Program Study Options

Packaging Systems & Design
Sustainable Materials and Innovation
Biomaterials & Bioenergy

Packaging Science

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Learn how sustainable, “green” packaging is used to eliminate waste and pollution in the environment, how packaging design enhances products, and how smart materials are used in food and drug packaging to enhance safety and quality.
Forest Products Business

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Students learn about sustainable enterprise by creating and designing new products from natural and renewable materials, and learning ways to successfully market their designs in the real world.
Residential Wood Structures

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Interested in the design and building of residential structures? Learn about green building techniques, LEED Standards, codes, and much more - all specifically related to the use of renewable materials in structures.
Wood Materials Science

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Learn the science and green chemistry needed to make new, sustainable biomaterials. From cellulose nanomaterials used in advanced structural products to natural chemistries used to enhance drug delivery, and produce the latest biofuels. Educate yourself to create a sustainable world.

Non-majors: To help you explore your interest in any of the above degree options, we recommend trying some of our introductory courses -- click any of the link immediately above.

What is the field of Sustainable Biomaterials all about?

The use of natural, renewable resources to produce useful bioproducts, materials and bioenergy in a sustainable manner.

Dr. Barry Goodell

Message from our Department Head

Welcome to the future of the field of sustainable biomaterials represented by the faculty, staff and students in the Virginia Tech department of Wood Science and Forest Products. In our department we provide undergraduate and graduate students with the tools to invent the next generation of biomaterials, ranging from traditional forest products and Lean manufacturing, to renewable cellulosic biofuels and renewable bio-based products, to advanced packaging systems and design applications. These areas are vital to the high growth area of the global bioeconomy.

Students can chose from a variety of option areas depending on their interests, all with strong employment potential. Study areas include:

1) Biomaterials and Bioenergy, where students learn how sustainable biomaterials developed into advanced products ranging from high-strength nano composites and bio-based drug delivery systems, to liquid biofuels to meet the world’s needs for sustainable products and energy.

2) Sustainable Materials and Innovation, with concentrations in Residential Structures or in Forest Products Business. Graduates work in growth area of the green bioeconomy in developing new businesses using sustainable biomaterials. In the residential wood structures option, students learn how to apply innovative technologies to design and build energy efficient structures made from a variety of sustainable biomaterials, including wood.

3) Packaging Systems and Design, is a diverse field with many jobs, where student learn to design systems for the transportation of the world’s products and produce, ranging from aseptic food packaging to palletized systems for the marketplace. Reducing waste and providing for more efficient transportation is one part of this field, but creating appealing packaging designs to help market products while also protecting them, is a very important part of what graduates in this field do.

The employment options for graduates of the department are very strong, and reflect the importance of traditional sustainable biomaterials such as forest products, the growth of new advanced technologies for renewable materials, and the expanding bioeconomy. Because the field of sustainable biomaterials is a continuing growth sector area there is a continuing need for well-education experts in all areas. The field of packaging systems and design alone is the third largest industry in the United States, and is a growing $100 billion field. The future in the broader field of Sustainable Biomaterials is very bright and Virginia Tech is one of the few places anywhere where students can get focused attention from faculty in a world-class University setting in this field. From the latest advances in bioenergy and “non-food” based biofuels development to the traditions of the forest products industry, we provide students with an education that is second to none. We are proud that our department, faculty, and students represent one of the leading University programs in field.

Our Faculty excels in classroom teaching and we pride ourselves on teaching excellence and student advising in the Sustainable Biomaterials area. We offer many student SCHOLARSHIPS, internship opportunities, and summer employment opportunities with businesses.

We are the global leaders in the field of Sustainable Biomaterials, and through our focus on educating students, we serve the citizens and industry of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the region, and the nation. Our vision is to be the best place for student education in sustainable biomaterials development and application.

I invite you to explore our website and learn more about our programs. Please let me know if I can be of assistance.

Sincerely yours,
Barry Goodell, Ph.D. 
Professor and Department Head

The New Global Bioeconomy

Be part of the fastest growing segment of the economic rebound! The field of Sustainable Biomaterials is all about education in renewables and the environment. Click this link from WIRED magazine to see the growth of this field.