Dr. Volkan Demirel is the Technology Manager at Hifyber, where he leads the advanced nanofiber-based filtration media for HVAC, industrial, and specialty air filtration applications, as well as nanofiber membrane technologies for other fields, including textiles and medical applications. He has over 13 years of experience in nanofiber production and R&D, along with 7 years of experience in polymer production and process development. Volkan holds a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Pamukkale University, Türkiye. His work focuses on electrospinning technology, industrial-scale nanofiber manufacturing, the development of high-performance filtration media, filtration efficiency optimization, pressure drop reduction, sustainable filter media, and next-generation synthetic alternatives to conventional filtration materials. He actively collaborates with global partners to translate innovative nanofiber technologies from research into industrial-scale production.

Panelists

.Dr. Andrew Willis is a Chief Scientist at Hollingsworth & Vose in the R&D team and is based in England. He has had two spells with the company, the first from 1996-2001 at their wet-laid facility in Winchcombe, England as an R&D Engineer working on glass wet-laid products. He then finished scratching an academic itch from 2001 until 2012, completing a Mathematics degree with the Open University and an Engineering Doctorate in Radar Signal Processing with University College London whilst working for the defense firm QinetiQ. Andrew rejoined H&V in England in 2012 in the Technology team, and since then has held posts as Scientist, Manager and Director of Technology, which led to a move to the USA in 2015. A move to China in 2019 leading H&V’s Suzhou Technology team was sadly cut short after one year due to COVID travel restrictions, and then from 2021 to 2024 he was the Global Product Manager for H&V’s NanoWeb® range of products containing synthetic nanofibers before returning to the R&D team as Senior Director for Drylaid Technologies in 2024. In 2025 he returned to the UK in a Chief Scientist role.

Dr. Joan Gao is Founder & CEO of NFT Purification Technology, building a market-leading portfolio of high-performance filtration media. She holds 20+ patents/applications, has launched dozens products, and has published in Macromolecules and the Journal of Polymer Science. At Donaldson (2011–2016), she led global air-filtration technology for engine, industrial dust, and gas-turbine markets, delivering next-gen platforms and earning the Technology Achievement Award. Earlier, as R&D Director at Noveko (2009–2011), she drove end-to-end R&D and scale-up; at StrionAir (2007–2009), she advanced electric-enhanced air filtration that contributed to the company’s acquisition by Carrier; and at Pall (2000–2006) she rose to Principal Scientist in high-impact technology and business development. Dr. Gao holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering & Materials Science from Rutgers and studied Physics at UESTC and USTC.

Dr. Cédric Vallet is the Head of Product Management & Business Development – Filtration Division, at Ahlstrom (in France). He has 20 years of experience in Filtration; in R&D, then in Sales & Marketing. Expertise in filtration media manufacturing and various air & liquid applications. He led the Ahlstrom-Munksjö FiltEV® launch, a new platform of high-performance filtration materials for Electric Vehicles. He received his Ph.D. in 2006 from the University of Rennes (FR) and Engineering Master’s Degree in Chemistry, ENSCR, 2002.

Dr. Mehdi Shirmohammadi, Director of Termeh Filtration in UAE, has more than 20 years of experience (academic and industrial) in air filtration textiles, nanofibers and respiratory masks. Mehdi is a recognized expert in textile fibers, high-efficiency filter media, and antibacterial adsorbents, involved in co-leading standard development committees at the ISIRI in writing standards for respiratory masks. During his air purification research, he worked through the chain of air cleaning processes from polymers, textile fibers, filter media, filter elements, filtration systems, testing instruments, and standardization. He has been focused on antimicrobial adsorber filter media since 2010 and has some patents and publications. Mehdi received his Ph.D. in Textile (chemistry and fibers sciences) from IAU, Iran. He is a Certified Filtration and Separation Specialist (CFSS) for air filtration, awarded as WFI’s Student of the Year in 2022.

Mr. Brian Babcock is an independent consultant specializing in intellectual property with a focus on polymers, materials, and coatings. He provides expertise in technology development and intellectual property analysis, patent filing, and IP strategies for companies developing new technologies in filtration, medical device materials, and other consumer and industrial textile products. He also serves as an expert witness and litigation consultant for issues related to polymer materials and coatings. He is a former Intellectual Property Manager for Donaldson Company where he was responsible for creating an in-house IP team for the company and developed comprehensive IP strategies for all of Donaldson’s business units. Since leaving Donaldson, he has set up intellectual property and innovation management processes for multiple companies, including SunEdison, Johnson & Johnson, and others. He has expertise in IP around nanofiber materials and processes, air and liquid filtration products, and woven and nonwoven materials for filtration, consumer, and industrial applications. He is a Certified Licensing Professional, a registered Patent Agent, and has BS and MS degrees in Chemical Engineering from Vanderbilt University.

Dr. Gajanan Bhat is a Georgia Athletic Association Professor of Fibers and Textiles and the Head of the Department of Textiles, Merchandising, and Interiors at the University of Georgia, Athens. After earning his Ph.D. in textile and polymer engineering from Georgia Tech, Dr. Bhat joined the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) in 1990, focusing on nonwovens, plastics recycling, nanotechnology, sustainable materials, and high-performance fibers. As the director of UTNRL, he successfully produced nanofibers from thermoplastic polymers by meltblowing. In 2016, he joined UGA as the Head of the Textiles, Merchandising, and Interiors department. Dr. Bhat has published over 200 research papers, holds three US patents, and has made more than 250 national or international presentations. He has served as president of the Fiber Society and is an active member of INDA, TAPPI, and the Textile Institute. His awards include the Outstanding Young Engineering Alumni by Georgia Tech, Distinguished Achievement Award from the Fiber Society, Fellow of the Textile Institute, TechniTex India Research Achievement Award, and TAPPI NET Division Technical Achievement Award. 

Dr. Jayesh Doshi, Founder of eSpin Technologies, is a well-known leading expert in nanofiber research and production. He is the founder of Chattanooga, Tennessee-based eSpin Technologies. His nanofiber journey started in 1989 at the University of Akron, and over the past 30 years, he has been pursuing nanofiber technology development to commercialization. During his nanofiber journey, he has developed and scaled nanofiber production to convert media into products and technology demonstration. Dr. Doshi earned his doctoral degree in Polymer Sciences from the University of Akron, Akron, Ohio, USA.