Bioenergy Minor ProgramOregon State University158 B Strand Agriculture HallCorvallis, OR 97331-3601Phone: 541-737-2240

Email:bioenergy@oregonstate.eduOnline: agsci.oregonstate.edu/bioenergy-minor

College of Agricultural Sciences

Bioenergy Minor: Program Graduates Research & Jobs

Dylan Hinson (above), majored in Bioengineering. He says the

research he has done for his Bioenergy Minor sets him apart

from others pursuing work in the bioenergy industry after college.

Cesar Juarez (front page), senior in BioResource Research, says

the research experience he's gained in the Bioenergy Minor

Program is helping him prepare for the future and taught him

skills to be successful in the bioenergy field.

The need for sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels is a critical problem of our age. Students with a Bioenergy Minor are prepared to immediately join the bioeconomy and contribute to long-term environmental and economic sustainability.

The Bioenergy Minor helps students gain the skills they need to solve problems, create and communicate advances in bioenergy and bioproducts, develop bioenergy businesses and solutions, and provide leadership in the growing bioeconomy.

A Minor for ALL Majors The Bioenergy Minor is an excellent complement to agricultural sciences, engineering, forestry, environmental sciences, business, education and social science majors.

This interdisciplinary minor focuses on bioenergy concepts and issues, and offers students significant research experience and professional development.

Why Bioenergy?

This educational program is part of Advanced Hardwood Biofuels Northwest and supported by a grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Bioenergy Minor 2016 Grads

Close Up Look at Biomass ConversionAbove, an electron micrograph by Bioenergy

Minor student Crystal Oldfield shows spherical droplets of lignin that formed during a chemical

pretreatment, which increased the susceptibility of biomass to enzymatic conversion.

Dylan HinsonBioengineeringPeace Corps, NamibiaThesis: Rapid Assay for Detection of Fermentation Inhibitors in Cellulosic Sugars

Brian DoughertyEcological EngineeringGraduate school, Iowa State UniversityThesis: Application of Bio-char as Nutrient-Capturing Soil Amendment

Mu FengBiochemistry/BiophysicsPhD program in biochemistry at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New YorkThesis: New Genetic Engineering Tool for Poplar Bioenergy Feedstock

Britany SwannChemistryLab manager in the Rheology Research Lab and pursuing a M.S. in Chemical Engineering, OSUThesis: Fabrication of Thermal Insula-tion Material using Recycled Plastics

Charlie TaBioResource ResearchTeaching in JapanThesis: Effect of Iron Nutrients on the Nitrogen Cycle in Soil

Real World ApplicationsAbove, a woman using a fuel efficient biomass cook stove, designed by Bioenergy Minor student Elijah Wilson. Stoves of this rocket elbow design have improved firepower and reduced air pollution com-pared to traditional stove designs.

2014 & 2015 Graduates

Sean Atkins Bioengineering Genentech, Aseptic Operations MFG Technician Thesis: Carbon Capture and Storage using Microorganisms

James Boulger Renewable Materials Arauco North America, Process Engineer Thesis: Case Study: Community-based Biomass Utilization Framework in Oakridge, Oregon

Michael Gordon BioResource ResearchOregon State University Plant Clinic, TechnicianThesis: Anaerobic Digestion as a Method for Recovering Nutrients from Wastewater

Shanti Johnson Chemical EngineeringE.J. Gallo, Process EngineerThesis: Effect of Fatty Acid Additives on Biodiesel Properties

Crystal Oldfield BioResource ResearchCascadia Labs, Laboratory Analyst Thesis: Impact of Lignin on Conversion of Biomass to Cellulosic Sugars

Ethan PaliocaBiochemistry/BiophysicsPreparing for medical schoolThesis: Effect of Iron Nano-particles on Biopower Production using Microbial Fuel Cells

Elijah WilsonRenewable Materials Graduate student, Wood Science and Engineering, Oregon State UniversityThesis: Design of Fuel-Efficient Biomass Cook Stoves

FUTURE GRADSOver 100 OSU students are involved in the Bioenergy Minor courses, and currently 22 undergraduate students are participating in the OSU Bioenergy Minor Program.