Graduate Students
 Aramrueang, Nattiporn Ph.D naram@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Ruihong Zhang UG Degree: Biotechnology MS Degree: Chemical Engineering Research Interests: Biogas energy production from anaerobic digestion of organic materials, currently focusing on using microalgae as a feedstock. Process modeling and optimization, including ammonia inibition in the anaerobic process and ammonia removal. |
 Arnold, Brad, M.S. barnold@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Shrinivasa Upadhyaya UG Degree: Mechanical Engineering Research Interests: Fluid dynamics principles of surface irrigated fields. Using those principles to develop wireless sensors which track wetting-front advancement and analyze irrigation run-time for minimal deep percolation and runoff (i.e. minimal water wastage). |
 Blunk, Sherry, Ph.D. slblunk@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Byran Jenkins UG Degree: Mechanical Engineering MS Degree: Biological Systems Engineering Research Interests: Biomass-to-energy system, plan to focus on investigating the properties and potential use of biochars (the solid waste from biomass pyrolysis) in the treatment of water/soil contaminated with heavy metals and other undesirables. |
 Boyce, Adina, Ph.D. aboyce@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Bryan Jenkins UG Degree: Civil Engineering MS Degree: Civil Engineering Research Interests: Conducting research on the production of biochar from agricultural waste through slow pyrolysis. Also plan on conducting further research on the effectiveness of using biochar as a soil admendment. |
 Bornhorst, Gail, Ph.D. gbornhorst@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Paul Singh UG Degree: Biosystems Engineering MS Degree: Biological Systems Engineering Research Interests: Study of the breakdown of foods with different physical properties during gastric digestion in vivo. Developing a numerical model to examine mixing of solid food particles and liquids during peristaltic flow. |
 Chen, Xiguang, Ph.D. sigmandcxg@gmail.com Major Prof. Ruidong Zhang UG Degree: Biotechnology MS Degree: Biological Systems Engineering Research Interests: Biogas energy production from various organic materials such as food wastes, industrial organic wastes and agricultural residues, etc. through anaerobic digestion. Chemical pretreatment for lignocellulosic biomass to increase their biodegradability. Process design, mass and energy balance modeling and economic analysis. |
 Dai, Annie, M.S. aadai@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Paul Singh UG Degree: Chemical Engineering Research Interests: Food Engineering. Exploring heat and mass transfer during the processing, packaging, storage, and digestion of foods. |
 Dasso, Andrew, M.S. asdasso@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Ken Giles UG Degree: BioResrource & Agricultural Engineering Research Interests: Creating a new accurate fertilizer injection system that will reduce fertilizer applications and be affordable to the common grower. Research interests include: integrated circuits, PVC plumbing, and solenoid valve control. |
 Dhillon, Rajveer, Ph.D. rsdhillon@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Shrinivasa Upadhyaya UG Degree: Mechanical Engineering MS Degree: Agricultural & Biological Systems Engineering Research Interests: Prediction of plant water status by an on-the-go canopy temperature measurement system in nut and fruit orchards. |
 Duraj, Victor, Ph.D. yduraj@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. John Miles UG Degree: Mechanical Engineering Research Interests: Improving agricultural health and safety through changes in tools, equipment, and methods. Current work focuses on orchard ladders, with an ultimate objective of reducing falls. Promising exploratory works is now supporting follow-up work utilizing biomechanical modeling, lab testing, and field validation. |
 Higgins, Brendan, Ph.D. bthiggins@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Jean VanderGheynst UG Degree: Civil Engineering MS Degree: Transportation Technology & Policy Research Interests: Algae cultivation for biofuel production with a focus on mixotrophic growth systems; effects of bacterial contamination on algal cultures and exploring strategies to mitigate this problem; algal wastewater treatment and the use of waste carbon sources for algae growth. |
 Hildebrand, Amanda, Ph.D. walker@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Julia Fan UG Degree: Chemical Engineering MS Degree: Biological Systems Engineering Research Interests: Developing a consolidated bioprocess for the production of biofuels from cellulosic biomass using Neurospora crassa as the model organism. |
 Hung, Tien-Chieh, Ph.D. thung@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Raul Piedrahita UG Degree: Chemical Engineering MS Degree: Chemical Engineering Research Interests: Design of a biomimetic solids separator using computational fluid dynamic (CFD). Study of particle retention mechanisms inside the mouth of a suspension-feeding fish. Design and construction of recirculating aquaculture systems. |
 Jimenez-Berni, Miguel, M.S. mjimenezberni@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Michael Delwiche UG Degree: Agricultural Engineering Research Interests: Wireless communication networks applied to precision irrigation and variable rate of water application. |
 Karuna, Nardrapee, Ph.D. nkaruna@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Tina Joeh Zicari UG Degree: Biology Research Interests: Conversion of high-solid pretreated biomass with cellulase enzyme. |
 Kearns, Kathryn, M.S. kckearns@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Zhongli Pan UG Degree Agricultural & Biological Engineering Research Interests: Produce processing: peel removal of Bartlett pears using infrared heating techniques. |
 Li, Xuan, Ph.D. ykxli@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Zhongli Pan UG Degree: Food Science & Engineering MS Degree: Agricultural Engineering Research Interests: Appling food engineering principles to develop infrared radiation heating technology for fruits and vegetable processing; modeling and optimizing food processing for improved food quality and ensured product safety. |
 Liu, Jia, M.S. priliu@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Raul Piedrahita UG Degree: Environmental Engineering Research Interests: Waste water treatment in recirculating aquaculture systems by activated carbon adsorption. Developing and optimizing the leaching pretreatment process for biomass gasification and biofuel production. |
 Luo, Zhen, Ph.D. zlluo@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Nitin Nitin UG Degree: Bioengineering MS Degree: Biochemical Engineering Research Interests: Developing molecular imaging technologies to aid early cancer detection and therapy evaluation. In the area of molecular imaging, the key interests are to: 1) develop novel activatable molecular probes; 2) design innovative delivery approaches for targeted delivery of molecular contrast agents; 3) develop imaging technologies to improve detection sensitivity and 4) evaluate pre-clinical and clinical translation of technologies. |
 Miller, Brandon, Ph.D. bjmiller@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Fadi Fathallah UG Major: Civil Engineering Research Interests: Ergonomics and occupational & tissue biomechanics. Investigating the changes in MRI signal intensity and strain that occur in the intervertebral disc of the spine during sustained and repetitive bending. |
 Mosquera, Tomas tmosquera@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Raul Piedrahita UG Degree: Aquacultural Engineering MS Degree: Aquacultural Engineering Research Interests: Modeling of microbial population dynamics in recirculating aquaculture systems. |
 O'dell, Patrick, Ph.D. pjodell@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Tina Jeoh Zicari UG Degree: Chemical Engineering Research Interests: Exploring the interaction between cellulose-degrading enzymes and cellulose. Using atomic force microscopy, cellulose microfibrils and cellulose degrading enzymes can be imaged at nanometer resolutions. The goal of this research is to better understand the mechanisms behind enzymatic degradation of lignocellulosic materials. |
 Oztop, Mecit, Ph.D. hmoztop@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Michael McCarthy UG Degree: Food Engineering MS Degree: Food Engineering Research Interests: Magnetic resonance imaging of biological materials, 2D NMR Relaxometry, food chemistry , controlled release, mass transfer. |
 Ramahi, Amjad, Ph.D. aramahi@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Fadi Fathallah UG Degree: Biological Systems Engineering MS Degree: Biological Systems Engineering Research Interests: Epidemiological Investigation of musculoskeletal injuries in occupational settings and design/develop alternate methods and tools to reduce risk of injury. |
 Ringeisen, Harold, M.S. bringeisen@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Ruihong Zhang UG Degree: Industrial & Systems Engineering Research Interests: Adding various solar concentrators to a typical solar crop dryer to reduce the drying time of tomatoes. |
 Rojo, Francisco, Ph.D. ferojo@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Shrinivasa, Upadhyaya UG Degree: Agricultural Engineering MS Degree: Agricultural Science Research Interests: Instrumentation and mechanization in agricultural application. Site specific crop management. Image processing. |
 Salazar, Fredy, Ph.D. frsalazar@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Shrinivasa Upadhyaya UG Degree: Agronomist Engineering Research Interests: Precision agriculture with emphasis in water scheduling. |
 Udompetaikul, Vasu, Ph.D. yudom@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Shrinivasa Upadhyaya UG Degree: Agricultural Engineering MS Degree: Agricultural Mechanization Engineering Research Interests: Precision agriculture. Ground-based sensors to determine plant water status and canopy architecture. |
 Vonasek, Erica, M.S. elvonasek@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Nitin Nitin UG Degree: Biological Systems Engineering Research Interests: Formulating antimicrobial biopolymers, including edible films, layer by layer assembly of thin films, and nanofibers. Developing novel optical imaging methods for studies of bacterial and viral pathogens in biological systems. |
 Wang, Li, M.S. tanwang@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Bryan Jenkins UG Degree: Environmental Engineering Research Interests: Lowering the moisture content of leached biomass for further combustion. |
 Williams, Kelly, Ph.D. kcwilli@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Ruihong Zhang UG Degree: Mechanical Engineering MS Degree: Biological Engineering Research Interests: Renewable energy and biofuel production from lignocellulosic biomass and enzyme production and fermentation process development . |
 Wu, Weihua, Ph.D. whwu@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Julia Fan UG Degree: Chemical Engineering MS Degree: Biochemistry Research Interests: Genetic engineering of a filamentous fungus strain to degrade biomass for biofuels and valuable chemical production. The methodology applied in the study includes microbiology, molecular biology, metabolic engineering, protein biochemistry, and fermentation kinetics. |
 Ye, Ting, MENGR tingye@ucdavis.edu Major prof. Nitin Nitin UG Degree: Biological Sciences Research Interests: Molecular imaging, techniques development for clinical application including molecular probe design, bio-conjugation, delivery platform, and etc. Developing a novel method to efficiently deliver nucleic acid probes into cells in intact tissues. |
 Yin, Xia, Ph.D. yinxia.fz@gmail.com Major Prof. Ning Pan UG degree: Textile Enineering MS Degree: Textile Materials Research Interests: Coupled heat and mass transfer in textiles, porous materials. infrared detection and imagings. |
 Yu, Chaowei, Ph.D. ycwyc@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Bryan Jenkins UG Degree: Biological & Agricultural Engineering Research Interests: Applying solid-liquid extraction pretreatments to improve the fuel quality of agricultural residues, food processing wastes, and energy crops for utilization in thermochemical conversion systems. Potential bio co-product recovery from the pretreatment processes. Mass and energy transfer modeling. |
 Zhang, Mianfeng, Ph.D. mfzhang@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Ruihong Zhang UG Degree: Mechanical Engineering Research Interests: Explore ammonia removal method as post treatment for anaerobic digester and online system for monitoring VFA and process control for anaerobic digester. |
 Zhang, Sanliang, Ph.D. slzhang@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Ning Pan UG Degree: Textile Engineering Research Interests: Advanced nanostructural materials for energy storage devices, carbon based nanostructures, nanowire, nanoparticle, and theoretical analysis of EDL for microporous medium. |
 Zicari, Steven, Ph.D. szicari@ucdavis.edu Major Prof. Ruihong Zhang UG Degree: Biological & Agricultural Engineering MS Degree: Biological & Environmental Engineering Research Interests: Bioprocess engineering for conversion of organics to renewable energy and products. |