Virginia Tech Biological Systems Engineering

10/11/2026

Congratulations to BSE alum Shuyu Zhang (B.S. ’20), who earned his Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Virginia Tech this July!

Shuyu completed his doctoral research in Dr. Anne Staples’ lab, studying microfluidic pumps for drug delivery and investigating materials used in 3D printing.

He's now taking the next step in his research career as a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Case Western Reserve University, where he'll work on technologies to study how cells respond to movement and drug delivery.

Congratulations, Shuyu! We can't wait to see what you accomplish next!

10/09/2026

Ever wonder what a day in the life of a Virginia Tech ecological engineering student looks like?

Follow along with Sophia Bochis as she takes us through a typical day of classes, campus life, and everything in between!

10/01/2026

Learning from the stream 💧🥾

Students in BSE 4354/5324 Applied Fluvial Geomorphology took their classroom to Purgatory Creek near Alleghany Springs, Virginia, for a field trip to Stiles Falls.

Along the way, they explored how features of the surrounding landscape — from the shape and steepness of the valley to sources of sediment — influence a stream’s form and behavior. They also learned about stream classification and saw firsthand how road crossings can affect waterways.

Just another day of hands-on learning in BSE.

09/30/2026

Congratulations to BSE graduate student Yu Liu on receiving a 2026 Southern SARE Graduate Student Fellowship!

Yu, who is co-advised by Drs. Yiming Feng and Justin Barone, received the fellowship for his project, “Chitin as a Sustainable Cooling Solution: Field Evaluation of Passive Thermal Liners for Heat Management in Small-Scale Southern Strawberry Production.”

His research is exploring sustainable passive cooling materials that could help reduce heat exposure in fresh produce during handling and transport—an important challenge for small-scale growers in the South.

Congratulations, Yu!

09/27/2026

Meet Jonathan , Maggie, and April — three BSE students and graduates putting their degrees to work in biotechnology, water resources, research, and graduate study.

Their advice? Travel, keep learning, and seek out opportunities along the way.

09/25/2026

Getting hands-on with hydrology 💧

Students in Dr. Jon Czuba’s Field Methods in Hydrology class surveyed a cross-section of a sinking creek, collecting field data they’ll use to build a model of the channel in AutoCAD.

It’s a practical look at how field measurements become the data behind engineering analysis and design.

09/23/2026

Congratulations to BSE graduate student Lihong Yang, who has been selected as a 2026–2028 Virginia Sea Grant Graduate Research Fellow!

Co-advised by Drs. Yiming Feng and Haibo Huang, Lihong is developing an AI-enabled fish farming system that will monitor water quality, fish behavior, and fish welfare. Her work will bring those data together in an open-source platform designed to provide real-time visualization and decision support for aquaculture producers and farm managers.

Lihong is one of the graduate researchers featured in Virginia Sea Grant’s newly announced 2026 fellowship cohort. Congratulations, Lihong!

09/18/2026

So much fun! BSE students, staff, and faculty celebrate the new school year with ice cream from and some watermelon! 🍦😎🍉

09/15/2026

Some of our BSE students couldn’t wait for the school year to start. What are you most excited for this year?

09/13/2026