Professor Spotlight: Maria King

Dr. Maria King has been an assistant professor in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering for over a year now, but she has over 17 years of experience within Texas A&M including working with the industry and the United States Government. Before coming to the United States, Dr. King earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s in her native country of Hungary at the Budapest University of Technology. Dr. King earned her Ph.D. through a joint study with the Academic Institute of Biotechnology in Germany. Dr. King initially joined… Read More →

2019 Annual Departmental Scholarship and Awards Banquet

The Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering had its Annual Departmental Scholarship and Awards Banquet on Saturday, April 13 at Philips Event Center. The banquet highlights summer study abroad scholarship recipients and 2019-2020 scholarship recipients. Special congratulations to Dr. Maria King for receiving the student chosen ASABE Professor of the Year Award. Awardees National Cotton Ginner’s Association Peary Wilemon Scholarship Hao Ju Jianing He Tianyi Wang William H. Aldred Endowed Scholarship in Agricultural Engineering Donovan Davis Meiyi Zhang Rita and Dannie O. Burk ’68 Endowed Scholarship Jordan Taylor… Read More →

Varun Gejji Awarded Distinguished Graduate Student

Varun Gejji, Ph.D. Candidate at Texas A&M University in Biological and Agricultural Engineering, has received one of the prestigious 2019 Association of Former Students Distinguished Graduate Student Awards. His research focuses on developing a new lipid, and protein extraction technique form microalgae that will reduce the stress on traditional resource-intensive down-stream unit operations. He already has a patent application (pending), three peer-reviewed articles published, and several articles under review. Additionally, he has been working on simulation-based anti-viral drug screening and his work on finding new small molecule drugs… Read More →

New Biological and Agricultural Engineering Class Fosters Entrepreneurship

Texas A&M University students interested in starting their own business can now learn from former students through the new agricultural entrepreneurship class offered each spring. The Brock Faulkner Entrepreneurship in Agriculture Lecture Series in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering is in its first semester and counts toward the entrepreneurship minor offered at Texas A&M. The class is designed to help students learn about the aspects of being an entrepreneur. “Students within the department were surveyed, and over 30% had business ideas but did not know how… Read More →

Texas 4-H Water Ambassador Program Receives Prestigious State Award

Texas 4-H Water Ambassadors Program received the Texas Environmental Excellence Award in the youth category given by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. There are 10 categories in the annual awards program that honors achievements in environmental preservation and protection. The Texas 4-H Water Ambassadors Program was given the state’s highest honor and recognized for the work with youth. There are three finalists and one winner within each category. The Commission chooses the finalists while the Governor chooses the winner. Finalists and winners are recognized in Austin at… Read More →

Urban Riparian, Stream Restoration Workshop set for April 17 in Corpus Christi

CORPUS CHRISTI – The Texas Water Resources Institute’s Urban Riparian and Stream Restoration Program will host a workshop from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. April 17 in Corpus Christi for professionals interested in conducting stream restoration projects around the area. The morning session will be at the South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, 8545 S. Staples St. The afternoon session will be outdoors along Oso Creek, where participants will learn stream surveying techniques. Early registration is encouraged as the workshop is limited to 40 people. The $100 cost includes… Read More →

Alumni Spotlight: John Reid

John Reid ’87 enjoyed the atmosphere of the department while working on his Ph.D. The current Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department Head, Dr. Stephen Searcy, helped in bringing Reid to Texas A&M. Reid is now the Director of Product Technology and Innovation at John Deere. What degrees have you obtained from Texas A&M University? John: PhD in Agricultural Engineering, 1987. What drew you to Texas A&M University? John: The University and the department was building a national reputation in the early 1980s. The primary reason I came to… Read More →

Department Head Honored by Alma Mater for Exceptional Efforts

Dr. Stephen Searcy, head of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, was recently honored by his alma matter, University of Missouri, with the 2019 Missouri Honor Award. The award is given by the College of Engineering to alumni for “exceptional efforts by an individual to foster the professional development of young engineering college graduates; exceptional ability in the planning and direction of significant and important in technical engineering; and exceptional contribution by an individual to technical engineering knowledge.” Dr. Searcy graduated from the University of Missouri with… Read More →

Alumni Spotlight: Thomas Marek

Thomas Marek is a Native Aggie who loves Texas A&M and the department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. Marek’s love for agriculture and the Aggie spirit shines through in his career working for Texas A&M AgriLife Research in Amarillo and Bushland. He has accomplished much within his 46 years of work and attributes his time at the department to helping him succeed. What degrees have you obtained from Texas A&M University? Thomas: B.S. Agricultural Engineering, 1975 M.S. Agricultural Engineering, 1977 What drew you to Texas A&M University? Thomas:… Read More →

Bringing Students Together: Belgium Study Abroad

This article was originally published by the Study Abroad Staff at North Carolina State University  Alston Willard, a Biological and Agricultural Engineering student from North Carolina State University, attended the departmental study abroad program in Levuen, Belgium during the summer of 2018.  He found that the program fit well with his college career plans and he “would do it again in a heartbeat”.  This particular study abroad within the department not only benefits Texas A&M University students but also brings together students from across the country in sister… Read More →