Shah Receives NABEC Young Engineer of the Year Award Ajay Shah, associate professor in
FABE, was honored in 2019 with the Young Engineer of the Year award at the Northeast Agricultural and Biological Engineering Conference (NABEC). Each year, the award honors one member of NABEC, who has made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the agricultural and biological engineering profession. “It’s an honor to receive this award from my colleagues. It means a lot to have my work recognized by them. I would like to thank all my team members, internal and external collaborators, and funding agencies for their support – their contributions have made this possible,” Shah says. Shah holds a bachelor’s degree
Shah (middle) with Jan Franklin Adamowski (left) and Maury Salz (right) in mechanical engineering from Tribhuvan University in Nepal, a master’s degree in biological engineering from Mississippi State University and a doctoral degree in agricultural and biosystems engineering from Iowa State University. Dr. Shah leads the BioSystems Analysis Lab (BSAL), where his program contributes to enhancing the techno-economic and environmental sustainability of advanced plantbased food, material and energy
production systems throughout their life cycle, from field production through conversion to end-products. More specifically, his program focuses on biofeedstock production, harvest and supply logistics; biomass conversion; and organic waste management and value-addition. He is also developing systems to minimize post-harvest grain dry matter losses for small-holder farmers in developing countries. Additionally, Dr. Shah is the director of the Program for Bioproducts and the Environment (ProBE).
Winston Receives Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award Ryan Winston, assistant professor in FABE and Civil,
Environmental, and Geodetic Engineering, received a 2019 Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award. Over 60 graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty were nominated this year. Winston joins 17 other award recipients from across the university, who were all recognized by the Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry. The Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award honors individuals who have demonstrated success in mentoring undergraduates in their research and/or creative inquiry endeavors. Winston was nominated by his advisee, Joseph Smith, an undergraduate and graduate student in FABE, specializing in ecological engineering.
Winston (left) with advisee, nominator, and FABE graduate student Joseph Smith (right)
“Since I did not have any previous experience as a researcher, Ryan has taught me how to navigate the daunting research process,” said Smith in his nomination letter. “He has made me feel welcome to ask any question I might have, and has encouraged me to showcase my research at events such as the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum.”
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