A message from the Department Head
Hua Zhao
In this beautiful Spring season, we celebrate the achievements of 26 BBE and 15 SSM graduates. I hope our graduates and their families enjoyed the departmental receptions prior to each commencement. Congratulations to our Food and Bioproducts Engineering Organization (FaBEO): TAPPI Student Chapter for receiving the 2023-24 Tony Diggs Excellence in Career Readiness Award.
On April 26, our BBE Scholarship Gala raised over $16,500 to support undergraduate scholarships! I am very grateful to everyone who participated in the event. In particular, I want to thank our Maroon sponsor Gevo, Silver sponsor Ohly, and three Bronze sponsors West Rock, Bruce and Tracy Wilson, and Roger and Amy Ruan. We are also thankful to industry sponsors and faculty advisors for supporting BBE and SSM Senior Capstone projects, which were presented on April 24.
Many accomplishments from our faculty deserve some shoutouts. Roger Ruan was inducted into the National Academy of Inventors; Jason Hill was named the Distinguished McKnight University Professor; Zhenong Jin received the prestigious NSF CAREER grant; Jiwei Zhang was awarded with the 2024 Richard C. Newman Art of Teaching Award; adjunct faculty Ping Wang was inducted to the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) College of Fellows; adjunct faculty Dharma Kodali received the 2024 Supelco AOCS Research Award.
I hope you will enjoy reading this Spring issue of BioBriEf, featuring faculty research highlights, student spotlight of Rhiannon Wilson, and the stories of two BBE/SSM alumni Mike Tetzlaff and Bernardo Guarderas.
Have a great summer, everyone!
Hua Zhao, Professor and Head
Student Voices
Ph.D. Candidate Koushik Sampath Awarded Jean E. and Mark T. Schroepfer Fellowship
The Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering Department at the University of Minnesota is proud to announce that Koushik Sampath, a distinguished 4th year Ph.D. candidate, has been awarded the Jean E. and Mark T. Schroepfer Fellowship. This fellowship was established by the Schroepfers to support outstanding Ph.D. candidates in the Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering (BBSEM) graduate program, with a focus on addressing sustainability issues and ensuring the future professional work of the department.
Sampath's research focuses on process intensification towards dehydration and water removal in paper and porous biomaterials, a critical area for advancing sustainable practices in bioproducts engineering. His journey began with an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology in Trichy, South India. Raised in South India, with significant parts of his childhood spent in Nigeria and Tanzania, Sampath cultivated diverse interests in adventure sports, photography, and filmmaking.
“This fellowship goes a long way in assisting my dissertation,” said Sampath. “More than just the financial assistance, the fellowship is a huge validation of my research interests and dissertation project.”
The Jean E. and Mark T. Schroepfer Fellowship is a testament to the Schroepfers' commitment to sustainability and their support for the next generation of leaders in bioproducts and biosystems engineering.
Sampath added, “the fellowship adds significant value to my education profile, representing my goals towards sustainability and environmentally friendly practices, and ensures smooth progress to my dissertation in terms of financial assistance.”
BBE student group FaBEO receives Tony Diggs Award
The annual Tony Diggs Excellence in Career Readiness Award has been awarded to the Food and Bioproducts Engineering Organization (FaBEO) for their exceptional dedication to nurturing career exploration and professional development among undergraduate students. The group is led by BBE Professor Ulrike Tschirner.
FaBEO provides a platform for students to engage in national events and participate in various outreach activities, further enriching their academic experience and preparing them for the professional world ahead.
The Tony Diggs Excellence in Career Readiness Award celebrates the contributions of student organizations in shaping the future leaders of tomorrow and underscores the importance of fostering career development and professional growth within the academic community.
Student Spotlight
Rhiannon Wilson is a Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering major in the Ecological and Environmental Engineering specialization.
Learn about why Rhiannon chose BBE!
BBE Discovery
Gene editing for a sustainable future: Unlocking fungi mysteries for a greener world
Imagine a decarbonized world. In this cleaner, greener place, biomanufacturing is hyper-efficient and circular: All the natural resources used to make products and energy are cycled back into the same system, with no waste.
Getting to net-zero carbon emissions is not an impossible dream. Nature already does this. Right now, scientists at the University of Minnesota are among those using cutting-edge research technology to unlock nature's secrets.
Among the most important questions are these: How does the carbon cycle actually work? And how can we mimic this cycle, to become a carbon-zero society?
Nature uses carbon very efficiently. The most common carbon recyclers are fungi. One group is called wood decomposer fungi. They degrade and recycle the carbons sequestered in trees in a very efficient way. They survive by secreting biocatalysts to deconstruct wood, digesting dissolved molecules as carbon nutrients that in turn, feed new trees and other plants. These fungal processes could show scientists how to efficiently convert biomass to produce goods and energy. Continue reading the full story on fungi research.
Using "leaf glow" to understand changing climate
Listen to Dr. Cheng's interview on MPR's Climate Cast!
New BBE research by Assistant Professor Rui Cheng suggests “leaf glow” provides vital information on vegetation dynamics in Arctic and boreal ecosystems like Minnesota’s forests and wetlands, which are among the fastest warming in the world. Using remote sensing to monitor the natural glow may help scientists better track climate change and its impact on our natural resources.
Leaf glow, formally known as solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF), is a natural byproduct of photosynthesis. This emitted light is invisible to human eyes, but advances in sensing technology over the last decade have enabled scientists to observe this phenomenon from satellites, airplanes and field towers. Continue reading more about leaf glow.
From farms to fuel: Transforming manure into renewable energy
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have long wanted to make something out of the millions of gallons of manure produced on the state’s farms.
Roger Ruan and a team of researchers have identified a process that does exactly that. It clears out certain harmful minerals from manure and preserves the ones that will be beneficial — in a way that can potentially benefit farmers and the economy.
The process relies on microbes that digest organic material to produce nitrogen fertilizer and methane gas. It also uses microalgae that extracts nutrients from the manure, which can then be used to produce animal feed and biofuels. The last step involves applying mineral solutions to wastewater to extract pollutants before it is released into the environment. Continue reading more on renewable energy.
Alumni Spotlight
Mike Tetzlaff
Bachelor of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering
Tetzlaff is now working in Amsterdam, Netherlands!
Awards & Honors
Professor Jason Hill receives Distinguished McKnight University Professorship Award
The purpose of the Distinguished McKnight University Professorship program is to honor and reward the most distinguished and highest-achieving mid-career faculty who have recently attained full professor status—especially those who have made significant advances in their careers at the University of Minnesota, whose work and reputation are identified with the University, and whose accomplishments have brought great renown and prestige to Minnesota.
While distinction in individual research, scholarly, or creative work is required, the award may also recognize leadership within research teams and collaborative or interdisciplinary efforts.This program is administered by the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost.
Dr. Hill seeks to understand the environmental impacts of our food and energy systems, and to find ways of making them more sustainable. He takes a life cycle perspective in exploring effects on climate change and air quality in the United States and globally. His work on these topics—and on biofuels, greenhouse gas accounting, and environmental justice—have been used to inform consumers and policymakers on how to move toward a more sustainable future.
Assistant Professor Jiwei Zhang receives 2024 Richard C. Newman Art of Teaching award
Congratulations to Assistant Professor Jiwei Zhang for receiving the The Richard C. Newman Art of Teaching Award! The Art of Teaching Award is presented annually to a faculty member who displays passion for teaching in the natural resource sciences; achieving excellence and making a positive impact on students.
Professor Zhang teaches two courses for BBE, including Environmental & Industrial Microbiology and Biodegradation of Bioproducts. Professor Zhang's research focuses on understanding the basic molecular mechanisms of plant biomass degradation in microbes, including fungi and bacteria.
Adjunct Professor Ping Wang inducted into AIMBE College of Fellows
Dr. Ping Wang, an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, has been honored with induction into the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) College of Fellows on March 25, 2024. This esteemed recognition places Dr. Wang among the top two percent of engineers in medical and biological fields, highlighting his exceptional contributions to research, education, and innovation.
Dr. Wang's induction was celebrated during the recent AIMBE Annual Event at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel in Arlington, Virginia, where he joined 162 colleagues in the Class of 2024. The induction ceremony acknowledged his groundbreaking work in the cross-disciplinary realms of biological engineering and material science, as well as his leadership in bioengineering education.
Adjunct Professor Dharma Kodali receives 2024 Supelco AOCS Research Award
The Supelco AOCS Research Award recognizes outstanding, original research in fats, oils, lipid chemistry or biochemistry.
Professor Dharma R. Kodali is a world-recognized expert in lipids and new product development and has 44 years of research experience in academia and industry.
He is currently an Adjunct Professor in Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering at the University of Minnesota. Previously, he was a professor at University of Minnesota and at Boston University studying the fundamental aspects of structurally defined lipids synthesis, molecular packing, properties and their influence on metabolism and development of value-added products. His industrial experience includes working as Principal Scientist and Manager at Cargill and as a Senior Principal Scientist at General Mills, developing several new products from concept to commercialization. His primary areas of research continue to be developing value-added products from fats, oils and agricultural materials for food and industrial applications.
Leigh Henning receives Early Career Alumni Award
After graduating in May 2012, Leigh Henning accepted a position with G&K Services where she worked on projects focused on water reduction, wastewater compliance and improved process in wastewater pretreatment systems.
After receiving her professional engineering license in 2016 she accepted a position as project manager with TKDA where she continued working on water/wastewater related projects. She is currently working for Stantec as a Water/Wastewater Project Engineer where she serves as lead process engineer and project manager on several multidisciplinary projects.
She has also stayed very connected to the BBE department, participating in numerous recruitment events, sharing her perspectives with the orientation class and speaking for the scholarship banquet. She was recently elected to the BBE Advisory council where she has taken a co-chair position with the recruitment and retention committee.
Sonia Massel Jacobsen receives Distinguished Alumni Award
She is an exceptional leader and valuable mentor to our graduates. Her commitment to the development of high-quality engineers is remarkable. She is greatly respected in Minnesota and across the nation for her knowledge and insight into projects designed to protect our soil and water resources.
She worked on topics ranging from the impact of agricultural drainage on flooding to the use of soil bioengineering methods to stabilization of natural streams. She has authored two technical releases on the design and installation of measures to protect shorelines and streams. Her work has resulted in 15 papers published in conference proceedings. She was selected as a Fellow of ASABE in 2008, their highest honor dominated by successful researchers.
Sonia comes from a family of engineers, including her husband, children, and now a grandchild who prefers playing with puzzles over stuffed animals.
Upcoming Events & Announcements
Participate in the U of M Golf outing (hybrid event) (June 1-13) sponsored by the Lake States TAPPI and PIMA.
All proceeds will go towards undergraduate STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS. We need your help in making this event successful for our students.
Please pass this along to your friends and colleagues and encourage them to attend.
You are also invited to join us at the reception & awards on Thursday, June 13th, at 4:00 pm at Insight Brewing, 2821 E Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55413.
We hope to see you there!
How to Register
Menasha, WI 54952
920-419-4222
[email protected]
If you have any questions about sponsoring or attending this event please reach out: Hannah Peterson ([email protected]) or Shri Ramaswamy ([email protected])
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.