NWI Congratulates Dr. Tara Coia, Ms. Morgan Gilbert and Dr. Zvikomborero Machikiti on Completing Their Graduate Studies

The Nonwovens Institute (NWI) is proud to recognize three students who have completed their NWI-supported fundamental research projects and graduate degree programs this summer: Tara Coia, Ph.D., Morgan Gilbert, M.S. and Zvikomborero (Zviko) Machikiti, Ph.D. 

“We offer our sincere congratulations to Dr. Coia, Ms. Gilbert and Dr. Machikiti,” said Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Professor and Executive Director of The Nonwovens Institute at NC State University.  “Here at NWI, we consider these fine researchers part of our family and look forward to keeping in touch as they progress in their professional and personal lives.” 

Tara Coia, Ph.D., Fiber and Polymer Science, NC State University

“Development of Adsorbent System Against Chemical Threats”

Dr. Coia successfully defended her Fiber and Polymer Science Ph.D. dissertation, titled “Development of Adsorbent System Against Chemical Threats,” in July. Dr. Coia’s NWI-supported 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. In her work with NWI, Dr. Coia studied under Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Dr. Benoit Maze & Mr. Pierre Grondin of NWI. 

Protection against chemical warfare agents is essential for the preparedness of troops deployed in a range of possible future combat scenarios. Activated carbon is currently used as a sorbent against such agents in multilayer composites. However, it has a limited service life and a limited capacity of adsorption, giving the products a short life span. 

Dr. Coia explored the use of MOF particles as potential next-generation sorbents against chemical warfare agents, due to their ability to adsorb and neutralize the chemical agents. MOF particles can be attached to fibers and then formed into a functional, nonwoven fabric that would be potentially useful in improved protective garments.

Dr. Coia’s work supported a customized research and development project, which illustrates yet another way interested parties may interact with the Institute. Dr. Coia received external mentorship from the project’s sponsor, the U.S. Army Development Capabilities Command Soldier Center (DEVCOM SC) and her work was supported by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).  

Prior to deciding to pursue her Ph.D. at NC State University, Dr. Coia worked in industry for several years as a Chemist and Project Leader at Dunmore, a producer of coated, laminated and metalized films. During her time working with NWI, Dr. Coia served as co-leader of the NWI Student Group for the 2022-23 academic year.  

Dr. Coia explored the use of MOF particles as potential next-generation sorbents against chemical warfare agents, due to their ability to adsorb and neutralize the chemical agents. MOF particles can be attached to fibers and then formed into a functional, nonwoven fabric that would be potentially useful in improved protective garments.

Dr. Coia previously presented her work in 2022 via poster presentations at IDEA® – the World’s Preeminent Event for Nonwovens & Engineered Fabrics, organized by INDA – the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, in Miami Beach, Florida, and also at the Chemical and Biological Defense Science & Technology (CBD S&T) Conference in San Francisco, California.  

Dr. Coia also received the “Best Presentation” award bestowed by the NWI Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) at its Fall 2022 meeting, as well as the “Students’ Choice” award at the Spring 2023 IAB Meeting bestowed by her fellow students working through the NWI fundamental research program. 

“There are so many people I would like to thank from this experience,” said Dr. Coia. “To my advisors, Dr. Maze and Dr. Pourdeyhimi for their guidance and support throughout the last three years; I can not thank you enough. I also would like to express my appreciation to my committee members, Dr. Ericka Ford (Wilson College of Textiles, NC State) and Dr. Saad Khan (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NC State), the NWI Student Group, and my industrial advisors for their support.

“It has been a rewarding three years of hard work and dedication,” said Dr. Coia. “I am looking forward to seeing what the future holds.”

Morgan Gilbert, M.S., Textiles, NC State University 

“Hydroentangled Cellulosic Nonwovens as Potential Reusable and Biodegradable Fabrics”

Ms. Gilbert completed her master’s degree in Textiles with a certificate in Nonwoven Science and Technology. Her NWI-supported research project, titled “Hydroentangled Cellulosic Nonwovens as Potential Reusable and Biodegradable Fabrics,” 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. While working through NWI’s fundamental research program, Ms. Gilbert studied under Dr. Pourdeyhimi.   

Ms. Gilbert earned her bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising and Spanish at Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania. Her experience as a master’s degree student at NC State University included working with a wide range of textiles, spanning from specialty knits and wovens to filtration media. Through various roles, Ms. Gilbert gained experience in fabric physical property testing, quality control, research and development, project management, corporate ventures and more.

Next up for Ms. Gilbert is her Ph.D., which she will be pursuing at NC State beginning in the fall semester. She will be a student in the Fiber and Polymer Science Ph.D. program and continue to conduct research at NWI under the direction of Dr. Pourdeyhimi.

During the first semester of Ms. Gilbert’s master’s degree program, she held the position of Textile Engineering Intern at Ventara Hi-Tech Fabrics. In this role, she supported both everyday quality control initiatives, as well as long-term R&D projects. After completing her first internship, she spent over a year interning for the global filtration company, Mann+Hummel. At Mann+Hummel, she supported advanced technology innovation projects and corporate venture initiatives. This internship is where she discovered her passion for filtration and gained valuable knowledge about the field. Additionally, this year Ms. Gilbert will serve as one of the student leaders for the NWI Student Group.

Next up for Ms. Gilbert is her Ph.D., which she will be pursuing at NC State beginning in the fall semester. She will be a student in the Fiber and Polymer Science Ph.D. program and continue to conduct research at NWI under the direction of Dr. Pourdeyhimi.

“Studying at NC State and researching at NWI has been an absolutely wonderful experience that I am incredibly grateful for,” said Ms. Gilbert. “I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Pourdeyhimi, as well as my committee members, Dr. Eunkyoung Shim (Wilson College of Textiles, NC State) and Dr. Benoit Maze, for all of their help and guidance over the past two years. I would also like to thank all of my family, friends, and loved ones for supporting me throughout this process. I am so excited to begin the journey of pursuing a Ph.D. and can’t wait to see where this path leads me.”

Zvikomborero (Zviko) Machikiti, Ph.D., Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NC State University

“Formation of High-Surface Area Nonwovens via Fracturing/Fibrillation: Reducing Polymer/Polymer Interface Adhesion to Facilitate Fracture”

Dr. Machikiti successfully defended his Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Ph.D. dissertation, titled “A Systematic Approach to Tuning Adhesion Strength in Polymer-Polymer Systems,” in June. Dr. Machikiti’s NWI-supported research project, titled “Formation of High-Surface Area Nonwovens via Fracturing/Fibrillation: Reducing Polymer/Polymer Interface Adhesion to Facilitate Fracture,” 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. During his time in NWI’s fundamental research program, Dr. Machikiti studied under Dr. Jan Genzer and Dr. Kirill Efimenko.

Dr. Machikiti was recognized by the NWI IAB with the “Best Presentation” award at the Spring 2021 IAB Meeting, and he previously presented his work in 2022 via a poster presentation at the IDEA® conference. Dr. Machikiti also won the “Peebles Award” for Graduate Research in Adhesion Science from the Adhesion Society in 2022 and presented his work at the 46th Annual Meeting of The Adhesion Society in Orlando, Florida, and the 97th ACS Colloid and Surface Science Symposium in Raleigh, North Carolina, both in 2023.

Dr. Machikiti’s NWI-supported research project, titled “Formation of High-Surface Area Nonwovens via Fracturing/Fibrillation: Reducing Polymer/Polymer Interface Adhesion to Facilitate Fracture,” focused on identifying suitable chemical strategies for adhesion control between polyamide and polyester nonwoven fibers …

“I cannot thank my advisors, Dr. Genzer and Dr. Efimenko, enough – you are both amazing,” said Dr. Machikiti. “My heartfelt appreciation extends to my committee members, Dr. Saad Khan and Dr. Benoit Maze, NC State Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Nonwovens Institute, NWI Student Group, Genzer Research Group, Nyaradzo Group, and many others. I couldn’t have reached this point without all of you! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

“I eagerly look forward to what the future holds and the opportunity to make a positive impact in the world,” said Dr. Machikiti. 

NWI offers graduate 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. 

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.

NWI supports students from a number of academic programs including Fiber and Polymer Science, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Forest Biomaterials, and Biomedical Engineering, as well as students in various engineering programs at partner institutions.

Students who are engaged in an NWI-supported research project 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.