The Nonwovens Institute (NWI) offers students the opportunity to participate in fundamental research in areas that address the pressing challenges in nonwovens applications and technology. Student researchers working through the NWI program benefit from a diverse range of perspectives, working hand-in-hand with subject matter experts from academia and industry. NWI also offers a Graduate Certificate in Nonwovens Science and Engineeringthrough the Wilson College of Textiles at NC State University.
Students engage with NWI by partnering with faculty from the degree program of their choice. Research projects are developed by faculty and selected by NWI member companies. Students are selected based on their academic performance and capability within the industry-selected research programs. Proposal selection is a competitive process, and NWI does support the submission and selection of research proposals from faculty at other universities.
Our students will graduate with a degree in the discipline to which they are admitted, but their research will be focused on a topic of relevance to nonwovens.
The IAB meets semi-annually in the Spring (May) and Fall (November). The first half-day and full second day of the IAB meeting are designed for Core Research Presentations and Reviews. The morning of the third day is for the Members’ Business Meeting, where the Core Research Presentations will be discussed and evaluated by NWI membership.
For the Core Research Presentations & Reviews portion of the IAB meeting, students engaged in the NWI program must prepare:
A written semi-annual research report
A one-page description of their research
A PowerPoint presentation on their research
A research poster
During the first IAB meeting after initiating a project, the PI and student are responsible for submitting a poster, a one-pager and report; and thereafter, it is mandatory that the PI and the student submit a report, a one-pager, a presentation and a poster.
Student presentations at the IAB meeting should cover the following:
Project goals
Project relevance to the industry
Status at last report
Overview of the presentation
The presentation must follow the template provided by NWI (see below). The presentation should be planned for the time duration shown on the agenda, including approximately five minutes for questions.
Please make sure that you meet the deadlines for the submission of reports and presentations. Reports and Presentations received after the deadline will not be distributed to the member companies. No exceptions will be made.
For dates and details about the next IAB meeting, click here.
Formatting requirements and templates for IAB reports, posters and presentations are provided below. It is very important, and a condition for continued financial support by NWI, that reports and slides be presented in the required format, and by the deadline specified.
Please provide your reports (full and 1 pager) in PDF format.
Please format the file name as such: 16-192SB-iab-one-pager-nov-2023 and 16-192SB-iab-meeting-report-nov-2023. The file name should note the current month and year of the relevant IAB.
Presentations should be submitted in PDF and PPTX format. Please do not include page numbers when creating the PDF. Please do not include your “thank you” slide or backup slides when creating the PDF.
Please format the file name as such: 16-192SB-iab-presentation-nov-2023. The file name should note the current month and year of the IAB.
During each IAB meeting, NWI issues student awards in the categories of Best Presentation, Best Technical and Best Overall. The awards recognize outstanding researchers, based on NWI member voting, who presented their work at the prior IAB. The following series of video shorts provides an up-close and personal look at the researchers who were recognized with awards at our most recent IAB meeting.
NWI’s Current Student Researchers:
Sofia Abello, Chemical Engineering
Sofia is a Ph.D. candidate in Chemical Engineering at NC State University. Sofia’s research project focuses on using maleic anhydride-based functional adhesion modifiers (FAMs) to investigate compatibilization efficiency in immiscible polymer blends for bilayer sandwich films and bicomponent fibers.
Principal Investigators: Jan Genzer, Ph.D., NC State University; Kirill Efimenko, Ph.D., NC State University
Shyam Prasad Vasudeva Atri, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Shyam is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at NC State University. Shyam’s NWI research project focuses on understanding and formulation of the science of capturing particles via charged nonwovens, such as electrostatic wipes or electrostatically charged filters.
Principal Investigators: Hooman Tafreshi, Ph.D., NC State University; Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Ph.D., NWI/NC State University
Nishant Bhatta, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Nishant is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at NC State University. Nishant’s research project focuses on the use of centrifugal force to decouple the saturation profile from airflow in a partially wetted coalescing media. The aim is to isolate the role of the nonwoven’s microstructure in promoting/preventing fluid transport.
Principal Investigators: Hooman Tafreshi, Ph.D., NC State University; Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Ph.D., NWI/NC State University
Katie Ernst, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Katie is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NC State University. Katie’s NWI project aims to understand the mechanism of hollow-fiber formation during the segmented-arc melt spinning process. The project will investigate the effects of viscoelasticity, solidification and processing parameters to prevent fiber collapse, improve spinning stability and ensure shape retention.
Principal Investigators: Saad Khan, Ph.D., NC State University; Hooman Tafreshi, Ph.D., NC State University
Jose is a Ph.D. candidate in Forest Biomaterials at NC State University. Jose’s NWI research project focuses on understanding how composition, fiber configuration/phase morphology and additives impact biodegradability and nonwoven performance.
Principal Investigators: Richard Venditti, Ph.D., NC State University; Joel Pawlak, Ph.D., NC State University
Dominic is a Ph.D. candidate in Fiber and Polymer Science at NC State University. Dominic’s NWI research project is currently investigating processing techniques for the improvement of thermally bonded polyester nonwovens. This project utilizes innovative small-scale model design and techniques such as tensile testing and thermal analysis.
Principal Investigators: Eunkyoung Shim, Ph.D., NC State University
Morgan recently completed a master’s degree in Textiles with a certificate in Nonwoven Science and Technology at NC State University. Morgan is now pursuing a Ph.D. in Fiber and Polymer Science at NC State and will be engaged in a new NWI research project. As a master’s degree student, Morgan completed an NWI research project focused on determining the amount of hydroentangling energy required to produce a nonwoven that is durable enough to withstand repeated laundering, therefore, rendering it a reusable fabric.
Principal Investigator: Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Ph.D., NWI/NC State University
Narjess is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Illinois Chicago. Narjess’ research project focuses on studying the biodegradation behavior of polymer substrates with the aim of identifying a more efficient way to predict biodegradability through mathematical modeling.
Principal Investigators: Tolou Shokuhfar, Ph.D., University of Illinois Chicago; Alexander Yarin, Ph.D., University of Illinois Chicago
Young Jae Kim, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Young Jae Kim is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at NC State University. Young Jae Kim’s NWI research project is focused on developing hydrocarbon-based alternatives to fluorocarbons for enhancing the performance of nonwoven materials. Historically, fluorocarbons have exhibited the highest resistance to fluids, but their toxicity, specifically the bio-accumulative nature of PFAS compounds, has prompted companies to seek alternatives.
Principal Investigator: Arun Kumar Kota, Ph.D., NC State University
Christine is a Ph.D. student in Fiber and Polymer Science at NC State University. Christine’s NWI research project is focused on improving the mechanical properties of polylactic acid (PLA), such as crystallinity, shrinkage and heat deflection temperature (HDT), by blending PLA with other biopolymers such as polybutylene succinate (PBS) and poly-D-lactic acid (PDLA) for expanded use in nonwoven applications.
Principal Investigators: Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Ph.D., NWI/NC State University; Mehmet Desdemir, Ph.D., NWI/NC State University
Darshana Malusare, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Darshana is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NC State University. Darshana’s NWI research project focuses on exploring adsorbent particulate deposition in coform spunbond processes.
Principal Investigators: Saad Khan, Ph.D., NC State University; Hooman Tafreshi, Ph.D., NC State University
Sreenivasan Narayanan, Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering; Chemical and Life Science Engineering
Sreenivasan is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering and Chemical at Virginia Commonwealth University. Sreenivasan’s NWI research project is focused on developing a fundamental understanding of surface modification of polypropylene (PP) substrates with temperature-responsive liquid crystals. The project uses droplet-on-demand printing and a wet polymer layer, along with liquid crystal self-assembly, to modulate the penetration of the droplet. Potential applications for this research include “smart” nonwoven materials for respirator facemasks and wound dressings that can communicate information related to respirator facemask fit and wound health, respectively.
Principal Investigators: Christina Tang, Ph.D., Virginia Commonwealth University; Hong Zhao, Ph.D., Virginia Commonwealth University
Mahsa is a Ph.D. candidate in Fiber and Polymer Science at NC State University. Mahsa’s research project investigates how ingredients in wet-wipe formulations impact fiber degradation. The project studies degradation mechanisms and product lifetime estimation/shelf-life, using accelerated aging including creep rupture tests.
Principal Investigators: Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Ph.D., NWI/NC State University; Benoit Maze, Ph.D., NWI/NC State University
Anicah Smith-O’Brien, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Anicah is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NC State University. Anicah’s NWI research project focuses on developing a fundamental understanding of how surfactant coatings affect both aerobic and anaerobic biodegradability of biopolymer substrates and their impact on important in-use properties, such as wettability.
Principal Investigators: Saad Khan, Ph.D., NC State University; Morton Barlaz, Ph.D., NC State University
Büşra is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Polymer and Fiber Science at NC State University. Büşra’s NWI research project focuses on the charging behavior of nonwovens, with the aim of determining the parameters that affect the efficiency and pressure drop of respirators.
Principal Investigators: Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Ph.D., NWI/NC State; Hooman Tafreshi, Ph.D., NC State University
Shajid Rahman, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Shajid is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at NC State University. Shajid’s NWI research project focuses on modeling compression recovery in multicomponent nonwovens, with the aim of developing a microscale force-network model that can simulate propagation of normal and tangential stresses through fiber-fiber contact in a 3-D fibrous structure.
Principal Investigators: Hooman Tafreshi, Ph.D., NC State University; Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Ph.D., NWI/NC State University
SK Mashfiqur Rahman, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
SK Mashfiqur is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at NC State University. SK Mashfiqur’s NWI research project focuses on simulation and experimental characterization of nanofibrous materials with the aim of incorporating modern tools, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), to inform the electrospinning process.
Principal Investigators: Hooman Tafreshi, Ph.D., NC State University; Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Ph.D., NWI/NC State University
Mauricio is a Ph.D. candidate in Fiber and Polymer Science at NC State University. Mauricio’s research project is focused on developing an online image acquisition system for detailed fiber distribution analysis in nonwoven applications. By investigating the impact of air diffusers on fiber distribution and developing real-time feedback algorithms, the objective is to enhance the understanding and control of fabric structure, thereby enabling the prediction of mechanical properties.
Principal Investigators: Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Ph.D., NWI/NC State University; Benoit Maze, Ph.D., NWI/NC State University
Justin is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Iowa State University. Justin’s research project is aimed at studying the effects of microstructural alignment of PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates) fibers on their mechanical properties and biodegradability using hydrodynamic force spinning (a form of solution spinning).
Principal Investigators: Nicole Hashemi, Ph.D., Iowa State University; Ericka Ford, Ph.D., NC State University
Breno Souza, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Breno is a Ph.D. candidate in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Illinois Chicago. Breno’s research project focuses on the mechanical modeling of swelling fibers with the aim of understanding the behavior of fibers in the presence of liquid or moisture, such as in a wipe application.
Principal Investigators: A.L. Yarin, Ph.D., University of Illinois Chicago; Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Ph.D., NWI/NC State University
Anastasia Timofeeva, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Anastasia is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at NC State University. Anastasia’s NWI research project focuses on the development of a high-speed polarization imaging technique for fiber spinning lines to capture fiber failure modes, with the aim of developing a machine learning (ML) model for near-real-time in-situ production process monitoring.
Principal Investigators: Mark Pankow, Ph.D., NC State University; Kara Peters, Ph.D., NC State University
Lucille Verster Rivera, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Forest Biomaterials
Lucille is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and the Department of Forest Biomaterials at NC State University. Lucille’s NWI research project aims to develop standardized methods and breakdown criteria to quantify, visualize and characterize the degradation and photostability of synthetic and bio-based polymer fibers and nonwovens.
Principal Investigators: Lokendra Pal, Ph.D., NC State University; Orlin Velev, Ph.D., NC State University
Md Nur Uddin is a Ph.D. candidate in Fiber and Polymer Science at NC State University. Nur’s research focuses on optimizing the integration of adsorbent particulates into nonwoven materials using the coform meltblown process. By investigating particulate dispensing, fiber-particle interactions, and process conditions, the project aims to enhance properties such as absorption and particle retention, while improving manufacturing efficiency for industrial-scale production. Key steps include experimental studies, microstructural characterizations, and performance evaluations to develop advanced particulate-loaded nonwoven products.
Principal Investigators: Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Ph.D., NWI/NC State University; Benoit Maze, Ph.D., NWI/NC State University
Yanyue (Lydia) Wang, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Yanyue is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering at the University of Illinois Chicago. Yanyue’s NWI research project focuses on modeling bicomponent fiber extrusion with the aim of deriving equations that govern the stresses in the cross-section of bicomponent sheath-core fibers.
Principal Investigators: A.L. Yarin, Ph.D., University of Illinois Chicago; Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Ph.D., NWI/NC State University
Jingwei is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Illinois Chicago. Jingwei’s NWI research project is focused on developing a novel filter media via electrospinning of thermo-responsive or pH-responsive water-insoluble PNIPAM-based nanofiber media, webs and membranes.
Principal Investigators: A.L. Yarin, Ph.D., University of Illinois Chicago; Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Ph.D., NWI/NC State University
Dr. Coia completed a Ph.D. in Fiber and Polymer Science at NC State University in 2023. Dr. Coia’s NWI research project focused on maximizing the loading of Metal Organic Framework (MOF) particles when attached to fibers and the functionality of MOF with respect to the amount of particles and available surface area on the fibers as relates to adsorption functionality.
Principal Investigators: Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Ph.D., NWI/NCSU; Pierre Grondin, NWI; Benoit Maze, NWI/NC State University
Sophie Nunno-Gorbachev, Textile Technology Management
Sophie Nunno-Gorbachev recently completed a Ph.D. in The Wilson College of Textiles at NC State University. Dr. Nunno-Gorbachev’s NWI research project focused on direct-to-textile 3D printing, investigating 3D-printed structures and prototypes and studying the interaction between 3D-printed parts and fabric.
Principal Investigator: Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Ph.D., NWI/NC State University
Pallav Jani, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Pallav Jani recently completed a Ph.D. in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NC State University. Dr. Jani’s research focused on the evaluation of interactions between slip additives and hydrophilic finishes in polypropylene nonwovens.
Principal Investigators: Lilian Hsiao, Ph.D., NC State University; Saad Khan, Ph.D., NC State University
Zvikomborero Machikiti, Ph.D., Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Zviko Machikiti recently completed a Ph.D. in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NC State University. Dr. Machikiti’s NWI research project focused on identifying suitable chemical strategies for adhesion control between polyamide and polyester nonwoven fibers; establishing suitable experimental methods to measure adhesion strength between polyester and modified polyamide; and the use of mechanical agitation and imaging techniques to determine the splittability of modified biocomponent fibers.
Principal Investigators: Kirill Efimenko, Ph.D., NC State University; Jan Genzer, Ph.D., NC State University
