Biorenewable Systems Graduate Program
We offer Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs in the Biorenewable Systems (BRS) Graduate Program.
The Biorenewable Systems graduate program:
- Integrates science and technology with business (marketing, management, entrepreneurship, and leadership) for bio-based products/materials and their supply chains;
- Leverages Penn State's extensive expertise to conduct novel research on ecological, environmental, and bio-based systems; and
- Prepares graduates to lead the development and advancement of the growing bio-based economy in key industry sectors: wood products and bio-based fuels, energy, chemicals, plastics, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
The centerpiece of the graduate degree experience is the completion of an independent research thesis or dissertation. Examples of research topics in BRS include:
- Creating new bio-based products for agriculture, construction, and the medical sector,
- Developing new approaches for soil and water system management and improvement,
- Analyzing the full life cycle impact of Biorenewables on carbon, energy, air, water, and other indicators,
- Assessing and optimizing new approaches to agricultural and forest equipment management,
- Generating new business approaches for sustainable Biorenewables,
- Safety and health of workers in these industries.
- Finding new approaches for energy production from biomass and renewable sources.
These and other research topics are pursued by BRS graduate students while they develop their skills in advanced courses covering topics such as research theory, bioproducts development, biorenewable system analysis, and ethics for Biorenewables.
