Brunela Pollastrelli Rodrigues

Assistant Professor - Wood Utilization and Biomaterials
Forestry and Environmental Conservation Department

Office: 126 Lehotsky Hall
Phone: 864-656-3551

Email: brunelr@clemson.edu
Vita: Download CV

Educational Background

Ph.D Forest Sciences (Area of specialization: Forest Products Technology)
Federal University of Espirito Santo, Brazil

M.S. Forest Sciences (Area of specialization: Forest Products Technology)
Federal University of Espirito Santo, Brazil

B.S. Forest Engineering
Federal University of Espirito Santo, Brazil

Courses Taught

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY, USA
• Forest Products
• Wood and Paper Products
• Applied Wood Quality
• Senior Problems in Forestry
• Special Problems in Forestry

SOUTHWESTERN BAHIA STATE UNIVERSITY, BRAZIL
• Research Project
• Research Seminar
• Wood Deterioration and Preservation
• Urban Forests
• Agroforestry Systems
• Tree Seeds
• Undergraduate Thesis I
• Undergraduate Thesis II

FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF ESPIRITO SANTO, BRAZIL
• Laboratory of physical and mechanical properties of wood
• Furniture Design
• Wood Products
• Non-Wood Forest Products

Profile

Dr. Brunela Pollastrelli Rodrigues joined the faculty as Assistant Professor in the Forestry and Environmental Conservation Department in 2023. She is originally from Brazil and holds three degrees from the Federal University of Espirito Santo, where she worked since her first semester in the Wood Science Lab. Her passion for studying wood began when she looked at a wood specimen slide under the microscope for the first time. Dr. Rodrigues first visited the USA as a visiting student and worked closely with recognized USDA Forest Products Laboratory research engineers. Before accepting her position at Clemson University, she worked as a Postdoctoral Associate at the Department of Sustainable Bioproducts at Mississippi State University.
She has developed research in wood quality from forest plantations in Brazil and has conducted research projects related to computer vision wood identification and nondestructive evaluation of wood in the USA. She also taught courses in forestry and wood science subjects and mentored/advised undergrad and graduate students.

Dr. Rodrigues has been a very active member of the Forest Products Society, organizing sessions and chairing the Technical Interest Group (TIGs) in Processing and Wood Quality.

As a junior faculty with teaching and research appointments, Dr. Rodrigues is committed to providing high-quality instruction/ training in wood science and wood products to her students and stakeholders and developing a recognized research program in wood utilization and biomaterials.

- Professional Organizations:
Forest Products Society
Society of Wood Science and Technology
International Association of Wood Anatomists

Research Interests

Wood quality
Biomass utilization
Quantitative wood anatomy
Nondestructive evaluation of tree and wood

Lab Members

GRADUATE STUDENTS:
Anjila Lamichhane, PhD student Forest Resources, 2024 - present
Christopher Pyles, PhD student Forest Resources, 2025 - present


GRADUATE STUDENTS COMMITTEE MEMBER:
Bart Swecker, MS Forest Resources, 2025-present
Aashish Sapkota, MS Civil Engineering, 2024-present
John Visbisky, Master of Forest Resources (MFR), 2024-present
Dean Satterlee, Master of Forest Resources (MFR), 2023-2024

Publications

Ravindran, P., Owens, F. C., Costa, A., Rodrigues, B. P., Chavesta, M., Montenegro, R., Shmulsky, R., & Wiedenhoeft, A. C. (2023). Evaluation of test specimen surface preparation on macroscopic computer vision wood identification. Wood and Fiber Science, 55(2), 176–202. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.22382/wfs-2023-15

Oliveira, J.T.S., Arantes, M.D.C., Moulin, J.C., & Rodrigues, B.P. (2023). Carbon in wood as an important driver of a green economy. In: FIEDLER, N.C., LOUSADA, J.L.P., & CARMO, F.C.A. (Eds.), Gas emissions, and carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems, pp. 210-243. Vitória-ES: EDUFES - E-Livros, v.2 , p. 210-243. http://repositorio.ufes.br/handle/10/12161 (E-Book Chapter)

Rodrigues, B. P.; Longue Junior, D.; Libarino, C. S.,Guimarães, P.P, Nogueira E, N. W., & Botrel, R. T. (2023). Eucalypt essential oil. In: Guimarães, P.P, Nogueira E, N. W., & Botrel, R. T. (Eds.), Non-timber products technology. Mossoró: EDUFERSA, v. 1, p. 233-250. (Book Chapter)

Rodrigues, B. P., Oliveira, J. T. da S., Demuner, B. J., Mafia, R. G., & Vidaurre, G. B. (2022). Chemical and Kraft Pulping Properties of Young Eucalypt Trees Affected by Physiological Disorders. Forests, 13(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/f13040504

Pereira, A. K. S., Júnior, D. L., da Silva, Á. M., de Souza, E. C., Delatorre, F. M., Rodrigues, B. P., & Júnior, A. F. D. (2022). Understanding the Impacts of Pyrolysis Temperature on the Energy Performance of Eucalyptus spp. Charcoal. 2nd International Electronic Conference on Forests—Sustainable Forests: Ecology, Management, Products and Trade, 13(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/IECF2021-10794

Azevêdo, Â. N., Antunes, R. C., Almeida, T. C., Silva, M. S., & Rodrigues, B. P. (2022). True bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) in Eucalyptus urophylla plantation and Seasonal Semi-deciduous Montane Forest in the State of Bahia, Brazil [Percevejos (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) em plantio de Eucalyptus urophylla e Floresta Estacional Semidecidual Monta. Agrarian, 15(55). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.30612/agrarian.v15i55.15068

Rodrigues, B. P., Senalik, C. A., Wu, X., & Wacker, J. (2021). Use of Ground Penetrating Radar in the Evaluation of Wood Structures: A Review. Forests, 12(4), 492. https://doi.org/10.3390/f12040492

Shmulsky, R., Lopes, D. J. V., Rodrigues, B. P., & Bobadilha, G. dos S. (2021). Strength and Stiffness of 8-Inch and 12-Inch Deep Mixed Oak Bolt-Laminated Timber Mats. BioResources, 16(2), 3298–3303. https://doi.org/10.15376/biores.16.2.3298-3303

Brito, A. S., Vidaurre, G. B., Oliveira, J. T. da S., Missia da Silva, J. G., Rodrigues, B. P., & Carneiro, A. de C. O. (2019). Effect Of Planting Spacing In Production And Permeability Of Heartwood And Sapwood Of Eucalyptus Wood. Floresta e Ambiente, 26, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1590/2179-8087.037818

Freitas, T. P., Oliveira, J. T. da S., Vidaurre, G. B., & Rodrigues, B. P. (2018). Environmental effect on chemical composition of eucalyptus clones wood for pulp production. Cerne, 24(3), 219–224. https://doi.org/10.1590/01047760201824032558

Moulin, J. C., Rodrigues, B. P., Oliveira, J. T. D. S., & Rosa, R. A. (2017). Wood characterization of black laurel wood [Propriedades tecnológicas do lenho de louro-preto]. Pesquisa Florestal Brasileira, 36(88), 415–421. https://doi.org/10.4336/2016.pfb.36.88.994

Senalik, C. A., Wacker, J. P., Wang, X., Rodrigues, B. P., & Jalinoos, F. (2017). Assessing Ability of Ground-Penetrating Radar to Detect Internal Moisture and Fungal Decay in Douglas-Fir Beams. In R. J. Wang, X.; Senalik, C.A.; Ross (Ed.), 20th International Nondestructive Testing and Evaluation of Wood Symposium (pp. 286–297). Gen. Tech. Rep. FPL-GTR-249. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory.

Braz, R. L., Oliveira, J. T. da S., Arantes, M. D. C., & Rodrigues, B. P. (2013). Physical and mechanical properties of wood of Toona ciliata at different ages [Propriedades físicas e mecânicas de Toona ciliata em diferentes idades]. Floresta, 43(4), 663–670. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.5380/rf.v43i4.30559

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