Tom E. Amidon
Professor, Director of ESPRI
205 Walters Hall
(315) 470-6501
(315) 470-6945 (fax)
teamidon@esf.edu
Education
Ph.D., Silviculture, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, 1974.
M.S., SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, 1972.
B.S., Forest Management, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, 1968.
Professional Experience
- Professor and Chair, Department of Paper and Bioprocess Engineering, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry 6/2000-Present
- International Paper, 1976-6/2000
- Laboratory Manager, Corporate Research Center, Tuxedo, NY, 1994-6/2000
- Manager, Primary Process Development, Corporate Research Center, Tuxedo, NY 1989-1994
- Quality Improvement Process Facilitator, Process Technology, Mobile, AL 1987-1989
- Program manager for wood and pulp properties, Pulp Manufacturing Technical Support group, Mobile, AL. 1984-1987
- Manager, Forest Sciences, 1982-1984
- Research Analyst 1980-1982
- Research Associate and Senior Research Associate 1976-1980
- Instructor, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Department of Paper and Bioprocess Engineering; Postdoctoral Associate, Empire State Paper Research Institute 1974-1976
Co-Authored U.S. Patents at International Paper
- Method for Co-Pulping Waste Cellulosic Material and Wood Chips
- Method for Improving Brightness and Cleanliness of Secondary Fibers for Paper and Paperboard Manufacture
- Process for Enhanced Deposition and Retention of Particulate Filler on Papermaking Fibers
- Method for the In Situ Activation of the Needle Fascicles of Gymnosperms and for the Clonal Propagation of Gymnosperms and the Clones Produced Thereby
Technical Achievements
- Managed group that developed and moved through pilot stage to commercial application, in less than three years, patented deinking technology. Problem solving during pilot and startup accomplished with research staff and extraordinary secrecy maintained through major scale-up effort.
- Participated in developing and patenting novel approaches to papermaking.
- Responsibility for developing novel technology for bleaching has led to patent positions and major investments at mill locations. Corporate savings of several million dollars per year have been documented, but the large returns were in cost avoidance.
- Pulp mill, bleach plant, and paper machine problem solving responsibilities led to annual savings averaging over one million dollars per year in reduced costs.
- Facilitator for over 25 teams per year on multi-group, multi-business, and multi-company problems. Rating for this effort was outstanding.