Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

ABE graduate students are passionate about impacting the world. They study how to grow food under controlled environments, to detect and evaluate pathogens, to generate renewable fuel, to conserve and reuse water, and many other topics that influence our modern society.

Associate Specialist Pedro Andrade Sanchez leads the statewide program to increase the efficiency of mechanized agricultural operations. Here he tests equipment to evaluate plant growth status in the field. Extension activities of Pedro and other ABE faculty aim to impact growers and farmers throughout the state.

Biosystems engineering students gain hands on experience especially working in the ABE Department machine shop.

Dr. Donald Slack was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering in Agricultural Engineering by Khon Kaen University, Thailand. ABE faculty has an impact all across the globe.

Every day, a typical municipal water company must deliver many thousands of gallons of fresh, potable water to its customers. To make sure the water is safe to drink, water-quality engineers must add the proper amounts of beneficial chemicals such as chlorine and fluoride. The Water Distribution Laboratory examines these chemicals experimentally and computationally to determine how they will mix and spread throughout the water as the water travels on through the pipe network.

As a part of our ongoing algae biofuel research efforts, researchers have been developing a computer model that will help them to design optimal raceways and establish operational criteria. The model will also enable scientists to identify the warm-climate algal species that can best thrive in the American Southwest.

Students learn advanced concepts in evaluating soils for installing onsite wastewater treatment (septic) systems. Sixteen advanced students from around the state participated in a 2-day course in Payson, AZ, to learn about issues relating to soil and site evaluation of onsite wastewater treatment systems. This new offering by the University of Arizona’s Onsite Wastewater Education Program, directed by Dr. Kitt Farrell-Poe of the Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering Department, provided classroom and field experience. Here you see students in soil pits evaluating the soil for texture, structure, and consistence. For more...

Flow-resistant HUVEC adhesion with nanostructured ensemble surface.

Wire-guided microdrop PCR allows <4 min thermocycling.

Track & tranport H1N1 in classroom with LOC device.

Upcoming Events

Sunday, July 29, 2012 - 8:00am - ASABE International Conference

Monday, August 20, 2012 - 8:00am - Fall semester begins

Monday, September 3, 2012 - 2:15pm - Labor day - no classes

Monday, November 12, 2012 - 8:00am - Veteran's day - no classes

Thursday, November 22, 2012 - 8:00am - Thanksgiving recess

Saturday, December 15, 2012 - 9:00am - Fall Commencement

See more events

Recent ABE and University News

Bernadette Capossela named Outstanding Staff Member in CALS

All, it is my great pleasure to announce that our very own Bernadette Capossela has been named the Outstanding Staff Member in CALS for first quarter 2012. Bernadette is the Administrative Assistant in ABE and serves many roles helping faculty, staff, and students with a variety of tasks. She frequently goes above and beyond the call of duty to help people get what they need and we greatly appreciate all of her hard work. Please congratulate Bernadette for her outstanding work! Bernadette Capossela has been named the Outstanding Staff Member in CALS.

Sarah Cook named Outstanding Senior in Engineering

Sarah Cook has been named the Outstanding Graduating Senior in the College of Engineering for Spring 2012. Sarah is completing her degree in biosystems engineering. Sarah is an excellent scholar and excelled in many areas beyond the classroom. She servied as predident of our biosystems engineering student club and reinvogirated this after a number of quite years. She assumed a leadership role in her senior design project to develop a portable aquaponics system (a combination read more

Congratulations to ABE Team on Winning the W.L. Gore and Associates "Creative Design Solutions Award" at Engineering Design Day

Please join us in congratulating Ramon Munoz, Franklin Garcia and Franklin Ventura for winning the Creative Design Solutions Award with their design of a “Very Quick Polymerase Chain Reaction Device”. There were a total of 57 teams competing in this year’s competition with only three from ABE. The team gets a check for $750!! Dr. read more

UA Climate Action Plan Sets Goals to Cut Emissions

The UA Office of Sustainability has completed a climate action plan to track the University's greenhouse gas emissions and provide concrete solutions to reduce them. Many efforts already are under way, with some involving faculty and students using the campus as a living lab for sustainability.

UA Relocation Program: Feeling at Home Before You Move In

New and prospective employees can benefit from a free service that helps with housing and provides information about other community services, such as schools and child care.

In Memoriam: Albert L. Picchioni

Picchioni, who founded the UA Poison and Drug Information Center, was a professor of pharmacology and toxicology as well as a researcher, pharmacist and mentor.