Dr. Chai received joined IPST after receiving his Ph.D. in Process Analytical Chemistry at Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, in 1996. He has held a Senior Research Scientist position for IPST at Georgia Tech since 2002. Dr. Chai has made scientific contributions to industry and academia through the development of innovative and practical analytical and diagnostic capabilities for probing chemical process streams that have complex matrices. Some methods have been applied industrially, either for continuous monitoring through on-line analysis or for bench top analysis. Others have been used for supporting research in a broad number of applications both within the pulp and paper industry (see analytical method development tab), environmental research (particularly volatile species), and biomass characterization and conversion to alcohols.

Dr. Chai has a strong background in polymer fiber processing and electroanalytcial chemistry, with extensive knowledge of attenuated total reflection UV/vis spectroscopy and headspace GC technology.