Dr. John Aston is a staff engineer in Idaho National Laboratory’s Biological and Chemical Processing Department. His work involves applying chemical and biochemical engineering to research that improves the physical, structural and chemical properties of biomass feedstocks for thermochemical and biochemical conversions to biofuels and biochemicals. He earned his doctorate in chemical and biological engineering from Montana State University in 2010. He received his master’s from Washington State University and his bachelor’s from University of Idaho. He is a member the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, chairing sessions at the organization’s general meetings within the Sustainable Biorefinery Platform.