Dr. Liam E. Leightley
Interim Associate Research Director
College of Forest Resources
Mississippi State University
Dr Liam E. Leightley is currently the interim Associate Research Director in the Forest and Wildlife Research Center., College of Forest Resources, Mississippi State University. Dr Leightley serves on MSU’s energy committee which is charged with planning the creation of a Southern Energy Center at MSU. Dr. Leightley is the Chairman for the Southern Alliance for the Utilization of Biomass Resources (SAUBR http://saubr.ua.edu). The Alliance is capitalizing on the individual and combined strengths of its members to enable the development of a woody biomass-based industry th at will provide an economic stimulus to the rural economy in the Southern United States, and through the innovative use of our forest and farm resources, will complement the nation’s Homeland Security goal of decreasing our dependence on imported oil and natural gas.
Dr Leightley is Chairman for the North Mississippi Forest Products cluster. The major focus for this cluster is the utilization of woody biomass. The Forest industry in Mississippi represents the second largest industry after poultry. The major voice for the forest industry is the Mississippi Forestry Association(MFA). Dr Leightley serves on the MFA Board of Directors and has been working to heighten the awareness of the forestry industry to the potential opportunities for developing a sustainable woody biomass industry, concerned with the production of energy and chemicals. The production of energy and chemicals from wood could provide the basis of a revitalized industry. Dr Leightley also serves as Chairman of the Board for the Mississippi Biomass Council.
Prior to joining Mississippi State University, Dr Leightley held Global management positions for Rohm and Haas, a major manufacturer of specialty chemicals. He has also held positions as visiting professor at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin and worked for many years as research manager in the Queensland Department of Forestry in Australia. Whilst with Rohm and Haas he worked in Japan as a research department manager, where he established a biocides research department and directed research and development for the biocides business in the Asia Pacific Region.
