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 Joseph Jakes | Joseph JakesForest Biopolymer Science and EngineeringUnit: FPL-4707 Research Materials Engineer One Gifford Pinchot Drive Madison, WI United States 53726-2398 Phone: 608-231-9308 joseph.e.jakes@usda.gov |
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Current Research
Our primary goal is to develop and implement experimental techniques for the study of material properties of micrometer-sized volumes of materials, such as modified wood cell walls. Much of our work has been focused around a technique called nanoindentation, which assesses mechanical properties from sub-micrometer volumes of materials. Major research objectives include:
- Developing advanced nanoindentation protocols to probe cell walls in wood and other similarly-sized materials
- Indentifying and coordinating complimentary experimental techniques, such as molecular-scale characterization techniques, to further increase the value of the nanoindentation results
- Using the nanoindentation and complimentary characterizations to develop structure-property relationships that lead to better understanding and control of material properties
Research Interest
- Material structure-property relationships with an emphasis on mechanical behavior
- Advanced nanoindentation techniques to assess mechanical behavior at micrometer length scales and below
- Advanced chemical and structural material characterization techniques, especially techniques that probe at the micrometer length scale and below
- Discovery and study of new wood-inspired material phenomena
Education
- University of Wisconsin at Madison, B.S. Chemical and Biological Engineering , 2005
- University of Wisconsin at Madison, M.S. Materials Science , 2007
- University of Wisconsin at Madison, Ph.D. Materials Science , 2010
Professional Experience
- Associate Visiting Scientist, Engineering department - University of Wisconsin-Madison 2011 - Current
Professional Organizations
- Materials Research Society (MRS), Member
- Forest Products Society (FPS), Member
- Society of Wood Science and Technology (SWST), Member
Awards
- Presidential Award for Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) , 2012 For innovative research at the frontiers of science and technology, and for exceptional potential to shape the future through intellectual and inspired leadership.
- Research & Development Deputy Chief’s Early Career Scientist Award , 2012 Annual award recognizing the top scientist in the Forest Servcie at the beginning of their research career and having demonstrated, through personal accomplishments, outstanding capability and exceptional promise for significant future achievement.
- GMFAA Technical Employee of the Year , 2012 Award given to top federal technical employee of the year in the greater Madison, WI area.
- Forest Products Society 1st Place Wood Award, 2008 Annual award given to top graduate student in forest products research by the Forest Products Society.
- Adhesion Society Peebles Award for Graduate Research in Adhesion Science, 2008 Award given to top graduate students in adhesion science fields.
Below are the 85 US Forest Service publications sorted by year. You may re-sort the list by: Title, Date Posted, Category, Publication or Year.
| Publication Year: 2019 | |
 Highlight ID: 1325 | Mechanism for Diffusion through Wood Cell Walls Diffusion through unmodified wood cell walls is via a solid polymer diffusion mechanism, which refutes the previously accepted mechanism that diffusion occurs through aqueous pathways inside of the cell walls. ... |
| Publication Year: 2018 | |
 Highlight ID: 1311 | X-Ray Methods to Observe and Quantify Adhesive Penetration into Wood To accelerate development of new and improved wood adhesives for engineered wood products, researchers are working to understand the optimal adhesive penetration into wood for specific products and applications. ... |
| Publication Year: 2017 | |
 Highlight ID: 1282 | Scientists study how water changes wood Water causes a host of wood damage mechanisms such as mold, decay, fastener corrosion, and splitting. This research elucidates how water changes wood and leads to these wood damage mechanisms. ... |
 Highlight ID: 1299 | Understanding how the organization and interactions of the atoms that compose wood control its mechanical properties To expand the uses and efficient utilization of wood, Forest Service researchers strive to learn how manipulate its molecular-scale structure to control its mechanical properties ... |
| Publication Year: 2016 | |
 Highlight ID: 664 | Improving Moisture Durability of Forest Products Using Small-angle Neutron Scattering Moisture is the underlying cause of numerous durability issues in forest products, including decay, lack of dimensional stability, and fastener corrosion. An improved understanding of where and how water is absorbed in wood nanostructure will acceler ... |
| Publication Year: 2015 | |
 Highlight ID: 601 | Advancing Understanding of Wood Damage Mechanisms Forest Service researchers examined the diffusion of ions in wood using synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence microscopy. The researchers found that there was a threshold moisture content below which diffusion does not occur. These data can help to ... |
| Publication Year: 2014 | |
 Highlight ID: 588 | New Insight into Wood Damage Mechanisms Wood fails because bad things start to happen when wood gets wet. Dimensional stability, mold growth, fungal attack, fastener corrosion, all are caused by fluctuations in moisture or an abundance of moisture in the wood. This research presents a new ... |
| Publication Year: 2011 | |
 Highlight ID: 290 | Developing tools to assess mechanical properties of wood cell walls Nanoindentation is a tool capable of probing mechanical properties at the sub-micrometer level, such as in wood cell walls, individual components in a wood-based composite, coatings, adhesive bondlines, etc. However, conventional nanoindentation meth ... |
| Title | Date Posted |
|---|---|
 Jakes & Plaza featured in UW Engineering Annual ReportFPL materials research engineer Joseph Jakes and FPL Pathways intern Nayomi Plaza were recently featured in the University of Wisconsin's College of Engineering annual report for their work studying moisture-induced swelling and adhesive bonding to wood cells... | 10-18-2013 |
 Engineered Wood Products Benefit from Better AdhesivesWood construction materials like plywood or laminated veneer lumber rely on adhesives for part of their structural integrity. When used in outdoor applications, however, humidity can affect their performance even when the materials are mostly protected from the elements... | 07-03-2013 |
| Jakes Honored with Early Career Scientist Award FPL researcher Joseph Jakes has been selected to receive the 2011 Forest Service Research and Development Deputy Chief’s Early Career Scientist Award... | 04-20-2012 |