Dr. Sanghyup Jeong, PE
Assoc. Professor
Biosystems &
Agricultural Engineering
Dr. Luke Reese
Assoc. Professor
Biosystems &
Agricultural Engineering
About the Program
Graduates of the MSU Biosystems Engineering (BE) undergraduate program are expected to succeed in diverse careers where they integrate and apply principles of engineering and biology to a wide variety of globally important problems. MSU Biosystems Engineering graduates are expected to attain that success by:
- identifying and solving problems at the interface of biology and engineering, using modern engineering techniques and the systems approach,
- analyzing, designing, and controlling components, systems, and processes that involve critical biological components,
- demonstrating vision, adaptability, creativity, a practical mindset, effective communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences, the ability to work in diverse, cross-disciplinary teams, and a commitment to sustainability, continuing professional growth, and ethical conduct, and
- working inclusively and equitably in diverse, cross-disciplinary environments towards sustainable solutions.
BE 485/ BE 487 Courses
Biosystems Engineering student teams, enrolled in the two-semester biosystems design capstone experience, BE 485/487, develop, evaluate, and select design alternatives to solve real-world problems. Projects are diverse, but each reflects systems thinking by integrating interconnected issues affecting the problem, including critical biological constraints. The engineering design process is documented in a detailed technical report. Teams present project designs to engineering faculty and a review panel of professional engineers for evaluation. Each BE 485/487 capstone design team prepares and presents a design solution in report, poster, and oral formats to industry, faculty, peers, and the public that:
- Requires engineering design
- Combines biology and engineering
- Solves a real problem
- Uses a holistic approach
- Interprets data
- Evaluates economic feasibility
2023/24 Projects
Full descriptions, short videos, and project posters are at: https://canr.msu.edu/bae/senior-design-2025
Public presentations at 116 Farrall Hall on April 25, 2025, 1 pm or https://msu.zoom.us/j/97714737403
Prevention of harmful algal blooms in Soldan Dog Park pond
Ingham County Parks
SDP Prevention: Janie Cooper, Ella Harrell, Dov Myers, & Amari Selby
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Dawn Dechand
Carbon intensity calculator for Michigan dairy farm renewable natural gas site selection
Consumers Energy
(project under Non-Disclosure Agreement)
The Digesters: Jakob Harper, Ellen Mayes, Tushar Mukkatira, & Collin Neal
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Daniel Uyeh
Nature’s Pulse: Mass producing an innovative pulse-based snack
IFT Product Development Competition
Team IFT: Grace Dickerson, Sebastian Hawkes, Ella Hubbard, & Tessa Versace
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Kirk Dolan
Hog feet color improvement
Clemens Food Group (project under Non-Disclosure Agreement)
Team Clemens: Ben Getzen, Aidan Kile, Christina Lin, & Peyton Ma-Wong
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Bahar Aliakbarian
Developing phosphorus removal column system using Eden Lakes’ TimberCharTM
Eden Lakes (project under Non-Disclosure Agreement) Team Eden Lakes: Praneeth Dattagupta, Renae Kenney, Shayla Le, & Catherine Maurer
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Younsuk Dong
Feasibility study of greywater reuse for dairy plant CIPs
Glanbia
(project under Non-Disclosure Agreement)
Team Glanbia: Hunter Carene, Cavanaugh Doud, Brett Dumaw, & Begawan Samad
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Wei Liao, PE
Preventing foreign material contamination in corned beef through detection
E. W. Grobbel
(project under Confidential Disclosure Agreement)
Team Grobbel: Quinn Armstrong, CJ Buchta, Avery Partlow, & Kelley Titus
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Ilce Medina Meza
Optimizing a rapid block cooler for cheddar cheese production
Tillamook
(project under Non-Disclosure Agreement)
Team Tillamook: Kathryn Benson, Wes Broda, Jacqueline Hawkins, & Justin Pecora
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Ian Hildebrandt
Phosphorus reduction through electrodialysis in pharmaceutical reverse osmosis reject
Perrigo
(project under Non-Disclosure Agreement)
Team Perrigo: Briya Berry, Lizzy Cross, Swathi Kambhatla, & Nikolay Siratskiy
Faculty Advisors: Dr. Jade Mitchell & Dr. Emily Julien
Improving existing oat transport system into food service mixer
Jiffy
(project under Non-Disclosure Agreement)
Team Jiffy: Jordan Dashner, Tyler Hillman, Kylie Jamrog, & Rosie VanLuven
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Yan “Susie” Liu
Implementing a gMNP tuberculosis biosensor in Peru
Dr. Kenny Briceno, Peru
Team EWH Tuberculosis: Matteo De Mattia, Mary Jane Hellem, Sophia Spencer, & Mimi Tarter Faculty Advisor: Dr. Vangie Alocilja
Affordable water sanitation for poor rural Peruvian Amazon communities
Dr. Kenny Briceno, Peru
Team Vida del Río: Anna Dziedzic, Alex Griffin, & Isabella Pucci
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Vangie Alocilja
Industry Advisory Board
The purpose of the Industry Advisory Board is to facilitate the exchange of ideas between Board members, faculty, and students of the BE program. Its function is to improve continuously the BE program quality by keeping it current and relevant to industry needs. Regular and adjunct board members also serve as external project evaluators.
Board
Janelle Barnes ~ Target
Ellen Bornhorst, PhD ~ PepsiCo
Holly Bowers ~ Consumers Energy
Jessica Bruin ~ Kellanova
Lisa Buchholz ~ Corteva Agriscience
Matt Burtt ~ AbbVie
Shelley Crawford ~ Jiffy
Michelle Crook, PE ~ MDNR
Laura Doud, PE ~ MDOT
Cassaundra Edwards ~ Tillamook Creamery Gene Ford ~ Standard Process
Jeremy Hoeh, PE ~ EGLE
Eric Iversen, PE ~ PEA Group
Andrew Johnson ~ John Bean Technologies (JBT) Food Tech
Kevin Kowalk, PE (Chair) ~ EA Engineering, Science, and Technology (MI) PLC
Mitch Miller ~ Yoplait
Amber Mostiller ~ E. W. Grobbel Rob Yoder ~ BDI, Inc.
Dave Young ~ Perrigo
Board (Ex-officio)
Todd Forbush ~ Techmark, Inc. (ASABE MI Section)
BE Showcase 2024, see www.canr.msu.edu/bae/senior-design-2024
If you are interested in sponsoring a BE 485/487 capstone project for the 2025_26 Senior Design teams, please contact Dr. Sanghyup Jeong at jeongsa1@msu.edu or Dr. Luke Reese at reesel@msu.edu.