MSU faculty, student honored for excellence in forest products research

Contact: Kaitlyn Church

STARKVILLE, Miss.—The Forest Products Society, a global leader in the forest products industry, is honoring a Mississippi State University student, graduate and two faculty members with top awards.  

Aadarsha Lamichhane, a doctoral student in MSU’s Department of Sustainable Bioproducts, received the prestigious Wood Award for his innovative student research. The award recognizes outstanding graduate-level work that advances wood science and technology.

“Receiving the Wood Award is truly an honor and a meaningful milestone in my academic journey. As the most prestigious recognition given by the Forest Products Society to graduate students in our field, it feels incredibly rewarding to have my work recognized at this level,” Lamichhane said. “Beyond that, it reinforces the importance of pursuing innovative and sustainable solutions in wood engineering overall—something I’m passionate about.”

Lamichhane’s research, conducted in the university’s College of Forest Resources, focuses on developing engineered cellular wood beams with corrugated panel cores made from small, underutilized trees, promoting sustainable alternatives in forest-based materials.

“My research demonstrates how sustainable design and engineering can unlock the potential of overlooked resources—such as low-value or underutilized trees—to develop innovative, high-performance building components for modern construction,” Lamichhane said.

“My experience at Mississippi State has been incredibly valuable,” he added. “The supportive environment, access to excellent research facilities and the mentorship of faculty—especially my advisor, Dr. Mostafa Mohammadabadi—have all been key to my success. Being part of a program that emphasizes innovation and sustainability has truly shaped the direction and impact of my work.”

Additionally, the L.J. Markwardt Award was presented to an MSU Forest and Wildlife Research Center team including Jason Street and Yunsang Kim, both associate professors in the Department of Sustainable Bioproducts, and Kim’s former graduate student Kamal Neupane for the paper with the most outstanding merit published in the Forest Products Journal over the past two years. The honor recognizes work that significantly advances knowledge of wood as an engineering material.

Their award-winning paper Field Evaluation of Physical Barriers against Subterranean Termites and Ambrosia Beetles in a CLT Wall Envelope System, which examines the effectiveness of physical barriers in resisting specific termites and beetles, particularly when used in cross-laminated, or CLT, timber wall envelope systems.

“Receiving this award is a huge honor and has greatly boosted my confidence as a researcher,” said Neupane, who completed his master’s degree in sustainable bioproducts in 2022 and is currently a staff engineer for The Engineered Wood Association. “It validates the importance of our work in mass timber construction, particularly in advancing durability and sustainable building practices.”

Neupane credited MSU for providing the research support and mentorship that helped bring the project to life.

“Mississippi State offered a dynamic research environment with advanced facilities, collaborative opportunities and expert faculty guidance,” he said. “The university’s focus on solving real-world problems helped shape my work in ways that align with both my academic and industry priorities.”

The awards were presented at the recent 2025 Forest Products Society International Conference.

For more on the Department of Sustainable Bioproducts, visit www.bioproducts.msstate.edu. Find the College of Forest resources at www.cfr.msstate.edu.

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