Professor Orlando Rojas is Canada Excellence Research Chair in Forest Bioproducts at the University of British Columbia and Scientific Director of the BioProducts Institute (BPI). He is internationally recognized for pioneering nature-inspired materials from biomass, developing high-performance and sustainable alternatives derived from plant- and marine-based polymers for applications in advanced manufacturing, energy, and environmental technologies.

As Director of BPI, Prof. Rojas provides strategic leadership for one of Canada’s largest interdisciplinary bioproducts research institutes, strengthening its role as a national and international hub linking academia, industry, and government. His work bridges fundamental discovery with industrial implementation while fostering talent development and global collaboration.

Prof. Rojas is the recipient of the Anselme Payen Award and is an elected Fellow of the American Chemical Society, the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters, TAPPI, and the International Academy of Wood Science. He previously served as Finland Distinguished Professor at Aalto University and Director of the FinnCERES Bioeconomy Flagship, and held a professorship at North Carolina State University.