{"id":17719,"date":"2021-11-02T10:33:11","date_gmt":"2021-11-02T14:33:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/?p=17719"},"modified":"2024-12-20T14:41:21","modified_gmt":"2024-12-20T19:41:21","slug":"where-textiles-meets-stem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2021\/11\/where-textiles-meets-stem\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Textiles Meets STEM"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hunter Hendrick, a senior materials developer for outdoor apparel company The North Face, loves his job developing fabrics and trims for the brand\u2019s technical equipment. But when he first came to NC State\u2019s Wilson College of Textiles<\/a>, he had never considered this work as a potential career field.<\/p>\n\n\n

\u201cI would not have even known that my career existed without my degree in textile engineering,\u201d said Hendrick<\/a>, a 2016 graduate. \u201cWhen I entered the program, the idea of working for an outdoor brand was never even a thought, but now I can\u2019t imagine doing anything else.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

Hendrick isn\u2019t the only student in the Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science<\/a> (TECS) to discover unexpected opportunities in the textiles field \u2014 and, through the department\u2019s programs, to get a leg up in pursuing them.<\/p>\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re very student-centric,\u201d said Jeff Joines, Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor and head of the department. \u201cWe\u2019re focused on giving students a good education and access to experiences that will set them up for excellent professional opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

The Science of Textiles<\/h2>\n\n\n

When people think of textiles, they might envision fabrics, fashion or other aspects of design. As the only college in the United States devoted to textiles, the Wilson College of Textiles certainly does world-leading work in those areas \u2014 as well as in the study of the science behind them.<\/p>\n\n\n

\u201cOur department is a great place for students interested in science or engineering to find a home,\u201d Joines said. \u201cThey may not normally think of textiles as a fit for them, but we\u2019re doing some extremely innovative and exciting work that\u2019s rooted in those fields.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

Our graduates are highly sought after and highly valued in the textile industry.<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n\n\n

The TECS department\u2019s degree programs and research focus on advancing chemistry; color science; and engineering of polymers, fibers and textiles. Undergraduate students in the department can choose from bachelor\u2019s degrees<\/a> in polymer and color chemistry, textile engineering, and textile technology. Graduate students can continue their education with one of several master\u2019s, doctoral or certificate options<\/a>, or students can combine undergraduate and graduate study with an accelerated bachelor\u2019s\/master\u2019s degree.<\/p>\n\n\n

Research is a key part of these programs, and the intersection of textiles and science presents unique opportunities. \u201cWe have faculty developing new lithium ion batteries, creating dyes to identify cancer cells, engineering smart textiles, improving sustainability, advancing forensic chemistry and improving protective gear for firefighters, among many other projects,\u201d Joines said.<\/p>\n\n\n

Leading the way in the latter effort is the Textile Protection and Comfort Center<\/a> (TPACC), which has facilities devoted to analysis of heat and flame protection, chemical resistance and comfort performance.<\/p>\n\n\n

Related<\/h2>
\nTPACC: 25 Years of Textile Innovation\u00a0 <\/svg> <\/span><\/span><\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

Fiber and polymer science Ph.D. student Andrew Hall is currently researching how firefighters\u2019 gear can protect them from exposure to toxic substances, and he plans to continue this work after he finishes his degree. \u201cThis program has allowed me to learn about chemistry with direct applications,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n

Students are also involved in the work of the university\u2019s Nonwovens Institute<\/a>, the world\u2019s first accredited academic program in the interdisciplinary field of engineered fabrics.<\/p>\n\n\n

\u201cFacilities and programs like these, and the innovative work they produce, really set us apart in terms of what students can experience and learn here,\u201d Joines said. \u201cWe\u2019re doing things most people wouldn\u2019t even associate with textiles and constantly pushing the field forward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/div><\/div>\"MaskPlay Video<\/title><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/div>
TPACC researchers discuss strategies for testing face masks to understand masks’ filtration, fit and breathability, as well as the need for testing to inform manufacturer standards.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

A Head Start on the Future<\/h2>\n\n\n

Joines says the department aims for every TECS student to have industry exposure before graduation. Many undertake internships or research, and every undergraduate completes a one- or two-semester Senior Design project, working in teams with an industry client to solve a real problem. These intensive projects give students experience not only in that particular field but also in working collaboratively and presenting to clients.<\/p>\n\n\n

\u201cSenior Design really perfectly embodies the university\u2019s \u2018Think and Do\u2019 motto,\u201d said Russell Gorga, Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor and one of the Senior Design faculty. \u201cAnd many of these projects end up becoming real products for the clients, which is a great thing for students to see and for them to put on their resumes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

A prime example: after a recent student team worked with Under Armour to reuse down waste in insulation, the company\u2019s CTO said it\u2019s one of his top priorities to commercialize two of the team\u2019s prototypes.<\/p>\n\n\n