A message from the Department Head
I hope you’ve enjoyed the beautiful season transition. In this edition of BioBriEf Newsletter, I am happy to share some exciting stories from our students and faculty.
Thank you, all advisory council members, donors, students, faculty and staff, for participating in our BBE Showcase on October 23. We welcomed over 30 alumni, donors and friends to various events that day. Fourteen (14) companies/organizations attended our BBE Career Fair, along with CSE and CFANS Career Services. I thank them for supporting our students in exploring internship, co-op, and job opportunities.
We welcome our new Assistant Professor, Dr. Xiaowen Chen, to our department. He specializes in biomass conversion, biomaterial development, and techno-economic analysis. Professor Roger Ruan was officially inducted into the National Academy of Engineering this October. Professor Erin Cortus received the Distinguished Extension Faculty Award at the annual Extension Conference. Congratulations, Roger and Erin! In addition, kudos to Dr. Lang Qiao, a postdoctoral researcher who works in Professor Ce Yang’s robotics lab, for receiving the UMN Postdoc Impactful Research Award.
Continue reading Professor Zhao's full message.
Hua Zhao, Professor and Head
Student Voices
BBE student Lila Branchaw takes her research to the national stage
When senior Lila Branchaw walked into her first physics class at the University of Minnesota, she never imagined she’d be presenting her research to a national audience of scientists. But thanks to her experiences in the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering (BBE), Lila has become a standout student voice in renewable materials research and science communication.
This summer, Lila competed in the 2025 ORISE Ignite Off! Competition hosted by Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, a fast-paced challenge where researchers deliver a five-minute talk with slides automatically advancing every 15 seconds. Out of a highly competitive field of undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs, Lila earned second place overall. She also advanced as a semifinalist in the Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS) Ignite Off! Competition, which features top undergraduate student researchers from Department of Energy labs across the country. Continue reading about Lila's experience.
SSM student Ella Griffin explores energy, undergraduate research and sustainability
Ella Griffin is currently working toward an undergraduate degree in Sustainable Systems Management, specializing in the Energy Systems track.
Although originally from a suburb of Madison, Wisconsin, Ella made the decision to attend the University of Minnesota, despite her strong family ties to the University of Wisconsin.
“When we moved back to Madison (from Milwaukee), my parents showed my sister and I everything they loved about going to college there, like State Street and going to the farmer's market,” Ella recalled. “I felt like it wouldn't be a new experience.”
Choosing to attend college in the Twin Cities was more than just a change of scenery, it was an opportunity to gain meaningful experiences and connect with new people. “I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and meet new people, so I went to school here,” she said. Continue reading about Ella in SSM.
Student Spotlight
Ness Carda is a Sustainable Systems Management major in the Sustainable Products Business Managementspecialization.
Learn about why Ness chose SSM!
Edie Bollenbach is a Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering major in the Environmental and Ecological Engineering specialization.
Learn about why Edie chose BBE!
BBE News
Professor Ruan reflects on four decades of turning waste into opportunity
For more than four decades Professor Ruan has dedicated his career to transforming waste into resources and challenges into opportunities. In this conversation with the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS), he reflects on invention as a deeply human endeavor, the evolving role of engineering in sustainability, and the power of curiosity and purpose to shape a better world. Continue reading the full Q&A with Professor Ruan.
BBE welcomes Dr. Xiaowen Chen, Assistant Professor in biomass conversion, biomaterial development, techno-economic analysis
Learn about his research goals, teaching philosophy, and motivation—from wanting to be a leader in biomss conversion and renewable energy, to preserving his ski seasons from our changing climate. Read the full interview with Professor Chen.
SSM alumna fuels energy efficiency in Minnesota
For Alice Lesch, a 2023 graduate of the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering's Sustainable Systems Management (SSM) program, the foundation for her career was laid during childhood camping trips: "I was always taught to leave a place better than how you found it."
Lesch, who focused on the Corporate Track within the SSM major, is now a program coordinator at Frontier Energy, a private consulting firm specializing in energy and sustainability.
Lesch initially came to the University of Minnesota undecided on a major but found her direction after taking a course for the sustainability minor. The combination of resource preservation and improving the global quality of life resonated with her.
She credits a conversation with Professor Tim Smith, a faculty member in the department, for helping her see how she could turn her passion into a profession.
"I was hooked on SSM!" she said. Continue reading about Alice's journey after graduation.
Awards & Honors
Professor Roger Ruan inducted into National Academy of Engineering (NAE)
Earlier this year, Professor Roger Ruan was elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). On October 5, he was formally inducted at the NAE’s Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Ruan is widely recognized for his research in biomass and solid waste conversion, including plastic waste pyrolysis and gasification for the production of chemicals, materials, fuels, and energy. His work extends to innovative wastewater treatment solutions, airborne pathogen disinfection, catalytic non-thermal plasma, microwave and photocatalytic technologies, and food engineering advancements.
His research has resulted in significant contributions to engineering knowledge, with over 43,000 citations, an h-index of 106, and an i10-index of 531. Dr. Ruan is also a Fellow of National Academy of Inventors (Class of 2023), and a Fellow of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) and the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).
Read the original story published in February 2025.
Associate Professor Erin Cortus receives Distinguished Extension Faculty Award
This September, Associate Professor and Extension Engineer Erin Cortus received the Distinguished Extension Faculty Award, recognizing her outstanding contributions to Minnesota’s agricultural community through research, outreach, and engagement.
Cortus’s path to the University of Minnesota began at the University of Saskatchewan, where she discovered her passion for applying engineering principles to living systems. Read more about Professor Cortus's career.
BBE researcher receives UMN Postdoc Impactful Research Award
Dr. Lang Qiao, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering (BBE), has been named a recipient of the 2025 UMN Postdoc Impactful Research Award. The honor recognizes postdoctoral scholars whose work demonstrates innovation, creativity and potential for real-world impact.
Qiao joined the University of Minnesota in 2024, where he works in Professor Ce Yang’s Agricultural Robotics Lab. His research integrates artificial intelligence with spectral and hyperspectral imaging to tackle pressing challenges in agriculture, from animal welfare to sustainable crop management.
One of his current projects focuses on developing an AI-based hyperspectral imaging system to detect the gender and fertility of chicken eggs prior to incubation. Read more about Dr. Qiao's research.
The Erosion and Stormwater Management Certification Program is busy lining up speakers and content for the annual Upper Midwest Stream Restoration Symposium (UMSRS) that will take place February 22-25, 2026 in La Crosse, WI. There will be a short course on Sunday afternoon followed by 2.5 days of speakers. The symposium is unique in that there are no break out sessions - everyone hears the same content. Registration is open and we are still accepting abstracts for poster presentations. Click here for more information about the symposium.
Upcoming Events & Announcements
Thank you to all who participated in our annual BBE Showcase on October 23!
The department hosted its annual showcase event on October 23, 2025, bringing together students, donors, alumni and industry partners to celebrate achievements and discuss department initiatives.
We held our annual scholarship luncheon, proudly honoring our student scholarship recipients and extending sincere thanks to our generous donors for their continued support.
Advisory Council members and the board also met to discuss departmental strategy and to meet with CFANS Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs, Milena Saqui-Salces.
The showcase concluded with a poster session, highlighting the innovative research of our students, faculty and researchers, and a bustling career fair that connected students with over 14 companies in attendance.
Thank you to all who participated! You all helped make the 2025 Showcase a success.
BBE welcomes new staff member Liz Buhmann
Liz Buhmann joined the department on November 24, 2025, and will be supporting our recruitment and outreach efforts. She previously served as the Director of Events and Outreach at the Minnesota Academy of Science, where she led educational and scientific events, managed statewide partnerships, and directed the Minnesota State Science and Engineering Fair. We are excited to welcome her to our department!
Support FaBEO's 2026 TAPPI Student Summit goal!
The FaBEO (Food and Bioproducts Engineering Organization) TAPPI Student Chapter is working hard to ensure equitable access to professional development for all their members!
This year, 18 students are eager to attend the invaluable TAPPI Student Summit in Birmingham, Alabama, cost-free. However, due to increased travel expenses, FaBEO is currently short of its $15,000 fundraising goal to cover attendance costs. Attending the Summit provides essential technical knowledge and career connections that students describe as an invaluable experience.
Here are two ways you can help FaBEO reach their goal:
- Wednesday, December 10th,
- 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- 25% of the proceeds will go directly toward the Student Summit fund
- This includes online orders for pickup!
Your support helps provide these aspiring engineers with a cost-free, career-defining opportunity. Please consider contributing today!
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Planned giving with the University
Planned gifts enable donors to accomplish their charitable and other goals by using estate or tax planning techniques to provide for charity and heirs in a way that maximizes the gift and minimizes taxes. Donors can make a planned gift by including the University in their will or trust, or by designating the U as a beneficiary of their retirement plan, life insurance policy, or other account. Some planned gifts can provide income to the donors or to others. Planned gifts can also be outright — when a donor makes a gift of real estate, tangible personal property, or other non-cash assets.