Please join us for a UW Data Science Seminar featuring UW Materials Science & Engineering PhD student Richard Colwell on Wednesday, May 27th from 4:30 to 5:20 p.m. PT. The seminar will be held in IEB G109.

“Predictive Modeling of Whole-Biomatter Algal Bioplastics”

Abstract: Whole-biomatter algal plastics are an emerging class of sustainable materials produced by thermomechanically transforming algal biomass into structurally functional bioplastics. Material performance in these systems is strongly influenced by both processing conditions and biomatter composition, but the relationships between these variables remain difficult to predict due to the complexity and variability of biological feedstocks.

This talk presents a comparative analysis of three datasets of hot-pressed algal biomaterials developed in the Roumeli Lab. The datasets span systems with varying processing temperatures and pressures, engineered biomatter analogue compositions, and multiple algal species with distinct biochemical profiles. Across these systems, mechanical properties including strength, stiffness, toughness, and strain-to-break are analyzed using statistical and machine learning approaches to evaluate the extent to which material performance can be predicted from fabrication and compositional parameters.

The project explores broader data science questions surrounding predictive modeling in very small experimental datasets for this new family of materials, including relationships between coupled mechanical properties, the influence of replicate-scale variability on achievable model performance, and methods for identifying reliable trends within sparse, high-variance experimental systems. By comparing trends across multiple related biomaterials systems, this work will assist efforts to identify which processing–structure–property relationships may generalize across algal bioplastics and which remain system-specific.

Speaker Bio: Richard Colwell is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering at the University of Washington and is advised by Dr. Eleftheria Roumeli. His research focuses on whole-biomatter algal bioplastics, with an emphasis on understanding how processing and composition influence material structure, performance, and degradation. Prior to joining UW, he earned a B.S. in Materials Science & Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and worked in sustainable materials development in both startup and industry settings, including plant-based food materials at Lasso Labs (formerly Tender Food) and alternative packaging evaluation in Amazon.