Richard A. Gross is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering; Constellation Chair of Biocatalysis and Metabolic Engineering appointed in Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies. Chief Technical Officer of SyntheZyme,Chair for Presidential Green Chemistry Award Panel, ACS. Director – NSF Center for Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing of Macromolecules.

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Dr. Bingkun K. Chen is Assistant Professor of Medicine, Director of the Neural Component of the Biomaterials Characterization & Histology Core Laboratory, and Supervisor in Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Dr. Chen graduated with an M.D. in China, further studied in Germany, later received his Ph.D. in Japan, and recently earned his M.B.A. in the United States. Dr. Chen focus on spinal cord injury and regeneration. He developed and optimized two axonal tracing techniques, i. e. Bidiretional axonal tracing with DiI and DiO, and retrograde axonal tracing with Fast Blue (FB). By using tissue engineered technology with biodegradable polymer scaffolds loaded with growth-promoting cells (schwann cells, SCs) to bridge the transection, it might aim to shift the balance in the injured spinal cord towards healing and functional regeneration. Dr. Chen is currently serving on the Mayo Diversity and Inclusion Committee and Mayo Research Safety Committee. Dr. Chen also serves as the Chair of Chinese Student & Scholar Association at Mayo and Chair of Chinese Mayo Employee Resource Group. Dr. Chen has authored and published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles; in addition he has served as Editor, Associate editor and Editor-in-chief for a numerous books and bulletins, and as Reviewer for a number of journals in neuroscience.

Spinal cord injury and regeneration by using tissue engineered technology with biodegradable polymer scaffolds.

Harrison Yu is CEO at Bondable Biopolymers, LLC. He has explored and developed a processing method of making products with overall desirable performance/price ratios from bioplastics at the economic scale. Bondable Biopolymers, LLC is 2013 Innovation in Bioplastics Award Finalist, and received a Certificate from Society of Plastics Industry Bioplastics Council in May 2013. The Certificate appreciates and recognizes Bondable Biopolymers, LLC for the innovation, sustainability and impact to the marketplace demonstrated by its application. Harrison Yu is interested in the interaction between invention and innovation. He is also interested in groundbreaking long term remained impasse and contemporary genius. Harrison Yu has 13+ year experiences in business development management after received his M.S. in Polymer Engineering from University of Akron in 2000. These experiences include start up high tech Company since 2009, giant corporation new technology division in continuous production (Brand Loyalty) 2001-08, and small business in custom production 1999-00. His works focus on making and marketing various controlled release devices from polymers and biopolymers.

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Prof. Chang-Sik Ha received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Pusan National University (PNU), Korea (1978) and his M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology(KAIST), Seoul, Korea (1982). He obtained his Ph.D. at the KAIST in 1987. He has joined at the Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Pusan National University as a professor since 1982. He was a visiting scholar for a year four times in USA (Univ. of Cincinnati(1987); Stanford Univ.(1997); SUNY Buffalo(2005); UCLA(2011)). He is now a director of the Pioneer Research Center for Nanogrid Materials, supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea. He served as a Vice President of Pusan National University in 2012 and an Honorary Professor of University of Queensland, Australia (2013-2015).He was elected to both the Korea Academy of Science and Technology(KAST) and the National Engineering Academy of Korea(NEAK) in 2004. He has served as an editorial board member of several international journals including an Associate Editor of the Advanced Porous Materials as well as an Associate Editor of the Composite Interfaces and the former Editor-in-Chief of the Macromolecular Research(2008 ~ 2011). He received many awards including the Samsung Polymer Science Award from the Polymer Society of Korea (2011) and the Scientist of the Month Award from the Ministry of Science and Engineering(2007) and the Best Researcher Award from Pusan National University(2007, 2009).

His research interests are Organic/Inorganic Nanohybrid Materials based on Biopolymers; Mesoporous Materials and Nanostructured Materials for Drug Delivery, and so on.

Dr. Abidi is Associate Professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Science and Associate Director of the Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute at Texas Tech University. He holds a “Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches” from the University of Haute Alsace in France and a Ph.D. from the University of Montpellier II in France. Dr. Abidi has generated more than 58 refereed journal publications, 1 book, 10 book chapters, more than 123 conference papers, 1 patent, 1 provisional patent, and 6 invention disclosures. The research focus of Dr. Abidi span from the characterization of biopolymers using advanced techniques (such as Fourier Transform Infrared imaging) to the development of bioproducts from biopolymers.

Research activities for Dr. Abidi are now encompassing: (1) chemistry of sugars involved in cotton stickiness and evaluation of new stickiness detection method based on sugar properties, (2) Relationship between cotton fiber physical properties (ex. strength, fineness and maturity) and structural properties (ex. crystallinity and fibril orientation), (3) Study of cotton fiber development using FTIR microspectroscopy, (4) Functionalization of cotton fabric surface and development of new products with new functional properties (ex. Ultraviolet protection properties, antibacterial, stain resistant, water repellent, winkle free), using Microwave plasma and sol-gel technologies.

Dr Warren Grigsby is a Researcher Leader at Scion (New Zealand) with research activity spanning synthetic and polymer chemistry applications of biopolymer systems. Warren is leading the development of bio-based adhesive and polymer systems that can be used as substitutes for chemicals derived from petroleum. He has a lead role in the direction and coordination of innovative research efforts in both commercial and government-funded research. His current research activities include the synthesis of biobased adhesives and resins for use in engineered wood products and high performance composites, novel wood modification processing strategies, and adapting polyphenolics in a range of applications.

Synthesis of biobased adhesives and resins for use in engineered wood products and high performance composites, novel wood modification processing strategies, and adapting polyphenolics in a range of applications.

Pr. Luc Avérous is a Group (BioTeam) Leader, Head of Polymer Research Department at ICPEES (UMR CNRS 7515) - Univ. of Strasbourg (France), and former Lab Director. He started as Polymer Engineer (EAHP-Strasbourg). Then in 1995, he obtained his PhD in Polymer Science & Engineering (Ecole des Mines de Paris). In 1997, he became A/Prof. at the Packaging Eng School in Reims (Fr) after two post-doctoral positions (Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal,). Then in 2003, he became a Full Professor at ECPM (Strasbourg), where he teaches biopolymer science, biomaterials, composites, plastic processing & polymers charact. During the last two decades, his major research projects have dealt with biobased and/or biodegradable polymers for environmental & biomedical applications. As a leading international expert in these fields, he has developed strong collaborations with several foreign labs (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Spain,) and major companies (Total, PSA, Soprema, Tereos,). He serves as a member of research advisory boards for different companies. In France or overseas, he is regularly invited to co-organize Conferences, to chair Symposia, and to give plenary or keynote lectures. He has co-edited 4 books (2 Wiley, 1 Elsevier & 1 Springer). He is a member of several Editorial Boards, and Guest Editor for scientific journals. He is a referee for many scientific journals, books and international projects. He has published hundreds of scientific communications with more than 5000 citations (H-Index > 35).

Topics: - Biopolymers: polysaccharides & bacterial polymers - Renewable and biodegradable (co-)polyesters - Enzymatic catalysis & White Biotech - New biobased architectures (TPU, PUR, PIR, NIPU, PA,) with building blocks from different biomass (lignins, tannins, fatty acids, sugars,) - Multiphase systems (Nano & biocomposites, blends,) - Biomaterials for biomedical (Tissue Eng. & Electrospinning, Biosensor, Controlled release,)

Prof. Ajay Kumar Mishra is currently working as Professor at Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability (NanoWS) Research Unit, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, , Johannesburg, South Africa. He is an "Adjunct Professor" at Jiangsu University, China. Prof. Mishra obtained his PhD in Chemistry from Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi, India. In 2006, he moved to the University of Free State, South Africa for Postdoctoral studies in the area of composites/nanocomposites. Later in 2009 he joined the Department of Applied Chemistry as a Senior Lecturer where he was promoted to Associate Professor in 2011. Prof. Mishra is currently group leader of the research area for the composites/nanocomposites, water research and bio-inorganic chemistry. He has hosted several visiting researchers/scientists/postdocs in his group. Prof. Mishra has also developed a number of collaborations worldwide. His research contribution includes many publications in international journals. He has delivered a number of plenary, keynote and invited lectures. For his outstanding research profile, he was awarded a number of awards. Prof. Mishra also served as Associate Editor as well as a member of editorial boards of many international journals. He has edited several books by renowned publishers. He has also reviewed a number of international journals and member of a number of scientific societies.

My research interest is in four broad areas, namely: Nanoscience/Nanotechnology, Materials Science, Polymers, Composite/Nanocomposites and Water Research. I am actively involved in the area of nanotechnology towards the development of smart materials for various applications in the field of materials science and water research.