Biochemical | Biomedical | Environmental
Agricultural/Natural Resources | Computer Systems
Sensors and Instrumentation
Biochemical
Biochemical engineers develop new technologies involving the analysis and design of systems and processes using enzymes and microorganisms. The program allows students the ability to manipulate biochemical processes resulting in the creation of new products that have value in our society. Students participate in research using bioremediation, bioconversion, fermentation and metabolic engineering. By using their broad knowledge of biological interactions - whether it is at the gene expression or ecosystem level - graduates have found employment in diverse biobased products and pharmaceutical industries.
Biomedical
Biomedical engineering is the discipline of engineering that integrates physical, chemical, or mathematical sciences and engineering principles for the study of biology, medicine, behavior, or health. It advances fundamental concepts, created knowledge from the molecular to the organ systems levels; and develops innovative biologics, materials, processes, implants, devices, and informatics approaches for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, for patient rehabilitation, and for improving health. Bioengineering prepares students for seeking a career in medical product industry, biotechnology industry, independent or federal research laboratories, or entering into a medical school, business school, or law school.
Environmental
For engineers who care about the environment, study in environmental systems allows them the capacity to change systems drastically based on the needs of mankind while understanding and implementing appropriate changes requiring environmentally sustainable engineering approaches. A significant new branch of environmental engineering is that of Ecological Engineering, which is evolving as an engineering discipline within the environmental area. Many graduates find environmental systems engineering provides skills to address water quality management with water resource models, including strategies for erosion control and management of waste materials. Understanding environmental systems offers an opportunity for engineers seeking employment with state agencies and engineering consulting firms to design and evaluate approaches minimizing human impacts on the environment.
Agricultural and Natural Resources
Engineers in bioresource systems help produce and process high-quality, safe food and fiber products. Though these engineers have an understanding of agricultural products from the field to market, specialized skills optimize the methods used to grow and package our food. Some of these technologies include magnetic resonance and x-rays for sensing quality factors such as moisture content and internal quality defects in grains, seeds, or vegetables, and yield monitoring and mapping to increase economic efficiency, harvest timing, and reduce environmental impacts. An understanding of these technologies provide graduate students with ability to use their expertise in food safety, microbiology, and engineering to find solutions and provide high quality, safe, nutritious, and economic foods. Graduates with an education in bioresource systems are sought after by other research institutions as well as equipment and instrument manufacturing companies.
Computer Systems
The goal of the information or computer systems engineering is to learn the science of representing numerically, symbolically and graphically the information about processes and behaviors of complex systems and to use systems thinking for applying it in the design of intelligent decisions support and control systems. Decision support applications are usually positioned at discipline interfaces and thus can be incorporated into all the engineering programs of study and engineering-related disciplines.
Sensors and Instrumentation
In today's industries, engineers with an advanced understanding of sensors and instrumentation find a wider range of opportunities because the skills are applicable in nearly every field of engineering. Students study instrumentation and sensors to measure the electrostatic properties and its effects on natural processes. An understanding of instrumentation and knowledge of current research provides engineers the expertise to design controlled environments, process control systems, and assess air quality. The program currently enables students to evaluate novel approaches in instrumentation and techniques for assessing air quality for animal production systems and human health. Graduates use instrumentation skills to enable graduates to take position with federal or private research facilities.
