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 14, 2025

New Penn State course prepares students for conservation careers

In spring 2026, the College of Agricultural Sciences’ Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering will launch ABSM 497: Conservation Management, a course designed to help students understand natural resource concerns across Pennsylvania’s landscape, with an emphasis on soil and water conservation.

October 6, 2025

Location, individual circumstances impact caregiver well-being, researchers find

Roughly a quarter of adults in the U.S. are caring for elderly family members or children with an illness or disability — and sometimes both at the same time. Researchers at Penn State led an expansive study of caregiver well-being and found that the type of geographic location and individual circumstances can impact a caregiver’s health, comfort and happiness even more than their state’s family care policies.

September 19, 2025

Q&A: What are the best ways to protect against chainsaw injuries?

Fall is the time of year when thousands of Pennsylvania residents head to forests and woodlots with chainsaws to cut firewood to heat and enhance their homes over the coming winter months. Judd Michael, professor of agricultural and biological engineering, who recently published a study on chainsaw injuries, recommended precautions for those who use the powerful, dangerous tools in this Q&A.

August 22, 2025

Natural gas-powered tractor to boost ag science research at Penn State

Faculty and students in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences will soon have expanded opportunities for hands-on learning and research with the addition of New Holland’s fully methane-powered tractor.

More News