Muhammad Rabnawaz
| Muhammad Rabnawaz | |
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| Born | Jeewar, Mardan District, Pakistan |
| 🏳️ Nationality | Pakistani-American |
| 🎓 Alma mater |
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| 💼 Occupation | |
| Known for |
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| 🏅 Awards |
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| 🌐 Website | www |
Muhammad Rabnawaz is a materials scientist and full professor at Michigan State University (MSU), known for his work on sustainable packaging materials, recyclable plastics, and circular economy technologies.[1] His research focuses on developing environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional plastics, including biodegradable polymers, high-barrier coatings, and chemical recycling processes.[2] He serves as the founding director of the NSF Industry–University Cooperative Research Center for Plastic, Paper, and Hybrid Packaging End-of-Life Solutions (C3PS).[1]
Early life and education
Muhammad Rabnawaz was born in Pakistan and completed his early education in his native village of Jeewar in Mardan District. After completing his MSc in Chemistry from the University of Peshawar, Pakistan, he moved to Canada in 2009, where he earned his PhD in polymer chemistry from Queen's University in 2013.[3] He then conducted postdoctoral research at Queen's University (2013–2015) and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2015–2016).[3]
Academic career
Rabnawaz joined Michigan State University's School of Packaging in August 2016.[4] He was promoted to associate professor with tenure and subsequently to full professor.[1] He holds affiliated professor appointments in Chemistry and in Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at MSU, and is a College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) Faculty Laureate.[1]
He teaches courses including Packaging with Plastics, Advanced Polymer Synthesis, and Packaging Sustainability and Recycling.[4]
Research and contributions
Rabnawaz's research addresses plastic waste reduction, recyclable and compostable packaging, paper-based packaging systems, and end-of-life solutions for materials.[1] His work is supported by federal agencies including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Department of Energy (DOE), as well as global industry partners.[1]
He established C3PS, described as the nation's first NSF Industry–University Cooperative Research Center focused on plastic, paper, and hybrid packaging end-of-life solutions.[2] He currently leads the center as its founding director.[1]
Technology and innovation
Rabnawaz has filed more than 70 patents and has had 28 issued, related to sustainable materials and packaging systems.[5] Key innovations include recyclable multilayer plastics, PFAS-free omniphobic coatings, high-barrier paper coatings, and chemical recycling technologies.[6]
He is co-founder of startup companies built around MSU technologies, focused on commercialization of sustainable packaging materials.[4]
Publications
Rabnawaz has authored over 120 peer-reviewed publications in the fields of polymer science and sustainable packaging.[7] He is co-author of Plastics Packaging (4th edition, Hanser, 2021), author of Sustainable Packaging Materials: Winning Solutions (Hanser, 2023), and lead author of Degradation, Stabilization, and Recycling of Packaging Materials (John Wiley & Sons, 2025).[4]
Media coverage
Rabnawaz's research and expert commentary have been featured in numerous media outlets since he joined MSU in 2016, spanning national newspapers, television, radio, podcasts, and international trade publications.
Washington Post
Rabnawaz was quoted as an expert source in three articles published by The Washington Post:
- "Does 'compostable' plastic actually break down? Here's what to know" (July 20, 2024), on compostable and biodegradable plastic labeling.[8]
- "Why glass, paper and other options aren't the simple alternative to plastic that they seem to be" (June 7, 2023), on the trade-offs of plastic alternatives.[9]
- "Shampoos and soaps are mostly water. Here's why you should buy them without it" (October 3, 2023), on reducing single-use plastic in consumer products.[10]
Television and radio
FOX 47 News (July 2023) profiled MSU students in his lab working on solutions to eliminate plastic waste.[11] WLNS 6 News (2021) reported on his plastic recycling research, noting his goal of diverting billions of pounds of material from landfills.[12] He was also interviewed on the WGVU Morning Show in Grand Rapids for the Sustainable Community Voices segment (July 21, 2021)[13] and was featured in a News4Jax segment titled "Is the U.S. Addicted to Plastic?" (April 2022).[14]
Podcasts
He was interviewed on the MSU Today Podcast with Russ White (July 2023) following his induction into the National Academy of Inventors[15] and appeared on the Big Ideas Podcast with David Clark at Amcor (September 2021).[16]
Print and trade media
His research on using table salt as a catalyst for chemical recycling was covered internationally by ScienceDaily,[17] ChemEurope,[18] and Sustainable Plastics.[19] The Detroit News (October 31, 2022) featured his commentary on candy makers and plastic packaging waste, a story subsequently picked up by AP News, the Seattle Times, the Tampa Bay Times, and the Financial Post.[20] European Coatings (March 2023) covered his work on soybean oil-based paper coatings,[21] and Packaging Strategies (2025) reported on his team's development of a recyclable adhesive for multilayer plastics.[22]
Awards and recognition
- Elected Fellow, National Academy of Inventors (2024)[5] — the highest professional distinction awarded solely to inventors.[23]
- Elected Senior Member, National Academy of Inventors (2023)[24]
- NSF CAREER Award (2021) — the first such award in the history of the MSU School of Packaging[25]
- MSU Innovator of the Year (2021)[26]
- CANR Faculty Laureate (2022)[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Muhammad Rabnawaz, Ph.D. — Faculty Profile". Michigan State University, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Sustainable Materials Group". Michigan State University. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Muhammad Rabnawaz — Expert Profile". ExpertFile. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Muhammad Rabnawaz — Expert Profile". MSU Today, Michigan State University. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "MSU's Rabnawaz Named National Academy of Inventors Fellow". MSU Today, Michigan State University. December 16, 2024. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ↑ "Dr. Muhammad Rabnawaz — Innovation Center Profile". MSU Innovation Center. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ↑ "Muhammad Rabnawaz, Ph.D. — Speaker Profile". American Chemical Society. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ↑ "Does 'compostable' plastic actually break down? Here's what to know". The Washington Post. July 20, 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ↑ "Why glass, paper and other options aren't the simple alternative to plastic that they seem to be". The Washington Post. June 7, 2023. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ↑ "Shampoos and soaps are mostly water. Here's why you should buy them without it". The Washington Post. October 3, 2023. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ↑ "MSU students are on the cutting-edge of creating solutions to eliminate plastic waste". FOX 47 News. July 20, 2023. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ↑ "MSU researchers find new ways to recycle plastic". WLNS 6 News. December 13, 2021. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ↑ "Sustainable Community Voices". WGVU Public Media. July 21, 2021. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ↑ "Is the U.S. addicted to plastic?". News4Jax. April 25, 2022. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ↑ "MSU's Muhammad Rabnawaz inducted into National Academy of Inventors". MSU Alumni Podcasts. July 6, 2023. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ↑ "Empowering Next Generation Packaging Professionals". Amcor. September 2021. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ↑ "Table salt could be the secret ingredient for better chemical recycling". ScienceDaily. September 8, 2023. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ↑ "Research shows table salt could be the secret ingredient for better chemical recycling". ChemEurope. September 12, 2023. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ↑ "U.S. scientists use table salt as a catalyst for chemical recycling process". Sustainable Plastics. September 11, 2023. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ↑ "Trick or trash: Candy makers grapple with plastic waste". The Detroit News. October 31, 2022. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ↑ "Using soybean oil in paper coating". European Coatings. March 3, 2023. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ↑ "MSU Researchers Develop Recyclable Solution for Multilayer Plastics". Packaging Strategies. 2025. Retrieved 2025-03-01.
- ↑ "NAI Announces 2024 Class of Fellows". National Academy of Inventors. December 10, 2024. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ↑ "Muhammad Rabnawaz to be Inducted into National Academy of Inventors". MSU Today. June 21, 2023. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ↑ "Muhammad Rabnawaz: Confronting the plastics problem". MSU Today. December 7, 2021. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ↑ "Innovator of the Year: Muhammad Rabnawaz". MSU Innovation Center. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
External links
- Sustainable Materials Group – Michigan State University
- National Academy of Inventors – Rabnawaz profile
- C3PS – NSF Center for Plastic, Paper, and Hybrid Packaging End-of-Life Solutions
Category:Living people Category:Pakistani scientists Category:American materials scientists Category:Michigan State University faculty Category:Queen's University alumni Category:University of Peshawar alumni Category:University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumni Category:Polymer chemists Category:Packaging
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