Muhammad Rabnawaz
Associate Professor
Muhammad Rabnawaz pursues research in the field of polymer science, encompassing sustainable and multifunctional materials.
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Muhammad Rabnawaz, Ph.D., has been an Associate Professor for the Michigan State University (MSU) School of Packaging. He joined the School of Packaging in August 2016. In 2013, he earned a Ph.D. from Queen’s University, Canada, in polymer chemistry, and held postdoctoral positions at Queen’s University between 2013 and 2015, as well as the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana) between 2015 and 2016.
Currently, he is pursuing research in the field of polymer science encompassing sustainable
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materials and multifunctional materials. One of his mission is to create new generation of highly skilled workforce, reduce plastic waste from packaging industry, and create end-of-life solutions for waste plastics. He teaches multiple courses including Packaging with Plastics, an undergraduate-level course; Advanced Polymer Synthesis, a graduate-level course; and Packaging Sustainability and Recycling, a graduate-level course.
Dr. Rabnawaz has authored over 50 refereed publications in leading scientific journals and is co-author of the renowned book on “Plastics Packaging” 4th edition. In addition, he holds 30 patents filed/issued within the U.S. and internationally, including at least 8 that are licensed or optioned. Dr. Rabnawaz has received multiple awards, including the 2021 MSU Innovator of the Year. Dr. Rabnawaz is also co-founder of a couple of companies related to his MSU technologies. He is also a knowledge partner for “Circular Great Lakes” with a zero-plastic mission.
Education
Queen's University: Ph.D., Polymer Chemistry | 2013
Selected Press
Table salt is really good at recycling plastic
Futurity | 2023-09-07
“This is really exciting,” says Muhammad Rabnawaz, an associate professor in Michigan State University’s School of Packaging. “We need simple, low-cost solutions to take on a big problem like plastics recycling.”
Why ditching plastic is harder than it seems
The Washington Post | 2023-06-07
But glass is heavy, so moving it over long distances can drive up transportation costs, said Muhammad Rabnawaz, an associate professor in the School of Packaging at Michigan State University. The material can also be more prone to breaking than plastic, aluminum and paper.
Muhammad Rabnawaz: Confronting the plastics problem
MSU Today | 2021-12-07
“The idea is to make everything easier,” says Rabnawaz, an assistant professor in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “If we can do that, we can stop thinking of plastic as a waste or a burden. We can treat it as a resource.”
Innovator of the Year: Muhammad Rabnawaz
MSU Innovation Center | 2021-10-01
Muhammad Rabnawaz’s mind is brimming with ideas.
The assistant professor in Michigan State’s School of Packaging and adjunct professor in the Department of Chemistry is constantly looking for ways to blend fundamental science with large-scale impact.
“I grew up in Pakistan and did my Ph.D. in Canada,” Rabnawaz said. “Coming to the U.S. was a game changer for me. I never imagined one could do so many things in this country. It’s so robust, and the people are hard-working, passionate, motivated. They’re big dreamers.”
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