Noureddine Abidi — Leidigh Professor and FBRI Managing Director
Noureddine Abidi — Leidigh Professor and Managing Director of the Fiber & Biopolymer Research Institute (FBRI) — can add another award to his list of accomplishments. In April, the Office of Research & Innovation named Abidi as the recipient of the 2021 President's Excellence in Commercialization Award.
The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the commercialization of innovative work conducted by Texas Tech University faculty, including the demonstration of a tangible impact on society and exceptional contributions in areas such as patents, licensing, innovative discovery, and technology development.
Abidi's research with the FBRI focuses on the conversion of low-grade cotton fibers into cellulose and forming biodegradable, plant-based plastics. The work shows significant promise for diversifying the market for cotton, using industrial byproducts, and contributing to the development of alternatives to conventional plastics.
The innovative and transformative nature of Abidi's work has recently been recognized nationally and internationally in the agriculture community.