Dr. Wei Liao is leading an active research program on biological conversion of agricultural residues into bioenergy/chemical products at Michigan State University. Current research areas Dr. Liao is working on are: self-sustaining solar-bio-nano-based waste utilization system, integrated farm-based biorefining, improving energy efficiency for small-scale animal manure management system, methane/biorefinery feedstock co-production from lignocellulosic residues, algal cutlivation on waste streams for biofuel/chemical production.

Homepage: http://www.egr.msu.edu/liao

Dr. Sibel Uludag-Demirer has experience in research for more than 20 years on wastewater treatment methods and technologies and biological treatment processes specific for the wastewater and waste originating from residential, industrial, and agricultural activities to ADREC at MSU. Dr. Uludag-Demirer received her Ph.D. degree from the Civil and Environmental Engineering in Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN) in 1999. She worked in several higher education institutions both in US and abroad, Anadolu University (Turkiye), Drexel University (Philadelphia, PA), RMIT University (Melbourne, Australia) until She joined the BAE Department at MSU in 2017 as a research associate. Dr. Uludag-Demirer worked in several research projects with a focus on the development of carbon dioxide capturing methods, testing wastewater treatment systems for their efficiency in contaminant removal and energy consumption and anaerobic digestion of agricultural (crop and animal) residues. She started working in the ADREC as the manager in 2022. Dr. Uludag-Demirer oversee and manage the services provided in ADREC as well as carry out research project related to waste/wastewater utilization.

Homepage:  https://www.egr.msu.edu/bae/adrec

Mr. Louis Faivor is in charge of the MSU south campus anaerobic digester (SCAD) operation, and supervise staff members and undergraduate students at SCAD. His research interests are anaerobic digestion, manure management and land applications, and tillage and planting.

Dr. Bradford's research group integrates nutritional, environmental, and physiological variables to better understand the conditions that promote optimal health and productivity of dairy cattle. The dairy industry plays a critical role in the food system Lab group photo.jpg by upcycling nutrients that are not suitable for non-ruminants into fantastic things like ice cream and cheese. We take pride in carrying out research to improve the well-being of dairy cows and the sustainability of this critical industrye use of plant-based ecological systems to address water quality issues, including pollution of waters by agricultural runoff, stormwater runoff, urban and agricultural wastewaters, and hazardous wastes. Research focuses on plant-based ecosystems, such as wetlands, filter strips, best management practices, and phytoremediation, and on how plants affect the fate of pollutants. Key areas of focus include: inflammation and immunity in the transition to lactation, nutrients as signals, and evidence-based dairy management. With a 50% Extension appointment, Dr. Bradford collaborates with dairy producers and their advisors to address questions around dairy farm management. Although his core expertise is dairy cattle nutrition, Bradford has a longstanding interest in data analysis and its use in making decisions that impact dairy farms on a daily basis. For example, previous research with collated data from thousands of dairy farms demonstrated that first-lactation cows giving birth to a heifer calf produce more milk for multiple lactations thereafter, influencing decisions on the use of sexed semen.

Homepage: https://www.canr.msu.edu/people/bradford-barry?roleURL=bradford-barry

Dr. Dechand's research group aims to advance use of plant-based ecological systems to address water quality issues, including pollution of waters by agricultural runoff, stormwater runoff, urban and agricultural wastewaters, and hazardous wastes. Research focuses on plant-based ecosystems, such as wetlands, filter strips, best management practices, and phytoremediation, and on how plants affect the fate of pollutants.

Homepage: https://msuecoeng.wordpress.com/

Mr. Go has twenty five years of experience in domestic and international project/program management; twelve years in energy programs, policies, energy efficiency and renewable energy assessments in agriculture and rural businesses; and ten years involvement with the Michigan Public Service Commission and Michigan Utilities in energy issues and Energy Optimization Programs. 

Homepage: https://www.canr.msu.edu/people/aluel_go?roleURL=aluel-go-bae-faculty&language_id=

Mr. Gould provides relevant expertise in the areas of bioenergy, bioproducts and energy conservation to Michigan farmers and agribusiness that enable them to be sustainable now and in the future. His research area is designing and implementing a low cost, robust digester for small livestock and dairy producers. He has one patent pending on a digester design. He is the co-author of an anaerobic digester operator handbook and is a textbook chapter author on anaerobic digestion, as well as the author of numerous Extension bulletins. He provided leadership and wrote modules for a peer-reviewed anaerobic digestion web-based curriculum targeting Extension educators. Since 1995 he has secured and successfully managed 22 needs-based grants totaling over $400,000 from private, university and government funding sources.  He received his Bachelor’s degree from Utah State University and his Master’s degree from The University of Georgia. He has been with Michigan State University Extension since 1995.

Homepages:

http://msue.anr.msu.edu/topic/info/bioeconomy

http://msue.anr.msu.edu/

The research area Dr. Yan Liu has been working on is bio-products and bio-energy development which comprises different microbial conversion processes such as fungal/bacterial fermentation, anaerobic digestion and algal cultivation. Those bioprocesses are converting different feedstocks mainly focusing on agricultural residues and wastes to produce various bioproducts such as organic acids, enzymes, pharmaceutical products and energy products such as ethanol, butanol and biodiesel.

Homepage: http://www.egr.msu.edu/liuyan6/

Dr. Narayan has more than 150 refereed publications in leading journals to his credit, 28 issued patents, edited three books and one expert dossier in the area of bio-based polymeric materials. His research encompasses design & engineering of sustainable, biobased products, biodegradable plastics and polymers, biofiber reinforced composites, reactive extrusion polymerization and processing, studies in plastic end-of-life options like biodegradation and composting. His research involves developing carbon and environmental footprint of biobased and biodegradable plastics and products using biocarbon content analysis (ASTM D6866) and LCA (life cycle assessment) methodology.

Homepage: http://www.chems.msu.edu/people/profile/narayan

Dr. Reese has expertise in distance learning technology, sustainability and study abroad. Dr. Reese co-led three study abroad programs related to sustainability and renewable bioenergy systems with programs in Germany/Sweden, Australia and Costa Rica and has co-led the Sustainable Food, Environment and Social Systems in Australia 14 years.

Homepage: https://www.canr.msu.edu/people/reesel?roleURL=reesel&language_id=

Areas of expertise: automation and control systems, electrical installations for agricultural facilities, electrical codes, artificial lighting systems, neutral-to-earth voltage, electrical energy conservation and efficiency, electrical grounding, renewable power systems and electrical apprenticeship training. 

Homepage: https://www.canr.msu.edu/people/surbrook?roleURL=surbrook&language_id=

Dr. Uyeh is a scientist and engineer working on multidisciplinary research projects towards improving efficiency and minimizing production costs, thus ensuring resilient and sustainable agriculture. His research is data-driven and converges on the interface of artificial intelligence, chemometrics, optical sensing, and system modeling in solving agricultural problems. Dr. Uyeh instructs and supervises undergraduate and graduate majors in Agricultural Engineering and Food Security and interns from diverse backgrounds.

Homepage: https://www.danieluyeh.com/

Dr. Yang brings a multidisciplinary background that integrates agricultural engineering, environmental engineering, and animal science. His research and Extension program at Michigan State University (MSU) focuses on developing cost-effective engineering solutions and systems-based approaches to advance the sustainability of animal agriculture. Prior to joining MSU, he was a faculty member at South Dakota State University and Montana Technological University for a combined total of ten years. 

Homepage: https://sites.google.com/view/xyang1

Research topics: Anaerobic Digestion, Nitrogen transformation, Life cycle assessment

Curriculum Vitae

Research topics: Resource recovery and viral particle association in a bench scale activated sludge wastewater treatment reactor

Curriculum Vitae

Research topics: Mobile renewable EV charging solution, electro-chemical wastewater treatment, reactor design and fabrication

Curriculum Vitae

Research topics: Biomethane potential study, reactor setup and testing

Curriculum Vitae

Research topics: Algal cultivation, wastewater treatment, plant hormone production

Curriculum Vitae

Research topics:Wastewater treatment, renewable energy generation

Curriculum Vitae