The Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering is pleased to announce the promotion of four faculty members in fall 2025. These promotions recognize their achievements, dedication to teaching, and service to the Department, University and the broader community.
Omar Espinoza, promoted to Professor
Omar Espinoza is an endowed chair of the Forest Products Management Development Institute. His education includes a BS in Industrial Engineering, an MBA in International Business, and MS and PhD degrees in Wood Science and Forest Products. He recently completed a certificate in Data Visualization and Analytics at the U. Omar worked for seven years in the wood products industry, managing manufacturing and exporting operations, before moving to the U.S. to pursue graduate studies. His research interests are in forest products marketing and management, mass timber, wood modification, urban and reclaimed wood utilization, and circular economy. He teaches courses in sustainable manufacturing, product development and management, and marketing of biobased products.
Jiwei Zhang, promoted to Associate Professor
Jiwei Zhang has a PhD degree in Microbiology obtained from the State Key Laboratory at Shandong University, China, and he is currently leading a biodegradation lab at the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering at the University of Minnesota. His research focuses on using genetic and systems biology tools to understand and utilize the biodegradation mechanism of fungal species for making renewable bioproducts and developing bioremedial technologies. Since joining the BBE department, he has been leading 17 research projects ($2.5M) supported by the U.S.-DOE, USDA, Minnesota government, and the University of Minnesota, and his groups have published 16 peer-reviewed papers, including that on Applied and Environmental Microbiology, mBio, Microbiology Spectrum, and Fungal Genetics and Biology. He is currently an Associate Editor of “Current Research in Microbial Sciences.”
Rebecca Forman, promoted to Associate Teaching Professor
Rebecca Forman is an instructor with the Erosion and Stormwater Management Certification Program. The Erosion Program offers in-person and online trainings for engineers, contractors, and other professionals on topics relating to erosion prevention, stormwater management technology, and their associated regulations. Rebecca is interested in the impacts construction and industrial stormwater have on aquatic systems, and seeks novel ways to minimize turbid or contaminated runoff from leaving these sites. She is also interested in understanding the best ways to convey information to non-traditional students in order to maximize the retention of material from the program's courses.
Natalie Hunt, promoted to Associate Teaching Professor
Natalie Hunt's research involves modeling environmental impacts of conventional and alternative agricultural systems, and her teaching explores sustainable food systems, artificial intelligence, digital agriculture, natural resources consumption, and sustainable systems management; all with an emphasis on quantitative and sustainability literacy. Outside the classroom, she enjoys spending time with her family, biking, swimming, gardening, and cooking.