Design, build, operate, maintain:
Drainage and irrigation systems
Water supply and waste water systems
Water quality monitoring
Erosion and sediment control
Storm-water 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
Colleges and universities
Private research institutions
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
Hydroelectric power
Water treatment
Environmental design and consulting
Architecture firms
Builders
Forest products
Mining
Industry regulators
Local and regional utility districts
Industry continued:
Builders
Forest products mining
Local and regional utility districts
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).
Design, build, operate, maintain:
Tractors and specialized equipment for irrigating, seeding, harvesting, chemical application, commodity/waste transport, tilling, food processing
Design, build, operate, maintain:
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
Industry:
Equipment companies
Instrumentation and control systems
Bulk product handling, processing and transport
Agricultural production
Industries continued:
Forest products
Environmental consulting
Food processing
Nursery
Greenhouse
Industries continued:
Turf
Mining
Forestry
Lawn and garden equipment
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.
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
Colleges and universities
Private research institutions
Industry:
Agricultural and construction equipment
Instrumentation and control system
Food processing
Pharmaceuticals
Greenhouses
Natural resources consulting firms
Biomedical instrumentation
Government agencies:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Food Safety and Inspection Service
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.
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
Colleges and universities
Private research institutions
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
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).
Alternative energy production:
Biodiesel, ethanol, solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal
Environmental protection
Energy conservation
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
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).
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
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
Government continued:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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.
Nurseries
Greenhouses
Animal Housing
Storage structures:
Ventilation
Temperature and humidity controls
Irrigation
Waste storage, reuse, transportation
Industry:
Nursery
Greenhouse
Agricultural equipment
Instrumentation and control systems
Industry continued:
Bulk product handling, processing and transport
Agricultural production
Waste management operations
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.
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.