A message from the Department Head
Gary R. Sands
We are excited to welcome you back to the BioBriEf! We hope this issue finds you all well and full of anticipation of the coming sunrise from the darkness of the Covid-19 pandemic.
2020 and 2021 have been years like no other, and have offered us many challenges and also many opportunities for growth. BBE faculty, staff, and students put in heroic efforts to teach, learn, and discover, to advance our academic mission.
Student Voices
A Year of Remote Learning
With a global pandemic creating challenges for in-classroom learning, students in BBE had to adjust to a schedule of mostly online classes and limited lab time. We talked with three students about their college experience over the last year.
BBE Discovery
Faculty Making News
Faculty member, Dr. Jason Hill's study found nearly 18,000 Americans die each year from air pollution caused by food production. Continue reading the full story here.
Faculty member, Dr. Bo Hu and his team work to develop a more cost effective and efficient way of recovering phosphorus from farm water runoff. Continue reading the full story here.
Faculty member, Dr. Abdennour Abbas and his team create face masks that inactivate viruses as soon as they make contact with the material.
Q&A: A Glance Into Graduate Research
Investigating fungi and bacteria for lignin degradation
Nandini Singh, a graduate research assistant, is working towards developing a domesticated stable microbial consortium to accelerate the degradation of lignin.
Novel approach to upcycle waste plastics for reuse
Leilei Dai, a PhD research assistant, is developing a more sustainable approach to recycling plastic, with focus on converting plastics to high quality naphtha.
Announcements & Awards
Spring Commencement 2021
BBE Student recipient of the President's Student Leadership & Service Award and the Donald R. Zander Alumni Award for Outstanding Student Leadership
The President’s Student Leadership & Service Award recognizes the accomplishments and contributions of outstanding student leaders at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. It is presented to students for their exceptional leadership and service to the University of Minnesota and the surrounding community. The Zander Alumni Award is awarded to four undergraduate students, honoring their exceptional academic achievement, personal character, and outstanding leadership and service to the University of Minnesota. Candidates for the Zander Alumni Award must demonstrate compassion for others and a high degree of personal integrity.
Dr. Jiayu Li joined our department last fall!
Dr. Li is an Assistant Professor of Robotics, Sensors, and Manufacturing in Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Management.
2020-21 Faculty Promotions
Upcoming Event
BBE Golf Outing June 11th-17th, 2021 | Hybrid Event:
Sponsored by Lake States TAPPI
BBE will be hosting a hybrid golf event. Play at any course of your choice (before June 17th), or play at the U of M Les Bolstad Golf Course on June 17th (tee times between 12-1 pm). Register for the event by June 4th! Find the full details here.
Thank You Donors!
Thank you to our donors for providing continued support to our department. Student scholarships would not be possible without the generosity of all our donors, and we are deeply grateful for the continued support. Thank you, all!