Gabriel (Gabe) Patterson is a graduate student in the Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry Graduate Group at UC Davis, where he is pursuing his PhD in Fiber and Polymer Science. Specifically, his projects will focus on resource recovery of agricultural residues and their biorefinement into cellulosic materials that are renewably sourced and biodegradable. Potential directions include the design and preparation of cellulose membranes for proton transfer in hydrogen fuel cells and ion transfer in batteries. Before coming to Davis, Gabe lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where he worked as a rock climbing guide as well as co-founded a start-up English as a Second Language company. Shortly before embarking on his sabbatical to Brazil, Gabe lived in Panama City, Panama where he interned as a field researcher for the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. He holds a BA in Environmental Science Concentration in Chemistry from the Colorado College. His research undergraduate experience with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in 2012 has greatly influenced Gabe’s academic and professional trajectory. Gabe hopes to pay forward his education and many experiences abroad by working with international renewable energy programs upon graduation.