The Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) program provides support to enhance the research capabilities of minority-serving institutions (MSI). Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge (SUBR) established its Next Generation Composites CREST Center (NextGenC3) by a unifying theme of multiscale and multifunctional composites and related technology development of advanced fiber reinforced polymer composites with capabilities to address varying technological needs and challenges in material applications. Dr. Jahan in this colloquia session will provide an introduction and overview of her projects focusing on food wastes and byproducts. Her team at SUBR provides educational and research training opportunities to traditionally underrepresented minority (URM) students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines by using enhanced non-structural functionalities of the bio-composites towards a potential replacement for their inorganic-based counterparts in automotive, aerospace industries, and researchable fuel cell applications.