In the race against global climate change, researchers at the University of Arizona are working to preserve, catalog, and map the potential of thousands of species of imperiled fungi found in the world’s boreal forests.
Fungi are responsible for some of the world’s greatest advances, from penicillin and cancer treating drugs to pest control and food production. But while scientists estimate there are anywhere from 1.5 to 5.1 million species of fungi, the majority of these unknown species are hidden symbionts inside of plants. Thus, the true diversity, function, and potential applications of the fungal microbiome, or “mycobiome,” remains largely untapped.
Brian Caplan worked in corporate banking on the East Coast for two years before deciding to make a life change. When he learned about UA’s master’s programs and the Controlled Environment Agriculture Center, he said “it all clicked for me.”
Caplan earned his Master’s degree in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering in 2018 and now works as an assistant grower at Gotham Greens’ 75,000 square-foot greenhouse near Chicago.
Two New Ph.D. Programs in SNRE and Biosystems Engineering!
This fall, CALS launched two new doctoral-level dual degree programs in partnership with the Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, (Chapingo Autonomous University or UACh) in Texcoco, Mexico, near Mexico City. The programs will be offered through the department of Biosystems Engineering (at the College of Engineering) and the School of Natural Resources & the Environment in CALS. Students will earn doctoral degrees from both UACh and the UA.
New scholarship goes to Jesus Mulgado.
After their hard work at the Western IHSA Show and Regionals, UA's Western Team is going to semi-finals!
In CALS, students learn to create solutions to keep the world and all its inhabitants healthy and resilient. The Association of State Floodplain Managers Foundation recently recognized one of our Biosystems Engineering students, Jesus Mulgado, for his passion to make a difference through Water Resource Engineering by awarding Jesus the foundation’s first Future Leaders Scholarship. Meet Jesus and learn more about his academic and professional goals below.
Where are you originally from?
I am from Avondale, AZ. It's a small town west of Phoenix.
The Department of Biosystems Engineering develops innovative systems to sustainably feed a population expected to grow to nine billion people by 2050. Students, faculty, and community partners explore techniques to optimize growth conditions in a controlled environment, find alternative fuel and feed sources, and irrigate crops while minimizing waste.
Visit abe.arizona.edu to learn more about our department.
The award recipients represent a range of disciplines, including engineering, linguistics and anthropology.
