Michael Jaffe joins Breakthrough Energy’s Fellows program from Everbloom Fibers in New York City. He is the Everbloom Fibers Chief Science Officer. Michael has joined Everbloom Fibers after a research career in Industry (Celanese, Hoechst) and Academia (Rutgers University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Case Western Reserve University). His background is in chemistry and materials science with emphasis on the Process-Structure-Property relationships of fibers.

EverBloom transforms pre-consumer industrial keratin waste into high-performance, biodegradable fibers that emulate the aesthetics of noble fibers such as cashmere and wool. By giving discarded proteins a second life, EverBloom is addressing the environmental footprint of textiles while helping the fashion industry transition to a truly circular economy. The Fellows program will provide the mentorship, resources, and global platform to accelerate EverBloom’s path to commercial scale and bring sustainable fibers into the mainstream.

My interests include the history and collection of recorded music (recordings and the machines that play them) and the conversion of new technology to commercial success. My degrees include a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Cornell University and a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.