David Schmidt

Research Engineer and Instructor
306 BioAgEng Building
1390 Eckles Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108
schmi071@umn.edu
+1 612 625 4262
BBE Makerspace

Education

  • M.S. - Agricultural Engineering, University of Minnesota. 1992. 
  • B.S. - Agricultural Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Platteville. 1982.
David Schmidt, Research Engineer and Instructor

Areas of Interest

David loves teaching! He is passionate about meeting students where they are and providing them with practical learning opportunities. Since 2011 half of his focus has been teaching a large online class entitled “Renewable Energy and the Environment.” The course draws 400-600 students per semester. Students love the online course format and are surprised by how much they learn through the semester. During the rest of his time David is focused on the development and delivery of another online course. This one is part of a national project focused on teaching Extension Educators and Technical Service Providers about critical issues related to the interface of animal agriculture and an ever-changing

climate.

David's engineering background has allowed him to participate in a wide range of projects in the department. Prior to his focus on teaching (1992 to 2010) David's research and education efforts were on developing and promoting affordable manure handling technologies that protect air and water quality. His air quality research includes the development of a wind tunnel for quantifying air emissions from area sources, quantifying emissions from both building and area sources and dispersion modeling. In addition, he has been instrumental in the development of OFFSET and MinnFARM, simple screening tools to objectively evaluate air and water quality impacts on the environment.

David has also represented the University of Minnesota on several Minnesota Task Forces dealing with manure and animal agriculture issues. During this period, he conducted training workshops on a variety of topics regarding manure handling and air quality for consultants, engineers, livestock producers, regulators, and environmental groups throughout Minnesota.

David owns one solar panel in a community solar array, drives an electric car (Nissan Leaf), and is a little crazy when it comes to home energy saving.

Teaching

Select Publications

  • Kaliyan, N., R.V. Morey, D.R. Schmidt. 2013. Roll press compaction of corn stover and perennieal grasses to increase bulk density. Biomass and Bioenergy. Vol 5 ::322-330. 
  • Kaliyan, N., D.R. Schmidt, R.V. Morey, D.G. Tiffany. 2012. Commercial scale tub grinding of corn stover and perennial grasses. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. Vol 28(1): 79-85.
  • Morey, R.V., N. Kaliyan, D.G. Tiffany, D.R. Schmidt. 2010. A corn stover supply logistics system. Applied Engineering in Agriculture Vol 26(3): 455-461.
  • Heger, S.F. D.R. Schmidt, K.A. Janni. 2010. Aerobic and media filter treatment systems for milk house wastewater on small dairy operations. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. Vol 26(2): 319-327.
  • Zhang, S., L. Cai, J.A. Koziel, S.J. Hoff, D. R. Schmidt, C.J. Clanton, L.D. Jacobson, D. B. Parker, A J. Heber. 2010. Field air sampling and simultaneous chemical and sensory analysis of livestock odorants with sorbent tubes and GC-MS/olfactometry. Sensors and Actuators B: Vo. 146: 427-432
  • Hoff, S.J., J.D. Harmon, L. Chen, K.A. Janni, D.R. Schmidt, R.E. Nicolai, L.D. Jacobson. 2009. Partial biofiltration of exhaust air from a hybrid ventilated deep-pit swine finisher barn. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. Vol 25(2) : 269-280
  • Janni, K.A., S.H. Christopherson, D.R. Schmidt. 2009. Milk House Wastewater flows and characteristics for small dairy operations. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. Vol 25(3) : 417-423
  • Gay, S. W., D. R. Schmidt, C. J. Clanton, K. A. Janni, L. D. Jacobson, and S. Weisberg. 2003. Odor, total reduced sulfur, and ammonia emissions from animal housing facilities and manure storage units in Minnesota. Applied Engineering in Agriculture Vol 19(3):347-360. ASAE, St. Joseph MI. 

Awards

  • 2012 - Richard C. Newman Art of Teaching Award from the University's College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences
  • 2014 - “Innovation in Undergraduate Education” award from the University's College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences