Biological Engineering
Biological Engineering helps prepare students for careers involving the application of engineering principles to biological and agricultural production systems, processing systems, and protection of land and water resources. Education in mathematics, physics, and engineering sciences common to all engineering disciplines is provided along with specialized training in biological and agricultural sciences. The curriculum covers all areas of biological engineering, including food engineering, post-harvest handling and processing of commodities, power and machinery development and applications, resource management and utilization, biomass utilization and bio-energy, soil and water management, structures and their environmental modifications, product synthesis using microbiological organisms, and food safety.
The educational goals of the Biological Engineering program include: (1) developing graduates who are able to effectively use basic and engineering sciences to solve problems and communicate effectively; (2) developing graduates who are able to analyze and solve technical problems in agricultural and biological systems and work in teams; (3) developing graduates who recognize the rights of others and who can assume leadership roles in employment, professional and community activities; and (4) developing graduates who assume responsibility for their profession/careers by remaining abreast of technologies and tools of the engineering profession and of major contemporary issues, and understand how the engineering profession relates to societal and ethical issues.
A student can select the Agricultural Engineering Option or the Biological and Food Engineering Option. The Agricultural Engineering Option provides emphases in one or more of the following three areas:
• Engineering for the protection of the environment from non-point pollution, including sedimentation loss, nutrient and chemical run-off, and stormwater management.
• Structural and environmental control with a focus on design of wood structures.
• Machinery design and systems management, including off-road equipment for agricultural production, construction, forestry, and food processing.
The Biological and Food Engineering Option provides specialization in the many engineering aspects associated with the following two areas:
• Engineering of microbiological systems for pharmaceuticals, waste management, vitamin and food supplements, bio-energy, and systems to eradicate pathogens for food safety.
• Food processing, handling, and storage from the time food is produced until it reaches consumers.
Is Biological Engineering for You?#There are many rewarding careers in Biological Engineering for men and women who:#
• Desire to combine interests in engineering, agriculture, biological sciences, and the environment;
• Want to apply engineering to living, biological systems;
• Like to experiment with machinery, structures, processes, or electronic systems;
• Enjoy finding engineering solution to critical problems–food production, food safety, and environmental resources; and
• Seek challenges in integrating high tech, cost effective designs in a growth industry.
Biological Engineering graduates are in demand and find a variety of career opportunities. About one-half of department engineering graduates of the last 40 years work in private industry. The rest are employed in government service, universities, consulting engineering firms, and other areas. In private industry, graduates have found positions in research, design, analysis, development, testing, sales, and management. Many of these jobs are with industries associated with bio-based product development (e.g. Merck, Johnson and Johnson), food processing (e.g. Hershey Foods, General Foods, Kellogg’s), off-road machinery development (e.g. New Holland, Caterpillar, John Deere), soil and water protection (e.g. Natural Resources Conservation Service, Environmental Engineering Consulting Firms), materials handling (e.g. , Butler, Chore Time), and wood structures (e.g., RigidPly, Timber Tech), plant and crop storage (e.g., Cargill). Opportunities abound for biological engineers with industry and governmental agencies in the U.S. as well as international locations.
Many opportunities exist in areas such as bio-based energy, resource management and utilization, food processing, light building design, product storage development, and agricultural production and food processing equipment design and development. Biological engineers are uniquely qualified to deal with the various engineering aspects associated with food production and processing within the constraints of environmental protection and natural resource conservation.
For additional information, visit the Biological Engineering homepage at http://www.abe.psu.edu/ or contact professor Paul Heinemann at 814-865-2633 or by e-mail at hzh@psu.edu. Biological Engineering is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012; 410-347-7700; http://www.abet.org/.