2002 Annual Report
Resources
Personnel
Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty
Adjunct Faculty
Professional and Academic
Staff
Sand Plain Research Farm
Faculty and Staff Honors and Awards
Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty
Mrinal Bhattacharya, Professor
B.Tech., 1981, Indian Institute of Technology; M.S., 1983, Ph.D., 1986,
University of Nebraska. Food engineering, extrusion processing, rheology,
and heat transfer. Blending of natural and synthetic polymers. Biodegradable
polymers. Processing of starch/protein-based plastics. Also holds a faculty
appointment in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition. Member of
the Institute of Food Technologists, the Society of Plastics Engineers,
and the Society of Rheology.
Jonathan Chaplin, P.E., Associate Professor
B.S., 1976, Silsoe College of Cranfield Institute of Technology, U.K.;
M.S., 1980, Ph.D., 1983, Iowa State University. Precision farming machinery,
machine design and safety, machinery system performance, computer-aided
design. Member of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers and the
Institute of Agricultural Engineers.
Charles J. Clanton, P.E., Professor
B.S., 1976, B.S., 1977, M.S., 1979, University of Nebraska; Ph.D., 1985,
University of Minnesota. Manure management associated with water quality,
air quality and odors, storage, and land application. Also holds an adjunct
professor appointment in the Department of Clinical and Population Sciences.
Member of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers; the American
Society of Animal Science; the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology;
the American Society for Engineering Education; and the National Society
of Professional Engineers. Licensed Soil Scientist in Minnesota.
Philip R. Goodrich, P.E., Associate Professor
B.Ag.E., 1963, Cornell University; M.S., 1968, Ph.D., 1970, Purdue University.
Odor control systems for animal waste management. Member of the American
Society of Agricultural Engineers; the National Society of Professional
Engineers; and the Water Environment Federation.
Forrest Izuno, Professor and Head, Southern Research and Outreach Center,
Waseca, MN
B.S, 1978, Purdue University; M.S., 1980, Ph.D., 1984, Colorado State
University. On-farm water management, irrigation and drainage, and agricultural
best management practice development and implementation for mitigating
effects of agricultural drainage water on the environment. Member of the
American Society of Agricultural Engineers.
Larry D. Jacobson, P.E., Professor and Extension Engineer
B.Ag.E., 1972, M.S., 1974, Ph.D., 1983, University of Minnesota. Livestock
housing and environmental control, indoor air quality concerns, waste
management systems, and energy and housing alternatives for livestock
with emphasis on swine production systems. Member of the American Society
of Agricultural Engineers and the Air and Waste Management Association.
Kevin A. Janni, P.E., Professor, Head, and Extension Engineer
B.Ag.E., 1976, University of Minnesota; M.S., 1977, Ph.D., 1979, Purdue
University. Livestock housing systems. Environmental conditions in naturally
ventilated dairy facilities. Biofilters for odor control. Environmental
control and ventilating system design for livestock and poultry buildings.
Agricultural odor sources and their control. Air quality monitoring. Member
of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers; the American Society
of Engineering Educators; the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration
and Air-Conditioning Engineers; and the National Society of Professional
Engineers.
R. Vance Morey, Professor
B.S., 1967, Michigan State University; Ph.D., 1971, Purdue University.
Grain drying and storage, grain quality, energy, biomass utilization.
Member of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers; the American
Association for the Advancement of Science; the American Association of
Cereal Chemists; the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology;
the Institute of Food Technologists; and the American Society for Engineering
Education.
John L. Nieber, P.E., Professor
B.S., 1972, Syracuse University; M.S., 1974, Ph.D., 1979, Cornell University.
Applications of analytical and numerical solutions of the deterministic
and stochastic equations for fluid flow, mass transport, and heat transport
in the unsaturated zone. Applications of models to solve current problems
of water quantity and quality. Member of the American Society of Agricultural
Engineers; the American Geophysical Union; the American Institute of Hydrology;
and the American Society of Agronomy. Licensed Certified Professional
Hydrologist in Minnesota.
R. Roger Ruan, Professor
B.S., 1983, Beijing Agricultural Engineering University; M.S., 1988,
Oklahoma State University; Ph.D., 1991, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
MRI, NMR, machine vision, UV, NIR, and other imaging and spectroscopy
technology development and applications in the studies of moisture and
fat management and structure-function relationships of biological and
food materials. Shelf-life prediction and extension. Bioprocessing and
value-added process development. Pulsed electric field, ozone, and non-thermal
plasma development and application. Advanced artificial intelligence and
control systems development for biological and food process control. Also
holds a faculty appointment in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition.
Member of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers; the American
Association of Cereal Chemists; and the Institute of Food Technologists.
Gary R. Sands, Assistant Professor and Extension Engineer
B.S., 1980, University of Delaware; M.S., 1984, University of Kentucky;
Ph.D., 1995, Colorado State University. Diverse interests in land and
water resources including: watershed hydrology, measuring and modeling
the impacts of surface/subsurface drainage systems on hydrology and water
quality, GIS applications in water management and quality, and the development
of quantitative measures for environmental impact and sustainability of
agricultural systems. Member of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers.
John M. Shutske, Associate Professor and Extension Agricultural Safety
Specialist
B.S., 1983, M.S., 1984, Ph.D., 1988, Purdue University. Agricultural
occupational safety, health, and stress issues for producers and agricultural
businesses, safe design of machinery and processes, human factors, evaluation
of educational approaches in injury prevention, and childhood injury prevention
in the farm workplace. Also holds an adjunct associate professor appointment
in the School of Public Health, Division of Environmental and Occupational
Health. Member of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers; the
American Society of Safety Engineers; and the National Institute for Farm
Safety.
William F. Wilcke, P.E. (Iowa), Professor and Extension Engineer, Coordinator
of University of Minnesota Extension Service Sustainable Agriculture Professional
Development Programs, and Regional Coordinator for the North Central Region
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program
B.S., 1976, M.S., 1980, Ph.D., 1985, Iowa State University. Post-harvest
technology (cooling, drying, storage, and handling of crops after harvest),
sustainable agriculture, and agricultural energy sources. Member of the
American Society of Agricultural Engineers.
Bruce N. Wilson, P.E. (Oklahoma), Associate Professor
B.S., 1976, M.S., 1979, University of Minnesota; PhD., 1984, University
of Kentucky. Hydraulics of flows in erodible channels, especially as it
relates to rill erosion; hydrologic/water quality modeling of disturbed
and agricultural watersheds; transport of surface water contaminants;
and parameter uncertainty in mathematical models. Member of the American
Society of Agricultural Engineers; the American Geophysical Union, and
the Soil Conservation Society of America.
Jerry A. Wright, P.E., Associate Professor and Extension Engineer, West
Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris, MN
B.S., 1967, M.S., 1969, North Dakota State University. Irrigation best
management practices, ground water quality protection, energy and water
conservation, irrigation system design, economic development of ground
water resources, and farmland drainage system design. Member of the American
Society of Agricultural Engineers, Irrigation Association, Irrigators
Association of Minnesota, and Soil and Water Conservation Society.
Jun Zhu, Assistant Professor and Extension Engineer, Southern Research
and Outreach Center, Waseca, MN
B.S., 1982, M.S., 1985, Zhejiang University, China; Ph.D., 1995, University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Treatment and utilization of manure and
other agricultural wastes, manure management, microbiology and biochemistry
of processes for treating and utilizing wastes. Member of the American
Society of Agricultural Engineers and the American Association for the
Advancement of Science.
Adjunct Faculty
James J. Boedicker, Associate Professor, Station Agricultural
Engineer, North Central Research and Outreach Center, Grand Rapids, MN
John D. Busman, Assistant Professor, Southwest State University,
Marshall, MN
Q. Charles Geng, Assistant Professor, Sr. Process Development
Scientist, R & D Systems, Inc., Minneapolis, MN
Hafiz M. Munir, Assistant Professor, Sr. Hydrologist, Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency, St. Paul, MN
Professional and Academic
Paul Chen, Senior Research Associate
Sara Christopherson, Extension Educator and Instructor, On-Site Sewage
Treatment
Shaobo Deng, Research Fellow
David Gustafson, Extension On-Site Sewage Treatment Specialist. Licensed
Professional Engineer in Minnesota
Brian Hetchler, Research Fellow
Stacey Jenkins, Extension Educator
Changxing Jin, Research Associate
Jacob John, Research Associate
Yuhong Li, Visiting Research Specialist
Ye-bo Li, Visiting Associate Professor (through 12/02)
Xiangyang Lin, Visiting Lecturer(through 1/03)
YuHuan Liu, Visiting Lecturer (through 6/02)
Mang Lor, Farm Safety Coordinator (through 12/02)
Henrik Lundkvist, Visiting Assistant Professor (through 11/02)
Hongbin Ma, Research Associate (through 8/02)
Ramaswamy Mani, Research Associate
Aida Mendez, Research Associate
Richard Nicolai, P.E., Research Associate. (through 12/02)
Xuejun Pan, Post-Doctoral Associate (through 7/02)
Ruth Rasmussen, R.N., Research Fellow
Michele Schermann, R.N., Research Fellow
David Schmidt, P.E., Assistant Extension Engineer.
Aleksey Sheshukov, Research Associate
Kathleen Shutske, Extension Educator (through 12/02)
Keita Zenitani, Visiting Research Specialist (through 3/02)
Staff
Kathleen Evans, Administrative Director
Bradley Hansen, Assistant Scientist, soil and water
Deborah Hansen, Information Technology Specialist
Brian Hetchler, Assistant Scientist, grain quality and terramechanics
(through 7/02)
Lon Johnson, Assistant Scientist, food engineering (through 12/02)
Verlyn Johnson, Information Technology Professional, livestock environment
Jason Lake, Senior Lab Technician, livestock environment
Blanca Martinez, Scientist, bioprocessing
Gretchen Maciolek, Senior Administrative Assistant
Christy McKibben, Principal Administrative Specialist
Greg Miller, Program Associate, Onsite Sewage Treatment Program
Barbara Oliver, Principal Administrative Specialist
Judy Weicherding, Executive Assistant
Kathryn Younie, Principal Administrative Specialist
Sand Plain Research Farm
Ronald Faber, Senior Research Plot Technician
Glenn Titrud, Administrative Director
Faculty and Staff Honors and Awards
The following members of our department were recognized during the last
year for their contributions to the University or their profession.
Christy McKibben. Received Department Outstanding Civil Service
Award.
Kathy Younie. Received Department Outstanding Civil Service Award.