{"411691":{"#nid":"411691","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Meisha Shofner Explores Paper Structure and Its Opportunities","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EDr. Meisha Shofner\u2019s varied research at IPST-Georgia Tech explores paper\u2019s structure and seeks ways to take advantage of its properties as well as the properties of forest-based biomaterials to create new uses\u2014uses that may lead to attractive commercial applications.\u0026nbsp; These applications may also advance ecologically attractive goals such as biodegradability and compostability.\u0026nbsp; Dr. Shofner joined Georgia Tech in 2005, and she has collaborative relationships with other IPST faculty.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA threshold component of Dr. Shofner\u2019s work is understanding the unique structure of paper.\u0026nbsp; Paper is a highly engineered structure. This network feature leads to unusual properties,\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003Ee.g.\u003C\/em\u003E, having a negative Poisson\u2019s ratio or auxetic properties.\u0026nbsp; Her research, in collaboration with Professor Anselm Griffin, seeks to reverse-engineer paper to better understand its structure.\u0026nbsp; \u201cUnderstanding the structure of paper can be an inspiration for understanding other networked structures,\u201d Shofner says.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDr. Shofner\u2019s work in nanotechnology has received funding support and peer recognition.\u0026nbsp; This research further advances the learnings about paper structure to process and characterize cellulose-based nanocomposites to understand the available structure-property design space. This fundamental understanding will provide insight into other types of polymer nanocomposites and provide guidance for nanofiber composite design.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENanotechnology projects currently in progress include:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EShofner\u2019s group explores cellulose nanocrystals as potential building blocks that can be used in water-based polymers. If successful, this research will lead to the development of new materials with the special attributes of paper and reduced environmental impact.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDr. Shofner\u2019s paper, \u201cCrystallization of Cellulose Nanocrystal \/ Polyhydroxybutyrate Nanocomposites,\u201d presented at the 2012 TAPPI International Conference on Renewable Nanomaterials and co-authored by Stephanie Lin, describes studies focused on understanding how interactions of crystalline nanocellulose with polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) can modify the crystal structure of PHB and toughen the matrix and, as a result, yield improved mechanical properties.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDr. Shofner\u2019s and Dr. Carson Meredith\u2019s work with cellulose nanocrystals was recognized by the USFS\/Agenda 2020\/University Collaboration with the award of a grant to study the incorporation of cellulose nanocrystals into matrices for high performance materials in the aerospace industry.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EHer research group, along with Dr. Eric Vogel\u2019s team, seeks to identify and create different cellulose-based substrates aimed at developing flexible and robust electronic devices.\u0026nbsp; In particular, they are investigating the dry transfer of graphene\u2014a two-dimensional monolayer of carbon atoms\u2014on substrates.\u0026nbsp; Graphene has high strength and offers much promise in electronic applications and paper is a promising substrate for graphene applications.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIn addition to the nanotechnology research, Dr. Shofner has collaborated in investigations led by Dr. Sankar Nair in the School of Chemical and Biological Engineering to develop a robust membrane to concentrate black liquor by water removal.\u0026nbsp; This has substantial energy savings potential but is challenging because the membrane must be able to survive in the harsh environment of black liquor.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDr. Shofner received her BS in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin and her PhD in Materials Science from Rice University.\u0026nbsp; After receiving her PhD, Dr. Shofner was a postdoctoral fellow at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Prior to beginning graduate school, she was employed as a design engineer at FMC in the Subsea Engineering Division, working at two plant locations in Houston, Texas and the Republic of Singapore.\u0026nbsp; Dr. Shofner is a registered Professional Engineer in Georgia.\u0026nbsp; She was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor at Georgia Tech and awarded tenure effective July 1, 2013.\u0026nbsp; Dr. Shofner currently supports 6 graduate students and one post-doctoral researcher.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBelow is a link to papers and presentations by Dr. Shofner:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.ipst.gatech.edu\/meeting\/2012\/2012_presentations\/15-Shofner%20-Cellulose%20Nanocrystal%20Polymer%20Composites%20Processing%20Strategies%20Impacts%20on%20Polymer%20Crystallization.pdf\u0022\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.ipst.gatech.edu\/meeting\/2012\/2012_presentations\/15-Shofner%20-Cellulose%20Nanocrystal%20Polymer%20Composites%20Processing%20Strategies%20Impacts%20on%20Polymer%20Crystallization.pdf\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":"","field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Dr. Shofner explores paper\u0027s structure to create new uses for commercial applications"}],"uid":"27178","created_gmt":"2015-06-08 11:06:27","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:18:29","author":"Amna Jamshad","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2014-06-01T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2014-06-01T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"411681":{"id":"411681","type":"image","title":"Meisha Shofner","body":null,"created":"1449254211","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 18:36:51","changed":"1475895142","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:52:22","alt":"Meisha Shofner","file":{"fid":"202317","name":"131209_shofner.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/131209_shofner_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/131209_shofner_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":7110,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/131209_shofner_0.jpg?itok=w1CXgnwE"}}},"media_ids":["411681"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"}],"categories":[{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"},{"id":"149","name":"Nanotechnology and Nanoscience"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"128221","name":"boitechnology"},{"id":"2396","name":"nanotech"},{"id":"93811","name":"RBI"},{"id":"4174","name":"renewable"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39451","name":"Electronics and Nanotechnology"},{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"},{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EKelly B. Smith, Marketing \u0026amp; Communication\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["kelly.smith@ipst.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}