When senior Lila Branchaw walked into her first physics class at the University of Minnesota, she never imagined she’d be presenting her research to a national audience of scientists. But thanks to her experiences in the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering (BBE), Lila has become a standout student voice in renewable materials research and science communication.
This summer, Lila competed in the 2025 ORISE Ignite Off! Competition hosted by Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, a fast-paced challenge where researchers deliver a five-minute talk with slides automatically advancing every 15 seconds. Out of a highly competitive field of undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs, Lila earned second place overall. She also advanced as a semifinalist in the Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS) Ignite Off! Competition, which features top undergraduate student researchers from Department of Energy labs across the country.
What made her talk stand out wasn’t just the science, but the way she delivered it. Lila opened her presentation with a playful question: “What do the Mississippi River, your stomach, and the Kardashians have in common? The answer’s plastic. Today I'll be answering the question, can sawdust solve the plastic problem?”
She closed the presentation bringing it full circle, “And while we can't keep plastic out of the Kardashians, maybe we can keep it out of the ocean.” The jokes not only drew a laugh, but showed her ability to make science relatable through humor and pop culture.
“I love science, and I love sharing science,” Lila said. “The competition pushed me to explain complex ideas in a way anyone could understand. That was exciting.”
During her internship at Oak Ridge, Lila worked across five different labs to investigate the potential of biomass materials in sustainable plastics. Much of her project involved using specialized equipment to quantify particle size in biomass samples, a task that required persistence, creativity, and problem-solving.
When the particles kept sticking together, she proposed a new procedure to improve measurement accuracy—an idea that worked and gave her one of her proudest “aha moments.”
Beyond the technical skills, she also gained experience coordinating with teams across multiple labs, managing schedules, and navigating the practical realities of large-scale research.
“It was a lot of emails,” she laughed, “but also a lot of growth.”
Lila credits much of her success to the foundation she built in BBE classes and labs. A project in Bioproducts Engineering Lab I with Professor William Tze where she worked with injection-molded bioplastics prepared her for hands-on challenges at Oak Ridge. Courses like Chemistry of Biomass and Biomass Conversion to Fuel and Products deepened her understanding of how renewable materials interact and strengthened her problem-solving skills.
But academics weren’t the only factor. Time spent in the BBE Makerspace, guided by teaching mentor David Schmidt, gave Lila the confidence to take risks and develop practical skills.
“No one had ever taught me how to use a drill or a laser cutter,” she shared. “The makerspace taught me to just try, to learn as I go, and to apply what I learn to real-world projects.”
After graduation, Lila plans to work in industry for a few years before pursuing a Ph.D., continuing her passion for research in renewable materials and bioproducts. She hopes to one day work at the intersection of computer science and bioproducts engineering, advancing sustainable technologies that benefit people and the planet.
Her advice for new students?
“College is hard, but you can do it. Don’t give up, even when you’re stuck on a problem at midnight. Ask questions, get help, and keep going.”
Lila’s journey reflects what makes BBE special: students who combine curiosity, resilience, and a drive to make a difference in the world. With opportunities to do meaningful research, connect with supportive mentors, and even compete on a national stage, BBE students are proving they have what it takes to lead in the future of bioproducts and sustainability.