University of Nebraska-Lincoln Biological Systems Engineering Department

“Our programs are really geared towards, ‘How do we interface with water, soil, plants, animals, and humans," says Joe Luck, BSE professor and interim department head. Food production has a critical need for agricultural engineers to enable precision irrigation, autonomous farming equipment, data analytics, and more to feed the growing world population. Read about the Agricultural Systems Technology Major offered through UNL biological Biological Systems Engineering at the UUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln The Hechinger Report U.S. News and World Report

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As Farming Goes High Tech, Universities Grow New Types of Agriculture Degrees New university ‘precision agriculture’ programs teach the use of satellite images, soil sensors, drones, robotics and more.

The 2026 ASABE International 1/4 Scale Tractor Student Design Competition held in Bloomington, IL, awarded the UNL Tractor A-Team second place overall! The team demonstrated Best Defense of Design, Second Place Written Report, Second Place Oral Presentation, Most Ergonomic Design, and tied for the Safety Award. The International 1/4 Scale Tractor Student Design Competition is unique among student engineering design contests, providing a realistic 360-degree workplace experience. Teams of students are given a 34-hp Kawasaki engine and a set of Titan tires. The design of their tractor is up to the team. Congratulations! University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Engineering , American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Design Judging event!

A-Team members presented their new tractor to a panel of industry experts. Elijah Bolin (far left), Payton Frank (second from right), and Lucas Bell (far right) discussing the design decisions that resulted in this year’s tractor.

Over the course of an hour, panels of experts in Serviceability, Manufacturability, Safety, Ergonomics, and Test & Development interacted with the A-Team.

Moments like this showcase not only the technical skill of the students, but also their ability to communicate real-world engineering decisions.

🚜🔥 Arrival day at competition!

Here’s a first look at X-Team beginning tractor check-in—Will McConnell is in the seat, getting ready to drive the tractor off the scales.

The next few days will be filled with competition and showcasing everything the team has built.

Stay tuned!

🚜💪 The journey is underway!

Our BSE 1/4 Scale Tractor Teams – A-Team and X-Team made a stop in Iowa at Dalton’s Farm Toys as they travel to the ASABE International 1/4 Scale Tractor Student Design Competition.

After months of design, fabrication, and testing, the team is officially on the road and ready to represent the University of Nebraska on the international stage.

Next stop: competition. Good luck and safe travels—we’re cheering you on every mile of the way! 🌎🔧

Learn more: https://asabe.org/iqs.

🎉 Congratulations to Dr. Saleh Taghvaeian on his recent promotion to Professor in the UNL Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources!

This well-deserved recognition highlights his outstanding contributions to research, teaching, and extension.

We are proud to celebrate this exciting milestone and the impact he continues to make. 👏

🎓 Congratulations to our Spring 2026 graduates!

The Department of Biological Systems Engineering is proud to celebrate our undergraduate and graduate students as they reach this milestone.

We can’t wait to see what you accomplish next!

🎉 Congratulations to Our Award Recipients! 🎉

The UNL Biological Systems Engineering Department is proud to recognize two outstanding contributors to teaching and learning, recently honored at the 2026 CASNR Awards Luncheon.

🏅 David Mabie, Associate Professor of Practice in BSE, received the Every Person and Every Interaction Matters Faculty Impact Award.

🏅 Blake Hansen received the Undergraduate Teaching and Learning Assistant Award. Blake has served as the lead TA for AGST 109 for the past three years under Dr. Mabie.

Please join us in congratulating David and Blake on these well deserved honors! 👏

We are proud to recognize Dr. Santosh Pitla, faculty in Biological Systems Engineering at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, for his role as Co-Director of the newly launched University of Nebraska AI Institute.

This institute connects all four NU campuses with industry, communities, and partners across the state to advance AI in ways that are practical, ethical, and impactful.

Dr. Pitla’s work in Physical AI focuses on robotics and intelligent systems that interact with the real world, particularly in agriculture. Through this initiative, that work expands into a broader, interdisciplinary ecosystem while remaining focused on solving real challenges for farmers, agribusinesses, and rural communities.

The institute also creates meaningful opportunities for students to engage in hands-on, real-world AI applications across sectors.

“AI is shaping every industry, and those who learn to use it responsibly and apply it to real-world problems will define the future.”

Learn more about the AI Institute:
https://ai.nebraska.edu/