Faculty Research

Research Activities

The Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering conducts research on problems of importance to Arkansas and the entire nation.

The three focus areas of research in the department are:

Biotechnology Engineering
Ecological Engineering
Biomedical Engineering

Biotechnology Engineering: designing systems to manipulate plant, animal and microbial materials into industrially and medically relevant consumer products, and to develop environmentally relevant biotechnology to manage natural resources. Examples are: genetically modifying bacteria to produce novel chemicals and pharmaceuticals; utilizing bacterial processes to convert dangerous waste products into beneficial soil; utilization of by-products into energy and high-value products, biomass extraction for phytonutrients, and biomass conversion to energy; providing safe and plentiful food by plant and animal production; food safety; and integrating biological materials into systems at the micro- and nanometer scale for the next generation of bio/abio hybrid engineered systems for medical diagnoses.

Ecological Engineering: applying the science of ecology with the practice of engineering to solve complex ecosystem problems. These solutions include designing advanced wastewater treatment, erosion control systems, stream restoration, hydrology, watershed management and ecological risk assessment; broiler litter management and effects on air quality, mitigation of air emissions; non-point source pollution engineering, animal waste management, and water quality and quantity analyses and management; remote sensing, and applications of site-specific and geospatial technologies in biological and agricultural systems.

Biomedical Engineering: a multidisciplinary area which fuses engineering with molecular life science and medical science. The goal of this discipline is to design solutions to problems in biology, medicine, and human health, including breakthroughs in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. Examples are: experimental and computational research on endothelial cell function and diabetes; designing sensors for point-of-care diagnostics, development of nanodrug delivery systems; single molecule imaging; stem cell and organ regeneration; in vivo and in vitro models to study cancer, diabetes and blood vessels.

Specific Projects are described below:

RESEARCH PROJECTS

Computational Model for Analysis of Oxidative Stress on the Free Radical Transport in the Microcirculation

Mahendra Kavdia, Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering Program, UAF

Fluorescence Nanosensor for Visualizing Intracellular Glucose within Living Cells

Kaiming Ye, Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering Program, UAF
Sha Jin, Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering, UAF

Monitoring and Modeling Acquired Bacterial Resistance to Medical Antibiotics in Water Ecosystems

Scott Osborn, Assistant Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Marty Matlock, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Jin-Woo Kim, Assistant Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Brian Haggard, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Robert Beitle, Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering, UAF
Indrajeet Chaubey, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Julie Carrier, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF

Nano-Biotechnology

Jin-Woo Kim, Assistant Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Russell Deaton, Professor, Computer Science & Computer Engineering, UAF
Steve Tung, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, UAF

Nitric Oxide (NO) Biotransport

Mahendra Kavdia, Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering Program, UAF
Prabhakar Deonikar, Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering Program, UAF
Nupura Bhise, Undergraduate Student, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF

Nucleic Acid Technology

Jin-Woo Kim, Assistant Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Russell Deaton, Associate Professor, Computer Science & Computer Engineering, UAF
Junghuei Chen, Associate Professor, Biochemistry, The University of Delaware

Three-Dimensional Human Embryonic Stem Cell Pancreatic Differentiation

Kaiming Ye, Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering Program, UAF
Sha Jin, Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering Program, UAF

Yeast Displayed Vaccines

Kaiming Ye, Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering Program, UAF
Sha Jin, Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering, UAF

An Electrochemical Method to Destroy Listeria in Chilling Brine for Cooked Poultry and Meat Products

Yanbin Li, Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Michael Slavik, Professor, Poultry Science, UAF
Carl Griffis, Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Betty Swem, Research Specialist, Poultry Science, UAF Zhihui Liu, Graduate Student, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF

Biocatalysis and Molecular Biological Engineering

Jin-Woo Kim, Assistant Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Robert Beitle, Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering, UAF
Ed Clausen, Professor, Chemical Engineering, UAF
Tonya L. Peeples, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Iowa

Capillary Electrochemical/Optical Biosensors for Rapid Detection of Pathogenic Bacteria in Poultry and Meat Products

Yanbin Li, Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Xiaoli Su, Research Associate, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Byungchul Kim, Graduate Student, Food Science, UAF
Qian Sun, Research Associate, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF

Elimination of Listeria monocytogenes During Thermal Processing of Ready-To-Eat Poultry Products

Yanbin Li, Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Abani Pradhan, Graduate Student, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
John Marcy, Professor and Extension Specialist, Poultry Science, UAF
Mark Tamplin, Lead Scientist, USDA/ARS ERRC

Impedance Immonusensors for Rapid Detection of Pathogens in Food Products

Yanbin Li, Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Simon Ang, Professor, Electrical Engineering, UAF
Michael Johnson, Professor, Food Science, UAF
Liju Yang, Graduate Student, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Yun Xi, Graduate Students, Electrical Engineering, UAF

Microfluidics based Chemiluminescent Fiber Optical Biosensor for Rapid Detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium in Food Samples

Yanbin Li, Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Steve Tung, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, UAF
Madhukar Varshney, Graduate Student, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Ballaji Venkatesh, Graduate Assistant, Mechanical Engineering, UAF

Nanoparticle-based Targeted Drug Delivery for Prostate Cancer Treatment

Kaiming Ye, Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering Program, UAF

Online NIR Technology to Quantify Beef Quality

Sreekala Bajwa, Assistant Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Jason Apple, Associate Professor, Animal Science, UAF
Jean-Francois Meullenet, Associate Professor, Food Science, UAF
Jayarani Kandaswami, Graduate Student, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF

PCR-Based Fluorescent Biosensing Methods and Nanobeads and Quartz Crystal Microbalance-Based DNA Sensor for Rapid Detection of Major Pathogens in Food Samples

Yanbin Li, Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Michael Slavik, Professor, Poultry Science, UAF
Hong Wang, Research Associate, Poultry Science, UAF
Xiaoli Su, Research Associate, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Xiaole Mao, Graduate Student, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF

Phytochemical Extraction and Their Potential to Inhibit Low Density Lipid Oxidization

Danielle Julie Carrier, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Ed Clausen, Professor, Chemical Engineering, UAF
Jackson Lay, Director, Mass Spectrometry Facility, UAF
Shanmugam Nagarajan, Assistant Professor, Children’s Nutrition Center, UAMS
Sunny Wallace, Graduate Student, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Walter Cooke, Graduate Student, Chemical Engineering, UAF
Justin Loveladay, Graduate Student, Chemical Engineering, UAF
Lijun Duan, Postdoctoral Associate, Chemical Engineering, UAF
Katie Vaughn, Research Technician, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF

Precision Farming Technology for Developing Subsoiling Guidelines in Arkansas

Sreekala Bajwa, Assistant Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Gary Huitink, Associate Professor & Extension Engineer, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, Cooperative Extension Service, UAF

Predictive Models and Quantitative Risk Assessment Models for Salmonella Typhimurium and Campylobacter jejuni in Poultry Production, Processing and Distribution System

Yanbin Li, Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Phil Crandall, Professor, Food Science, UAF
Betty Swem, Research Specialist, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Abani Pradhan, Graduate Student, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Lin Cong, Graduate Student, Poultry Science, UAF

Rapid Integration of Advanced Technology for Sensing, Characterization, and Control in Production and Processing of Biological Materials

Carl Griffis, Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF

Rapid Detection of Foodborn Pathogens and Pesticide Residues Using Biosensor Technologies

Yanbin Li, Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Madhukar Varshney, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Yibin Ying, Professor, Biosystems Engineering, ZJU, China
Weihuan Fang, Professor, Animal Science, ZJU, China
Ping Wang, Professor, Biomedical Engineering, ZJU, China
Jianping Wang, Professor of Food Engineering, ZJU, China

Ecological Engineering

A Low Impact Development Demonstration Habitat for Humanity Community in Rogers, Arkansas

Marty Matlock, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Steve Luoni, Director, The Community Design Center, UAF
Aaron Gabriel, Project Architect, The Community Design Center, UAF
Mark Boyer, Landscape Architect, Department of Architecture, UAF

A Watershed Nutrient Management Decision Support System for the Eucha Basin

Marty Matlock, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Indrajeet Chaubey, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Brian Haggard, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF

Air Quality Monitoring in Commercial Broiler Houses

Sreekala Bajwa, Assistant Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Tom Costello, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Frank Jones, Extension Section Leader, Poultry Science
Susan Watkins, Extension Specialist, Poultry Science
Haritha Gadiraju, Graduate Student, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF

Development of a Decision Support System and Data Needs for the Beaver Lake Watershed

Indrajeet Chaubey, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Marty Matlock, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Tom Costello, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Brian Haggard, Associate Research Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Katie White, Graduate Student, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF

Development of an Integrated Water Conservation – Water Quality Program in the Arkansas Delta

Indrajeet Chaubey, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Marty Matlock, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Earl Vories, Adjunct Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
J. Popp, Assistant Professor, AEAB, UAF
Tom Costello, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Phil Tacker, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF

Development of a Statewide Nonpoint Source Pollution Plan for Arkansas

Marty Matlock, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Indrajeet Chaubey, Assistant Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Brian Haggard, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF

Demonstration of a Greenway Development to Protect Ecological Services in Small Urban Streams

Differentiating Runoff Contributing Areas from Pastures for Phosphorus Management

Indrajeet Chaubey, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Brian Haggard, Associate Research Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Tom Costello, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Katie White, Graduate Student, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF

Engineering Design and Evaluation of Animal Waste Management Systems in Arkansas

Thomas A. Costello, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Indrajeet Chaubey, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Larry A. Roe, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering, UAF
Frank Jones, Research Professor and Extension Section
Leader, Cooperative Extension Service, UAF
G. Tom Tabler, Project Manager, Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, UAF

Environmental Resource Management to Develop Watershed Technologies and Management Tools

Indrajeet Chaubey, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Sreekala Bajwa, Assistant Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Marty Matlock, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF

GIS Database Development and Watershed Modeling in the Arkansas Priority Watersheds

Growth Chambers for Bio-Regenerative Life Support

Thomas A. Costello, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Larry A. Roe, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering, UAF
William Dillahunty, Graduate Student, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
John Sager, Agricultural Engineer, Kennedy Space Center, NASA
Ray Wheeler, Plant Physiologist, Kennedy Space Center, NASA

Improving Cotton Irrigation Recommendations in Mid-South

Sreekala Bajwa, Assistant Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Earl Vories, Adjunct Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF

Improving Nutrient Management for Cotton Production in Arkansas

Sreekala Bajwa, Assistant Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Morteza Mozzafari, Assistant Professor, Crop, Soil & Environmental Sciences, UAF

National Wadeable Stream Assessment –The Arkansas Component

Pesticide Pollution Risk Assessment and Mitigation Training in Arkansas Delta

Sreekala Bajwa, Assistant Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Dennis Gardisser, Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Indrajeet Chaubey, Assistant Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Vibhava Vibhava, Graduate Student, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF

Optimizing BMPs, Water Quality, and Sustained Agriculture in the Lincoln Lake Watershed

Indrajeet Chaubey, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Tom Costello, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Karl VanDevender, Professor & Extension Engineer, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, Cooperative Extension Service, UAF
M.A. Nelson, Assistant Professor, Arkansas Water Resources
K. Teague, Cooperative Extension Service, UA M. Steele, Cooperative Extension Service, UA

Recombining Fluvial Geomorphology and Urban Morphology: Riparian Meadows, Mounds, and Rooms in Urban Greenways

Sustainable Agriculture and Water Resources in Arkansas: A Bioenvironmental Engineering Solution

Indrajeet Chaubey, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Marty Matlock, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Tom Costello, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Earl Vories, Adjunct Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Brian Haggard, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF

SWAT Modeling in the Illinois River Watershed

Indrajeet Chaubey, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Marty Matlock, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF

Use Attainability and Water Quality Assessment of Coffee Creek, Mossy Lake, and the Ouachita River, Southern Arkansas

Use Attainability and Water Quality Assessment of the Illinois and Kings River in Northwest Arkansas

Marty Matlock, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Indrajeet Chaubey, Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF
Brian Haggard, Adjunct Associate Professor, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UAF