, and strives to integrate a chemical mechanistic approach with that of transport phenomena, mass balances and an overall process concept.

FBRI Interview: 08/02/07

http://efolio.umeedu.maine.edu/~tvassiliev/vanHeiningen.m4a

Bangor Daily News Article 07/26/07

Professor of Chemical & Biological Engineering: Coordinator of Biological Engineering Program Chemical & Biological Engineering

FBRI Research:
The use of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) could maximize the productivity of the forest bio-products process by aiding the separation of output woody biomass. NIRS and chemometric techniques could eventually be used online as a process control tool for the forest bio-product process.

FBRI Interview:  08/02/07

http://efolio.umeedu.maine.edu/~tvassiliev/Donahue.m4a

Assistant Professor of Forest Operations

Current Research Interests:

Supply Chain Management within Forest Industry

specific focus given to:
- link between forest / stand production and final product quality
- analysis of transportation systems in forest industry
- harvesting system selection

FBRI Interview July 31, 2007

http://efolio.umeedu.maine.edu/~tvassiliev/Benjamin.m4a 

Professor of Wood Science and Technology: Cooperating Research Professor in the Lobster Institute
School of Forest Resources

Research Interest

FBRI Interview, July 30, 2007

 http://efolio.umeedu.maine.edu/~tvassiliev/Gardner.m4a

Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Chemical & Biological Engineering

Research:

Nanoprobe Design and Optimization for Biological/Materials Applications

Passive and reactive molecular and quantum dot (metallic and semiconductor) nanoprobes, generally referred to as fluors, have shown great promise as localized reporters in a range of in vitro biochemical and materials systems. The individual fluor represents the highest possible spatial resolution for chemical processes within a sample. However, in order to achieve sufficient signal-to-noise for single fluor imaging/spectroscopy in complicated materials and biological systems, where the main source of signal is often from background radiation, nanoprobes must be specifically designed taking into account their intrinsic photophysics as well as any potential influences of the system of interest. A broad range of techniques are being employed with the eventual goal of controlling photophysical processes of fluors such as photo-stability, excited state dynamics (i.e. lifetime and triplet dynamics), conformational fluctuations in absorption and emission properties, and environmental (chemical) sensitivity and specificity.

FBRI Interview July 30, 2007

http://efolio.umeedu.maine.edu/~tvassiliev/Mason.m4a 

Professor of Biological Sciences
Cooperating Prof. of Microbiology
Cooperating Professor of Forest Ecosystem Sciences

Research Interests:

Our laboratory focuses on the physiology, molecular biology and ecology of wood degrading fungi. We work primarily with the brown rot fungi. These organisms are an important component of nutrient cycling in coniferous forests and are economically significant because of their ability to attack and degrade wood products. Brown rot fungi are also potentially of interest in biotechnological applications including bioremediation and bioproducts design.

On-going Projects:

The laboratory currently has funded projects in the following areas:

• Metal transport and toxicity in the brown rot fungi.
• The production of the enyzmes cellobiose dehydrogenase and benzoquinone reductase by wood inhabiting fungi.Wood modification by brown rot fungi - chemical characterization studies
• Detection and characterization of wood biodegradation using molecular analysis
• Role of fungi in biotransformation and nutrient cycling in the forest ecosystem:

FBRI Interview July 20,2007

http://efolio.umeedu.maine.edu/~tvassiliev/Jellison.m4a

Post Doctoral with Dr. Heiningen

Hemicelluloses Pre-Extration Modified Pulping

• Improve pulping yield
• Decrease alkali consumption
• Reduce organic & inorganic load to recovery
• Increased delignification rate
• Improve properties of pulp

http://efolio.umeedu.maine.edu/~tvassiliev/Ban.m4a

Professor of Chemical Engineering; Pulp and Paper Foundation Professor
Chemical & Biological Engineering

RESEARCH:

Dr. Bousfield’s research is directed at the application of fluid mechanics and rheology to industrial processes such as paper coating, paper web formation, printing, bubble coalescence, filtration, flotation, and polymeric film coating. Emphasis is placed on the development of simplified models to represent specific processes and the verification of these models with experiments. A number of novel experimental tools have been built to show the important mechanisms of various processes. Several unique areas have emerged in this effort understanding these processes.

http://efolio.umeedu.maine.edu/~tvassiliev/Bousfield.m4a

Assistant Professor of Parks, Recreation & Tourism

Specializations and Research Interests:

Outdoor Recreation Policy and Planning:
- Benefits-Based Management
- Social Capital & Trust
- Citizen Participation
- Gateway Communities
Environmental Interpretation and Education

http://efolio.umeedu.maine.edu/~tvassiliev/JessicaLeahy.m4a