Programs of study

Biosystems engineers have a tendency to pursue careers where they can help people, preserve the environment and tackle societal problems.

Undergraduate student resources

As a Biosystems undergraduate student, you can take advantage of opportunities and supports from academic focus areas to student groups.

Graduate student resources

Students can access opportunities, supports and resources from the Department of Biosystems Engineering, the Price Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Graduate Studies and UM.

Finding a graduate studies advisor

If you are applying for MSc or PhD, before submitting an application for admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies you must first find a faculty advisor who will accept you into their research group. The advisor will initially review your academic background, research intent, previous experience and CV and may grant tentative acceptance into the program.

To find an advisor prior to application, you must contact a faculty member whose research area aligns with your own interests. Department of Biosystems Engineering faculty members, and links to their research areas, can be found on the faculty and staff page. Please contact faculty members by email, and include the following: 

  • A current CV including publications, posters and conference participation; honours, awards and acknowledgements; and jobs pertaining to the field
  • Copies of all post-secondary transcripts
  • A one-page statement of research intent summarizing your proposed research project. If you have several research interests, please customize your statement for each faculty member you are interested in working with.

If you do not hear back in about eight weeks, that professor may not be interested in your application at this time.

Please note that tentative acceptance from an advisor does not guarantee admission into the program.

Alumni

Alumni of Influence Awards

We are thrilled to honour and celebrate the accomplishments of our talented Biosystems Engineering alumni. The Alumni of Influence Awards were established in 2021, the 50th anniversary of the first Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Engineering being awarded by the University of Manitoba. These awards are meant to recognise the exceptional achievements of our alumni who have completed either undergraduate or graduate studies.

We encourage you to nominate an alumnus for an Alumni of Influence Award if you know of someone who you think deserves to be recognised for their achievements. To submit your nomination, just complete the form below.

Thank you for helping us celebrate the achievements of our Biosystems Engineering alumni.

 

Research

Faculty and students in the Department of Biosystems Engineering conduct world-class research in the fields of Alternative energy and buildings, biological production of biofuels and bioproducts, computational methods for biomedical/biological imaging, grain storage and handling, remediation of contaminated soils and groundwater, and medical textiles.

Research labs

Agricultural Ergonomics Lab

Ergonomic & safety issues associated with agricultural machines 

Contact
Dr. Danny Mann
Danny.Mann@umanitoba.ca
204-474-7149
 

Biofuels & Biotechnology Lab

Biological production of biofuels and bioproducts

Contact
Dr. David Levin
David.Levin@umanitoba.ca
204-474-7429
 

Biomaterials Synthesis & Surface Engineering Lab

Surface engineering of polymeric materials for medical and biomedical applications (surgical drapes, catheters, vascular grafts, ligament & tendon prostheses) to enhance biological interactions.

Contact
Dr. Song Liu
Song.Liu@umanitoba.ca
204-474-9616

Bioprocessing Engineering Lab

Smart technologies in food process engineering, food quality and safety assessment, sensing and chemical mapping, computational tools and visual analytics.

Contact
Dr. Chyngyz Erkinbaev
Chyngyz.Erkinbaev@umanitoba.ca
204-474-6977

Computational Optimization & Geometric Modelling Lab

Use of computational methods for biomedical/biological imaging, pattern recognition, spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging.

Contact
Dr. Jason Morrison
Jason.Morrison@umanitoba.ca
204-474-8496

Grain Storage Research Lab

Grain storage and handling; modelling of the stored-grain ecosystem.

Contact
Dr. Digvir Jayas
Digvir.Jayas@umanitoba.ca
204-474-9404

Imaging & Food Quality Assessment Lab

Providing safe and healthy food to humans and livestock through improved imaging.

Contact
Dr. Jitendra Paliwal
Jitendra.Paliwal@umanitoba.ca
204-474-8429

Medical Textile Lab

Functional electrospun nanofibers for biomedical applications including wound care and tissue engineering.

Contact
Dr. Wen Zhong
Wen.Zhong@umanitoba.ca
204-474-9913

Odour Research Lab

Quantification and analysis of odour samples; evaluation of various odour-reduction technologies.

Contact
Dr. Qiang Zhang
Qiang.Zhang@umanitoba.ca
204-474-9819

Soil Dynamics & Machinery Lab

Soil-tool-material interactions associated with tillage machines; processing of agricultural fibres.

Contact
Dr. Ying Chen
Ying.Chen@umanitoba.ca
204-474-6292

Soil & Water Engineering Lab

Irrigation, drainage, remediation of contaminated soils and groundwater; instrumentation for soil & water monitoring.

Contact
Dr. R. Sri Ranjan
Sri.Ranjan@umanitoba.ca
204-474-9344

Stored Grain Ecosystem Lab

Studies on insect biology, detection and control of insects & moulds, mathematical modeling of the stored-grain ecosystem.

Contact
Dr. Fuji Jian
Fuji.Jian@umanitoba.ca
204-474-7965

Waste Management Lab

Treatment of livestock waste, municipal wastewater, and industrial wastewater.

Anaerobic digestion, biopolymer production, biomass processing.

Contact
Dr. Nazim Cicek
Nazim.Cicek@umanitoba.ca
204-474-6208

Sustainability-in-Action Facility

The Department of Biosystems Engineering is pleased to announce the establishment of the “Sustainability-in-Action Facility” (SiAF) on the west edge of the Fort Garry campus. Our Vision is that SiAF will be available to the University of Manitoba community for experiential learning and demonstration opportunities that relate to sustainability.

UM Resources for Agricultural Engineering

We are committed to promoting advancements of the agricultural engineering profession and fostering sustainable practices. Our center serves as a hub for innovation, education, and community engagement, with a mission to empower farmers and rural communities through the application of cutting-edge technologies and knowledge dissemination.

Contact Us

Our Partners

Contact us

Department of Biosystems Engineering
Room E2-376 Engineering and Information Technology Complex
75 Chancellors Circle
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, MB, R3T 5V6, Canada

204-474-6033