Conference Speakers

Ryan Chan, Ph.D.

VP of R&D, Tethis, Inc.

BIOGRAPHY

Ryan Chan, PhD, VP of R&D, Tethis, LLC – An entrepreneur, skilled manager and published academic, Ryan leads innovation in research and development at Tethis, a company he co-founded in 2012 with fellow NC State colleague Scott Bolin. He has held various technical management roles within Tethis while building the company’s R&D capabilities and technical team. Prior to founding Tethis, Ryan held multiple R&D roles at innovative companies such as RTI International, NC State University, and Corning Incorporated. Ryan holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in materials science & engineering from NC State University. Ryan has been published in academic journals for his work in the areas of thin-film microstructures, ion bombardment for manipulation of microstructures, predictive fracture stress models and more.

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Using Biobased Superabsorbent Materials to Dramatically Increase Biobased Content of Hygiene Products

Bio-based materials have enabled many recent innovations throughout many product categories, including in the hygiene industry. As consumers become increasingly educated about sustainable processes and raw material origins, it’s imperative that these innovations continue. Here, we present a strategy for increasing biocontent of hygiene products, enabled by starch-based superabsorbent materials developed by Tethis Inc.