Natural Resources
Common Career Paths
- Design, build, operate, maintain:
- Drainage and irrigation systems
- Water supply and waste water systems
- Water quality monitoring
- Erosion and sediment control
- Stormwater management
- Hydrologic phenomena (rain runoff):
- Measuring and monitoring
- Conservation and restoration
- Water resources protection
- Wetland protection
- Waste management operations
- Water treatment systems
- Aquatic habitat characterization and protection
Employers
- Government agencies:
- U.S. and State Departments of Agriculture
- U.S. Forest Service
- U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- State departments of transportation
- State environmental agencies
- City and county storm water agencies
- Colleges and universities
- Private research institutions
- Industries:
- Hydroelectric power
- Water treatment
- Environmental design and consulting
- Architecture firms
- Builders
- Forest products
- Mining
- Industry regulators
- Local and regional utility districts
Strategies
- Pursue experience in government or industry through co-ops, internships, or part-time jobs in specialized area of interest.
- Take additional courses in biology, biochemistry, water chemistry, soil chemistry, geology, etc. to support understanding of environmental impact.
- Seek knowledge of current environmental issues, particularly those related to water and soil protection.
- Prepare to work with individuals and on teams including participating in team design competitions.
- Develop strong verbal and written communication skills along with laboratory and research skills.
- Participate in related clubs and organizations like the student chapter of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) or the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).
Power and Machinery
Common Career Paths
- Design, build, operate, maintain:
- Tractors and specialized equipment for irrigating, seeding, harvesting, chemical application, commodity/waste transport, tilling, food processing
- Heavy equipment for earth moving, trenching, pipe-laying, drilling, horizontal boring; lighter equipment such as skid-steer
- Off-road utility vehicles
- Lawn and garden equipment
- Standards and safety
- Instrumentation and controls
Employers
- Industry:
- Equipment companies
- Instrumentation and control systems
- Bulk product handling, processing and transport
- Agricultural production
- Forest products
- Environmental consulting
- Food processing
- Nursery
- Greenhouse
- Turf
- Mining
- Forestry
- Lawn and garden equipment
Strategies
- Develop strong knowledge of engineering principles with practical application to design; integrate equipment, sensors, and facilities that handle, process, and control biological materials.
- Take courses that relate to machine design, monitoring, automation and safety (e.g., power transmission, hydraulic power, GIS/GPS application, etc.).
- Seek related experience through co-ops, internships, and part-time jobs in biosystems engineering field.
- Develop analytical, problem solving, computer, communication, and design skills through coursework, research with faculty, and participation in student chapters of professional organizations.
Instrumentation and Control Technologies
Common Career Paths
- Design, build, operate, maintain:
- Instrumentation and control systems:
- Monitors and sensors for equipment and process control
- Control systems for green houses
- Process management using global position systems (GPS), geographic information systems (GIS)
- Advance information processing
- Image processing for process control
- Big data analysis for decision-making
- Monitoring ecosystems and animals
- Standards and safety
Employers
- Industry:
- Agricultural and construction equipment
- Instrumentation and control system
- Food processing
- Pharmaceuticals
- Greenhouses
- Natural resources consulting firms
- Biomedical instrumentation
- Government agencies:
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Food Safety and Inspection Service
- Colleges and universities
- Private research institutions
Strategies
- Develop strong knowledge of engineering principles with practical application to design and integrate equipment, sensors, and facilities that handle, process, and control biological materials.
- Take courses that relate to monitoring and instrumentation (e.g. circuits, instrumentation and controls, geomatics, GIS/GPS application, etc.).
- Seek related experience through co-ops, internships and part-time jobs in biosystems engineering field.
- Develop analytical, problem solving, computer, communication and design skills through coursework, research with faculty and participation in student chapters of professional organizations.
Biological, Bioprocess, Food Engineering
Common Career Paths
- Environmental protection
- Environmental remediation
- Agrichemicals
- Pharmaceuticals
- Medical implants
- Bioinstrumentation
- Natural materials production
- Hazardous waste treatment, disposal, utilization
- Enzyme processing of biomass, food, feed, waste
- Food production
- Animal feed production
- Food safety:
- Pasteurization, sterilization, irradiation, transport, storage
Employers
- Government agencies:
- U.S. and State Departments of Agriculture
- U.S. Forest Service
- U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service
- U.S. Agricultural Research Service
- Industry:
- Environmental consulting
- Food processing
- Pharmaceutical
- Manufacturing
- Colleges and universities
- Private research institutions
Strategies
- Seek related experience in agricultural production or processing through co-ops, internships, or part-time jobs.
- Learn about the work of regulatory agencies and stay current on industry and product trends.
- Develop excellent laboratory, research, and computer skills. Strong communications skills are necessary for working with teams of colleagues.
- Participate in related clubs and organizations to build contacts and cultivate related interests such as the student chapter of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE).
Energy
Common Career Paths
- Alternative energy production:
- Biodiesel, ethanol, solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal
- Environmental protection
- Energy conservation
Employers
- Colleges and universities
- Private research institutions
- Government agencies:
- U.S. Department of Energy: National Renewable Energy Lab
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Forest Service
- Industry:
- Alternative fuel production
- Alternative energy production
- Environmental consulting
- Power/utilities
Strategies
- Seek experience in alternative energy production or conservation through co-ops, internships, or part-time jobs.
- Maintain knowledge of current alternative energy trends and regulations.
- Develop strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Seek extensive laboratory and research experience to obtain research positions.
- Obtain Ph.D. for optimal teaching and research careers.
- Become familiar with the federal job application and employment procedures.
- Participate in campus and community organizations focusing on alternative energy production and environmental protection (e.g., the Department of Energy Solar Decathlon Competition).
Aquaculture
Common Career Paths
- Freshwater or saltwater fish, shellfish and plant production:
- Feeding and ventilation systems
- Harvesting systems
- Processing systems
- Freshwater or saltwater fish, shellfish and plant production continued
- Water quality sanitation
- Water conservation
- Environmental impact
Employers
- Fresh and saltwater farms or hatcheries (e.g., rivers, lakes, oceans, ponds, tanks)
- Aquatic systems equipment companies
- Government:
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- National Institute of Food and Agriculture
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Strategies
- Pursue experience in some aspect of production through internships or research with private or government organizations.
- Take courses pertaining to fish genetics, fish diseases, aquatic ecology, water quality, principles of aquaculture, hatchery management, production methods, etc. Additional courses in business may be helpful for management positions.
- Stay abreast of current laws regulating food safety and production in the aquaculture industry.
- Seek membership in professional organizations such as the Aquacultural Engineering Society (AES) to network with colleagues and gain knowledge of the field.
Structures
Common Career Paths
- Nurseries
- Greenhouses
- Storage structures:
- Ventilation
- Temperature and humidity controls
- Irrigation
- Animal Housing
- Waste storage, reuse, transportation
Employers
- Industry:
- Nursery
- Greenhouse
- Agricultural equipment
- Instrumentation and control systems
- Bulk product handling, processing and transport
- Agricultural production
- Waste management operations
Strategies
- Pursue experience in nursery, greenhouse, or agricultural operations through part-time jobs, internships, or co-ops to learn the about the industry.
- Take additional courses to support area of specialization such as plant physiology, plant propagation, animal breeding and genetics, animal nutrition, etc.
- Participate in design contests through the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) to apply coursework knowledge to real world problems and build professional contacts.
- Cultivate communication, design and teamwork skills.
Getting Started and Advancing in Major
- One of the great strengths of a Biosystems Engineering degree is its breadth which will allow you to gain expertise and experience with a wide variety of engineering tools.
- Biosystems Engineering programs vary widely across the country, usually emphasizing the tools required to meet the specific needs of the state or region. Check with the faculty or advising offices for details about your program’s focus areas.
- A bachelor’s degree provides a wide range of engineering career opportunities in industry, business, and government.
- A bachelor’s degree also provides a strong foundation for pursuing technical graduate degrees, as well as professional degrees in business administration, medicine or law.
- Graduate degrees offer more opportunities for career advancement in research, management, and teaching positions.
- Related work experience obtained through co-op, internships, part-time, or summer jobs is extremely beneficial.
- Develop excellent verbal and written communications skills, including presentation and technical report writing.
- Learn to think in design, scientific and mathematical terms and develop the ability to study data, sort important facts, solve problems and approach problems analytically.
- Engineers should be able to see how entire systems are affected and influenced by the various parts of the system. Creativity is useful.
- Hone computer skills to assist in determining solutions to problems, collecting and analyzing data and to control various processes.
- Other helpful traits include curiosity, technical aptitude, perseverance, a commitment to teamwork and a basic understanding of the economic and environmental context in which engineering is practiced.
- Plan informational interviews or job shadowing opportunities to make contacts in government and industry and to learn more about specific fields. Become familiar with state and federal job application and employment procedures.
- Join related professional organizations.
- Rapid changes occur in engineering fields, so continuing education and knowledge of new developments are very important.
- In most states, a bachelor’s degree from an accredited program enables you to sit for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, which is the first step towards licensure as a Professional Engineer.
- All states and the District of Columbia require registration of engineers whose work may affect the life, health, or safety of the public.
- Learn about state requirements for licensure as a Professional Engineer including the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) and the Principles of Practice of Engineering (PE) exams.
Professional Associations
- Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
- American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
- American Society of Biomechanics
- American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
- Institute of Biological Engineering
- Institute of Food Technology
- International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering
- National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
- National Council of Examiners for Engineering
- Society for Biological Engineering
Related Resources
Occupational Outlook
- Agricultural Engineers
- Conservation Scientists and Foresters
- Environmental Engineers
- Environmental Engineering Technician