About the Department

Science and technology to feed the world, protect natural resources, and improve quality of life.

The Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering is Penn State’s home for advancing the engineering, business, and technical management of biological and agricultural systems through teaching, research, and outreach.

We are a small, inclusive group united by our fascination with the technology and processes that make life better for everyone.

We boast state-of-the-art facilities and world-class faculty composed of engineers and scientists with years of working experience in their fields.

Student success drives the department. Our undergraduate majors offer hands-on learning with real-world applications, excellent internship experiences, robust scholarship opportunities, and high job placement.

Our graduate programs offer master of science and doctor of philosophy degrees rooted in research through our core engineering, science, and management disciplines.

Penn State is a Tier 1 Research University. Students are highly encouraged to participate in meaningful research starting the first semester of their freshman year.

Meet our faculty, staff, and students, and learn more about our academic home. Welcome!

Latest News

October 9, 2024

Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences faculty honored by national society

Two faculty members in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, Ali Demirci and Juliana Vasco-Correa, recently received awards from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.

September 12, 2024

Nine researchers named Institute of Energy and the Environment Fellows

Nine Penn State researchers have been named fellows of the Institute of Energy and the Environment for 2024. The program recognizes and assists the exceptional achievements and unparalleled research impacts of highly successful researchers in the areas of energy and the environment. Nominees for the fellowship were submitted by the University community.

August 26, 2024

USDA grant to fund project developing AI-powered database on water quality

Nitrate, a common chemical compound that occurs naturally and is found in plants, water and soil, can break down into molecules harmful to human, animal and ecological health and accumulate as a pollutant. Nitrate contamination in streams, lakes and estuaries is a critical problem in many agricultural watersheds, but water-quality data is limited, making monitoring stream health and making management decisions difficult, according to researchers at Penn State. To enhance available data, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a four-year, $650,000 grant to a research team at Penn State.

August 21, 2024

USDA grant to fund robotic precision pesticide sprayer development

Pesticides reduce crop loss, helping to stabilize production, but excessive use of pesticides has brought huge negative impacts to the environment and human health, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. To address the problem, a team of Penn State researchers is developing a robotic precision pesticide sprayer capable of targeted application while minimizing unintended exposure.

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