Douglas G. Hayes is a professor of biosystems engineering at the University of Tennessee. Professor Hayes has previously served as a faculty member in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He also hold an Adjunct professorship in the University of Tennessee Department of Chemical and Biomolecular engineering, guest professorships at Wuhan Polytechnic University and Jinan University in China, and is a UT-Oak Ridge National Laboratory Joint Faculty. Professor Hayes is a Senior Associate Editor (SAE) for the Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society and an AE for Journal of Surfactants and Detergents. He has served the American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS) as an officer for the Biotechnology Division (Chair from 2014 to 2015), was Chair of the AOCS Professional Educator Common Interest Group (2013–18) and is a member at large for the AOCS Governing Board (since 2017). He has published over 65 articles in peer-reviewed publications, 15 book chapters, and one edited book. His research interests include surfactants, soft matter, and biobased chemicals and materials. Daniel K. Solaiman is a research molecular biologist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Eastern Regional Research Center, Wyndmoor, PA, USA. His research focuses on the genetic characterization and modification, agricultural by-product utilization in fermentation, and value-added applications of microbial glycolipid biosurfactants. Dr. Solaiman has been an active AOCS member since 2000, serving the society in various roles including Vice Chair of the Publications Steering Committee, Chair of the Biotechnology Division, and AOCS Fellow. He and his research team received AOCS’ 2008 SDS/NBB Glycerine Innovation Research Award. Richard D. Ashby is a research chemist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Eastern Regional Research Center, Wyndmoor, PA, USA. He is an expert in the fermentative production and analysis of microbial glycolipid biosurfactants and their potential new applications. Dr. Ashby has been an active AOCS member since 1997. He has served the society as a member of a number of committees and as an officer in the Biotechnology Division (Chair from 2015 to 2016), He was elected AOCS Fellow in 2019, and in 2008, he and his research team received AOCS’ SDS/NBB Glycerine Innovation Research Award. Dr. Ashby’s work focuses on fermentative production and analysis of microbial glycolipid biosurfactants and their potential new applications.
