Previously employed by the United States Department of Agriculture as a Research Scientist in the Agricultural Research Service at the Cotton Quality Research Station in Clemson, SC. The Agricultural Research Service is one of the world's premier scientific organizations that perform the best possible and most relevant research with projects continually subjected to rigorous reviews. National Programs serve to bring coordination, communication, and empowerment to ~800 research projects carried out by ARS.
At the Cotton Quality Research Station, I was often the first contact person at the unit that performed personal and team research with colleagues from various universities, federal labs, and industries with research performed in US, Canada, Germany, Australia, United Kingdom, and France. I determined and guided the research activities and was responsible for conceiving, initiating, planning, coordinating, conducting and documenting research experiments addressing the research objectives of a component of ARS National Program 306—Quality and Utilization of Agricultural Products. Investigations resulted in refereed journal articles, abstracts, presentations, and direct communications with textile individuals, composite personnel, and other scientists.
I have a research career of 24 years and have authored 53 peer reviewed manuscripts, 4 book chapters, 2 book sections, 2 standard test method, 74 articles, 1 thesis, 1 dissertation, and delivered numerous presentations, posters, and abstracts. I am known internationally for my expertise in flax and developing ASTM International standards (subcommittee chairman D13.17). With my natural fiber expertise I am known internationally in the Biocomposites International Research Network for the utilization of natural fibers in composites. I am known internationally for my cotton fiber testing and standardization among the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF Task Force Coordinator for Trash and Neps).