A message from the Department Head
Happy Spring!
Since the semester started, the department has been quite busy with searches for three tenure-track faculty positions, and I am very much looking forward to having three energetic faculty joining us this Fall.
After years of dedicated service to the department, Susan Seltz and Sue Olsen retired this academic year; congratulations to both!
In this issue of the BioBriEf, you will read the story of soy-based industrial adhesives (“Sustainability that sticks”) from Dr. Steve Severtson’s research group, and the CBS News story on Dr. Chris Lenhart’s peatland restoration. Three students are featured for interests in creating a sustainable future: Cameron Borner’s passion in forest products and paper innovation, Dian Rei Castro’s research experience with biodiesel and biosurfactants, and Wyatt Ellinger’s summer internships with JE Dunn Construction. For our student spotlights, SSM student Danielle Jakob and BBE student Juliana Gudmundson talked about their experiences with our programs.
Congratulations to BBSEM student Jon Schroeder for receiving the Young Professional of the Year Award with SWANA (Solid Waste Association of North America)! Also, kudos to BBE and SSM alumni for creating short videos on YouTube to help spread the word about our wonderful programs. Please be sure to check them out!
I invite you to join us for the BBE Scholarship Gala on April 23 on the Minneapolis campus (Campus Club in Coffman Memorial Union) to support our students.
Since Rachel Kraft Mattson will be on maternity leave for several months, there will be no summer newsletter this year! Congratulations to Rachel on the new baby!
Hua Zhao, Professor and Head
Student Voices
BBE senior Cameron Borner aims to cut microplastic consumption through paper innovation
When most high school students think about the future, they’re focused on college applications or campus life. For Brooklyn Park native Cameron Borner, now a senior at the University of Minnesota, the focus was sustainable packaging. In high school, he explored everything from emerging bioplastics to traditional paper products, drawn to the idea of reducing plastic waste. While bioplastics initially caught his attention, paper stood out for its stability, versatility, and widespread cultural acceptance. His interest only deepened once he was introduced to the pulp and paper industry in college. Continue reading about Cameron's journey in BBE.
BBE senior Dian Castro engineers a sustainable future in the lab
For senior Dian Castro, the path to Bioproducts Engineering began with a simple desire to combine a love for biology with a commitment to the environment. Now, as Spring 2026 graduation approaches, Dian’s work is proving that the future of sustainability is engineered in the lab.
"Back in high school, I knew I wanted to do something related to research, biology, and the environment," Dian said. "I found BBE to align perfectly with these interests, especially with its pursuit of developing sustainable products and practices." Continue reading about Dian's experience in the lab.
SSM senior Wyatt Ellinger unlocks sustainable business opportunities through data analysis
Wyatt Ellinger’s journey began at a university in Arizona, where a major titled "Business Sustainability" first caught his eye. While he knew he wanted a business degree, the traditional paths felt incomplete.
"The idea of combining business with creating a positive impact in the world really resonated with me," Wyatt says.
After three semesters in Tempe, a series of visits to friends at the University of Minnesota sparked a new vision. He discovered that the Sustainable Systems Management (SSM) program offered the perfect blend of his two primary interests: the fast-paced world of commerce and the grounded reality of science. Continue reading about Wyatt's experience.
Turning classroom learning into real-world experience
Capstone projects allow students to gain real-world experience, solve real-world issues, put theory into practice, build confidence and gain exposure to potential employers before graduation.
Josh Schleif, a process engineer at Tetra Pak and CSE alum who graduated in spring 2025, worked alongside a group of students on a capstone project within their senior course under a sponsor from a pea production protein company, PURIS.
“The goal was to make a design for reusing water at a food processing plant, [within pea protein production],” Schleif said. The production of pea protein creates a byproduct called a slurry, which holds reusable water but requires proper filtration and sterilization. Continue reading about the Puris capstone project.
Student Spotlight
Danielle Jakob is a Sustainable Systems Management major in the Sustainable Products Business Management specialization.
Learn about why Danielle chose SSM!
Juliana Gudmundson is a Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering major in the Bioproducts Engineering specialization.
Learn about why Juliana chose BBE!
Alumni Spotlight
Share your BBE/SSM story!
We are seeking your story! Help showcase the impact of the BBE or SSM program and give prospective students insight into the people, careers, and real-world work connected to the department! View our video guidelines and share your story today!
BBE News
Sustainability that sticks
At the University of Minnesota, researchers are re-imagining soybeans as a source of advanced, sustainable materials — not just food. But getting companies to make the leap to a more sustainable product can be a sticking point.
The Severtson Lab, based in the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering (BBE), knows a thing or two about "sticking" to sustainability. They are developing soy-based industrial adhesives made from polymer building blocks that can directly integrate into existing manufacturing platforms. These soy-derived components are designed as drop-in substitutes for petroleum-derived ingredients commonly used today. These materials can be used to manufacture a wide range of products, including adhesives, sealants, and glues for packaging, construction, and consumer products. Continue reading about soy-based industrial adhesives.
BBE researchers work to protect Minnesota peatlands
Helping to lead the effort and to better understand and restore these ecosystems is Chris Lenhart, a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering (BBE). Lenhart and his team are working to re-meander straightened streams and rewet drained soils, transforming these areas into vital hubs of climate resilience. This essential research was recently featured in a CBS News report. Watch their full video coverage of these restoration efforts.
Awards & Honors
BBSEM graduate student honored with 2026 SWANA (Solid Waste Association of North America) Young Professional of the Year Award
Please join us in extending a congratulations to Jon Schroeder, a graduate student in our BBSEM program and Sustainable Materials Management Specialist at MnTAP.
Jon was recently honored with the prestigious 2026 SWANA (Solid Waste Association of North America) Young Professional of the Year Award.
"Jon’s work has made a meaningful impact in advancing practical, sustainability-focused solutions in solid waste and materials management." — Professor Roger Ruan, Advisor and Nominator
Upcoming Events & Announcements
You are invited to attend our Scholarship Gala event Thursday, April 23rd!
A reason to celebrate:
As our Department turns 20 this year, our goal is to raise $20,000 for student scholarships!
To help us achieve our goal of raising $20,000 for student scholarships, we welcome our industry donors, corporate foundations, families, and individuals to pledge different levels of sponsorship to the scholarship gala fund.
Individual tickets are $200 per plate ($134 tax deductible)
One ticket to the event will include admission, a plated dinner, two drink tickets, and parking for the event.
Space is limited! Register by April 16th
Nominate a BBE alumnus for our Distinguished & Early Alumni Awards
The Department is now accepting nominations for the Distinguished Alumni Award and the Early Career Alumni Award—two honors that celebrate outstanding alumni making an impact in their fields.
- Distinguished Alumni Award – Recognizes a BBE graduate who has achieved professional distinction in industries, academia, government, or non-profits. Eligible nominees must have earned their degree through BBE or its predecessor departments.
- Early Career Alumni Award – Honors an emerging leader in Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering or Sustainable Systems Management who has demonstrated excellence in research, education, policy, or management. Eligible nominees must have graduated within the past 10 years.
Submit your nomination by Thursday, March 19, 2026. Awardees will be honored at the BBE Scholarship Gala on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
BBE hosting 2026 ASABE North Central Intersectional Conference
Join us on April 9th and 10th for the 2026 ASABE North Central Intersectional Conference, hosted by the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering at the University of Minnesota.
This event is designed to showcase advancements, foster collaboration, and celebrate innovation within our community.
View the full schedule, conference details and register here!
Interested in supporting BBE?
Give to our BBE student scholarships today
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.