Fall 2019
In This Issue
MSU BAE researchers take "innovation and going green" seriously:
  • Food: Innovative genetics, processing can add value and increase consumer demand for organic dry beans
  • Environment: Supporting water utilities in identifying methods for conserving resources, generating renewable energy
  • Energy: Revolutionary process captures CO2 to grow algae, convert it into value-added chemicals and fuels
  • Health: Stopping pathogens from growing in the pipe: Reducing health risks associated with drinking water
  • Select Awards: One-on-one with Dr. A. Pouyan Nejadhashemi, one of four new MSU Foundation Professors
From the Chair's Chair
I hope everyone had a great summer 2019. Farrall Hall was buzzing with faculty members and students working on their research and extension projects.  Farrall Hall also received a few facelifts, as well: the graduate student areas in the “basement” got a coat of paint, some A/C, and cleaned desks; the room 208 “conference room” got a complete “makeover”, and several faculty offices got A/C, too! Hopefully, this will help improve BAE things a bit. 
As always, in this issue you will see highlights of our students and staff and faculty members. Several faculty members and students attended the ASABE meeting in Boston, several others attended the IAFP in Louisville, and still others attended various professional meetings over the summer – and we always seem to pick up awards at these meetings! You will see a list of these awards elsewhere in this issue.

In our front office, Jamie Lynn Marks was appointed to a position on her Union Board and was also selected to represent the union during negotiations with MSU.

Two of our faculty members, Drs. Wei Liao and Pouyan Nejadhashemi, were promoted to the rank of Professor. Dr. Nejadhashemi was also named an MSU Foundation Professor. The recognition of MSU Foundation Professors is made to individuals who combine externally recognized, exemplary scholarly accomplishment and/or potential with clear professional relevance to specific areas of MSU scholarly need, disciplinary development, or research or creative emphasis. Dr. Nejadhashemi is the epitome of a top scholar in his field. 

We also had the first (in a long while) BAE Retreat Day, as part of visiting the MSU Bioeconomy Institute in Holland, Mich. We had a good day focused on defining the future of BAE. Our Strategic Planning committee also got good feedback from the faculty and staff and will be finalizing our strategic plan this fall.   

You might recall that Katie Church (BE ’09), Phil Hill, Jon Althouse, and I have been involved in helping to design the “first ever” mobile food processing laboratory. The trailer is now in production mode with Featherlite Trailers ( https://www.fthr.com/ ). Below are some recent photos of the progress. It will be on campus at MSU by the end of the year -- pretty cool! 
Mobile food processing laboratory assembly
So far during the fall 2019 things have been fast and furious. Some GREAT news --- with the help of both the Colleges of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Engineering, we will be getting two new faculty positions ! We will be able to provide more details on these positions as we move them forward later this fall and spring.

Thanks to all the alumni who stopped by the BAE booth at the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources AutumnFest Saturday, November 9. We highlighted Drs. Liao and Liu's power plant algae work and hosted a BAE “cornhole” competition between current students and alumni. A fun time was had by all! 

Proceeds from our BAE Store  at  www.egr.msu.edu/bae/baestore go towards supporting our BAE students and their activities -- so shop early and often! Also, if you have ideas for other things that we can include in our store, let us know.

So, what have you, our alumni, been up to? We would like to include you and your story in our “What’s Up with our Alums…Alumni News ” section in future e-newsletters, so drop us a line and let us know what you have been up to lately.

Please stop by Farrall Hall, or invite me to visit you, so that I can learn about you, your BAE past, present, and future.

Thank you for all you do out there to increase the Brand of BAE; it is YOUR EFFORTS as our fabulous alumni who increase our  stock price!!!


Thanks for the opportunity to serve,
Darrell W. Donahue

Professor and Chair

GO GREEN!
Innovative genetics, processing can add value and increase consumer demand for organic dry beans
Michigan State University researchers are teaming up to enhance the commercial viability and sustainability of organic dry bean production through a combination of improved plant genetics and flexible, environmentally friendly-designed packaging.  ( Read more .)
Supporting water utilities in identifying methods for conserving resources, generating renewable energy
A systematic approach contrived from original protocol developed by a Michigan State University (MSU) Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering (BAE) research group more than a decade ago is supporting the creation of a 20-year biosolids master plan for the City of Detroit’s Water Resource Recovery Facility and helping the City manage its biosolids safely, economically, and sustainably. It also symbolizes the evolving partnership between the MSU Department of BAE, the City of Detroit and its surrounding communities through the Great Lakes Water Authority, and private industry. ( Read more. )
Revolutionary process captures CO 2 to grow algae, convert it into value-added chemicals and fuels
An integrated system approach developed by Michigan State University Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering researchers helps industry conquer its biggest challenge for using algae to reduce carbon emissions generated by power plants and convert it into value-added chemicals and fuels. Another benefit? It will be key in developing next-generation technology for addressing such global challenges as renewable energy, climate change, and sustainability. ( Read more. )
Stopping pathogens from growing in the pipe: Reducing health risks associated with drinking water
A project being conducted by Michigan State University Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering researchers aims to determine how building design, plumbing construction materials, and water usage affect the growth of pathogens in drinking water. Results of this research will aid in developing a decision-making tool for regulators, municipalities, and building designers.     ( Read more. )
Select 2019 Faculty & Student Awards
Kudos all around: BAE faculty members and students recognized with prestigious honors. Dr. Amirpouyan (A. Pouyan) Nejadhashemi was recently named one of four new Michigan State University Foundation Professors. Hear from Dr. Nejadhashemi in his own words what it means to be selected as a Foundation Professor and about some of his most memorable career experiences.

  • One-on-one with Dr. A. Pouyan Nejadhashemi, one of four new MSU Foundation Professors
  • Tenure and Promotion
  • Dr. Steven Safferman - 2019 MSU Honors College Award for Distinguished Contributions to Honors Students
  • Mr. Phil Hill receives 2019 Honorary American FFA Degree
  • MSU Biosystems Engineering Students Win Awards at International Food Safety Meeting

Congratulations to 59 BE graduates from Fall Term 2018 through Summer Term 2019! Congratulations to our 2019/20 Freshmen Scholarship Recipients.  ( Read more. )
Alumni are the heart of any program. Three BAE alumni -- Scott Piggott, BS '98, MS '10 Biosystems Engineering, Scott Millsap, MS '02 Biosystems Engineering, and Bridget Bednark, BS '12 Biosystems Engineering -- were honored for their accomplishments in 2019.  ( Read more. )
Meet the 2019-20 Industry Advisory Board and Industry Evaluators for senior design projects.  ( Read more. )
  • Dr. Bradley Marks discusses MSU's AgBioResearch with Guy Gordon 
  • Join the MSU Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering LinkedIn Alumni, Faculty, and Student group
  • News from Michigan Section ASABE (James Bosserd - Chair)
  • Dr. Robert "Bob" H. Wilkinson died May 4, 2019
  • Dr. Bernard "Bernie" R. Tennes died August 25, 2019

Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering  
524 S. Shaw Lane 
216 Farrall Hall 
Michigan State University 
East Lansing, MI 48824 
(517) 355-4720