by Rebecca Wallace, Public Affairs Specialist

The Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) will be creating new partnerships with other organizations (including industry representatives, other government agencies, and universities) to enhance technology transfer in wood products research.

In support of this effort, FPL is conducting outreach for the newly created position of Partnership Liaison Specialist (Development Officer).

According to Lee Nightingale, Assistant Director of Administration at FPL, the role of this new position is to:

• Strengthen and expand partnerships among FPL, the wood products industry, other federal agencies, and universities.
• Identify the potential for joint research (e.g., in the areas of nanotechnology, bioenergy, wood fiber/plastic composites, wood structures, and recycling).
• Seek opportunities to establish a business incubator among FPL, other federal agencies, and industry and university research scientists. For example, there is the potential to work with the Department of Defense on wood construction and recycling research.
• Establish the business incubator to provide innovations in wood products science.

"We are looking for strong leadership in starting up a national program, which will link opportunities in Forest Service research and development with wood product research interests of other organizations," said Nightingale. "Knowledge of or experience with the wood products research science community and a keen understanding of the interests and needs of industry research science are also important."

The Partnership Liaison Specialist (Development Officer) position will be advertised soon at www.usajobs.gov.