Dr. Maria Soledad (Sole) Peresin
Assistant Professor
Auburn University
Dr. Maria Soledad Peresin is an Associate Professor of Forest Biomaterials at the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment (CFWE) and the founder and lead PI of the Sustainable Bio-based Materials Lab at AU. She holds a Ph.D. in Forest Biomaterials degree from North Carolina State University. She has over 20 years of academic and industrial experience on valorization of biomass for the development of novel products.
During her time at Auburn, Dr. Peresin has established a solid multidisciplinary research platform that gathers expertise in the areas of chemistry, pharmacy, materials sciences and engineering, as well as product development, encompassing the needs for stimulating new businesses in food, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medicine sectors, through novel value-added products from biomass (wood, annual crops, agro-forestry, sericulture, etc.).
The impact of her research is well documented with 60+ publications, 6 book chapters, 1 patent, several invention disclosure applications and over 100 presentations in national and international forums, including invited talks. Most recently she completed the co-editing of a book titled “Lignocellulosics. Renewable Feedstock for (Tailored) Functional Materials and Nanotechnology” (Elsevier, 2020). She is one of the recipients of the National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER award 2021.
Dr. Peresin has had several roles with Technical Pulp and Paper Industries (TAPPI) Nano, including Vice-Chair and Chair for the Research Committee and upcoming Academic Division Co-Chair; she also serves as Alternate Councilor of the ACS Cellulose and Renewable Materials Division and Chair of the Southeastern Chapter of the Forest Products Society. Peresin had organized many meetings and workshops, throughout the US, EU and South America for multiple professional associations.
She is an advocate for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and leads several efforts on the matter. She is the Chair of the DEI committee at the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, and is the College representative at the DEI AU Faculty Senate Committee, a Council of AU Women Initiatives and Gender Equity, (WIGE) -a subunit of the Office of Inclusion and Diversity (OID) and a member of the DEI committee of the Cellulose and Renewable Materials Division of the American Chemical Society.