About

The mission of the Biological Systems Engineering Department is to develop and disseminate engineering knowledge and practices that protect natural resources and improve sustainable production, processing, and utilization of biological materials.

In carrying out our mission, the BSE department contributes to the teaching, research, and extension/outreach missions of Virginia Tech.

Our teaching program includes Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Master of Science (M.S.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in BSE. In addition to the courses we teach in major, we teach service courses taken by students in several colleges in the university.

Research

Our research program is conducted by faculty members and students addressing a wide range of research objectives. Our research is funded primarily by federal and state agencies, with some support from industry. Some funders of current research projects include: 

• National Science Foundation (NSF)
• US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• US Department of Energy (DOE)
• US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)
• Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)

Extension

Our extension program provides technical information to a wide variety of clientele, such as homeowners, farmers, and state agency personnel. We address environmental concerns about water quality, waste management, energy use, and safety, as well as production agriculture.