People

Nara is a lecturer and researcher in Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Technology at Silpakorn University, Thailand. Her researches now focus mainly on biomass conversion to fermentable sugars which can be fermented to valuable products. She is also interested in developing sugar biosensors for using in bioprocesses. Nara’s technical and leadership training from Dr. Tina Jeoh’s group prepared her to be a principle investigation for her own projects back in Thailand. In graduate school, Nara’s research focused on understanding the effects of pretreatment on biomass to enzyme accessibility during hydrolysis.

Ryan graduated from UC Davis in 2014 with a B.S. in Biological Systems Engineering. He worked at Genentech for one year before returning to UC Davis. Under the support and invaluable mentorship of Dr. Tina Jeoh, he earned his Ph.D. in Biological Systems Engineering in 2021, focusing his research on the formulation of biopesticides for more sustainable agricultural practices. He has a Professional Engineering license and currently works at Provivi Inc. in Santa Monica, CA, where he continues to research the formulation of safe and sustainable pesticides for farmers around the world.

Ryan spoke at the 2022 BAE alumni panel

Jose is a Staff Engineer at Geosyntec Inc, an environmental consulting company which focuses on environmental remediation of chemical spills below the ground surface. As an engineer, Jose helps design remediation systems, perform construction oversight, and sample soil and soil vapor in the field. During his time at UC Davis, Jose was deeply involved professionally and with extracurriculars; Jose was part of a Renewable Energy Data Science Research Project under Dr. Behrsin, CALESS professional society, Aggie Studios, Sigma Delta Alpha, and countless PE classes. For his senior design project, Jose and his team designed a treatment system to disinfect water utilizing only sunlight and curcumin - a natural food grade compound. Jose has fond memories at Davis because even though he was a commuting student from Sacramento, he still found time and energy to connect with SO MANY people. Jose's advice to college students: "Don't be afraid to take risks and ask questions. College is a time to try different activities but simultaneously work hard academically. You will learn so much that it will propel you beyond your college years."

In his free time Jose enjoys making YouTube travel videos and working out.

Nisha is currently a researcher in the Sustainable Aquaculture Program at WorldFish, an international nonprofit research organization that works to strengthen livelihoods and enhance food and nutrition security in developing countries by improving fisheries and aquaculture. Her academic background is in agricultural engineering and sustainable food systems, and she previously studied the dynamics between poverty and groundwater scarcity in California’s Central Valley. Nisha holds a master’s and bachelor’s in biological systems engineering with an emphasis in agricultural and natural resources engineering from UC Davis.

Watch Nisha's Global Aggies spotlight

Read Nisha's Global Aggies story

Julie graduated from UC Davis in 2018 with a Master’s in Biological Systems Engineering. After starting out as a Project Engineer at Davids Engineering, she moved to the USDA NRCS in 2020. During her time at Davids Engineering, she helped compile basin-scale water budgets to support groundwater sustainability efforts and set up, refined and calibrated hydrologic models. At NRCS, she’s worked on design projects for livestock watering systems, irrigation systems, and small ponds to help put natural resources conservation on the ground. She is also currently the LGBT Special Emphasis Program Manager for NRCS California. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, biking and backpacking as well as playing music and crafting.

Alex Mora graduated from UC Davis in 2018 with a degree in Biological Systems Engineering. After graduation, Alex joined Accenture’s Management Consulting practice, where she currently works with global Life Science and Healthcare clients to develop Digital Health strategies around data-driven insights. As an undergraduate, Alex was involved with Post-Harvest research in the lab of Dr. Irwin Donis-Gonzales and contributed to a study and publication on the application of hygroscopic salts as a safe and low-cost method of preserving produce. She was also an officer of the UC Davis chapter of the Society of Women Engineers and a captain of the UC Davis Concrete Canoe team. In her spare time, Alex enjoys running, trying new recipes, knitting, and reading historical fiction novels.

Akshata currently works as a Scientist at Nanōmix Inc, a leading developer of mobile, affordable point-of-care diagnostics. As a Scientist, Akshata leads projects developing and characterizing point of care IVD assays. She works on driving product specifications, development, verification, performance testing, and manufacturing transfer as part of the product development team. Before working at Nanōmix, Akshata worked in Dr. Jeoh's group and focused her research in the area of understanding surface interactions of Trichoderma reesei Cel7A and its variants on cellulose.

Matt Paddock is a bioengineer at the NASA Ames Research Center developing biological life-support systems. He graduated UC Davis in 2017 with his bachelors and 2019 with his masters in Biological Systems Engineering. As a student he participated in SOBE and ASABE robotics clubs and worked as an undergraduate researcher in the Biotechnical Engineering laboratory.

Matt spoke at the 2022 BAE alumni panel

Lydia Palma Miner is cofounder of BioMilitus, a sustainable animal feed startup company that utilizes larvae to rapidly convert agricultural residues into protein-rich insect biomass. Lydia is passionate about recycling waste and food production and received her doctorate in Biological Systems Engineering at UC Davis. Under Dr. Jean VanderGheynst, Lydia's dissertation research emphasized the environmental control for the production of black soldier fly larvae used for poultry feed. Previously, Lydia earned a M.S. and B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from CSU Sacramento where she designed, built and tested a biodiesel conversion system from food waste. Currently, Lydia is a Mechanical Engineering Designer at Dr. Greenhouse, Inc., a mechanical and agricultural engineering firm in Sacramento, CA that specializes in HVAC design for greenhouses and indoor farms. She has helped design controlled environment solutions for leafy greens, microgreens, tomatoes, strawberries and cannabis.

"My time at UC Davis as a Biological Systems Engineering major gave me the foundation and tools to solve any problem; it doesn’t matter what the problem is.”

Jennifer’s story begins in the sunbaked tomato fields surrounding Davis. Working with Dr. Slaughter, she developed a Lectin Assay which lead to a patent for the detection and removal of chitinous material in a biological sample.

It was during her work as an EBS major that Jennifer developed the problem solving and critical analysis skills that would become vital in her career.

After graduation, Jennifer found a job working for the Sacramento Division of the Army Corps of Engineers. The Army Corps of Engineers are basically, “the engineers for the nation and federal government,” she said. When something needs to be built using public funds, the Army Corps of Engineers is almost certainly involved. Those employed by the Army Corps of Engineers are not military personnel, but instead work for the US government as civilians.

Seerat graduated from UC Davis with a Bachelor's Degree in Biosystems Engineering in the Spring of 2020. After graduating, she worked as a Supply Chain Manager at PepsiCo. She currently works as an Automation Engineer at Matrix Technologies. Matrix Technologies is a premier control system integrator in the Bay Area biotech industry. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, working out, and baking/ cooking.

Seerat spoke at the 2022 BAE alumni panel

Brandon joined public service as a Water Resource Control Engineer in 2018, following a 1.5 year stint as an environmental consultant in the Bay Area. In his current position, Brandon is responsible for reissuing and implementing a statewide permit that regulates the water quality of stormwater runoff from over 10,000 construction projects. Brandon finds that engaging with interested parties to further refine the requirements of the permit, while focusing on environmental protection, is the most appealing aspect of his work. For additional details on his work, please visit: Construction Stormwater Program | California State Water Resources Control Board

My name is Bradley Soares and I graduated with a B.S. in Biological Systems Engineering from UC Davis in 2019. I found myself in BSE because I combined my two hobbies; learning how engineered systems function and ethnobotany. Currently, as a NRCS Field Engineer, I am able to work both indoors and outdoors, which was my number one job searching criterium. I work with private land owners to develop systems that target natural resource conservation (Soil, Water, Air, Plants, Animals, and Humans). For example, I assist in developing irrigation systems for farmers or I assist in developing livestock watering systems for ranchers. On a day-to-day basis, I am working with AutoCAD Civil 3D and ArcMap.

“I knew I wanted to be an agricultural engineer after taking a tractor driving class at UC Davis and it initiated my career path.” 

Ha received a B.S. degree in Biological Systems Engineering (Agricultural Engineering) at UC Davis in 1998.  During his study at UC Davis, he joined the Biological & Agricultural Engineering Student Club and participated in the first annual ASAE Quarter Scale Tractor (QST) Design Competition and Pull.  Upon graduation, he landed his first career job as a Product Engineer for Kubota Tractor Corporation in Torrance, CA where he utilized his degree to provide technical support for Kubota’s construction equipment.  Ha left Kubota after a few years and moved back to his hometown, Sacramento, where he has been a longtime resident.  Thanks to a UC Davis classmate and friend, Ha was offered a Field Office Engineer position in Woodland, CA with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in 2001.

Chadwick Wyler 2011 B.S., SR/WA is a UC Davis EBS Grad and Senior Right of Way Professional working as a Right of Way Consultant. He utilizes his degree on a daily basis to both understand and explain public agency infrastructure projects to commercial, residential, and agricultural property owners and tenants. Having a background in Bio and Ag Engineering from UC Davis has been an incredibly valuable tool in understanding the processes and challenges faced by agricultural operators and how to assess the value of their crops and land when impacted by public projects. Chadwick is also serving as the International Right of Way Association Chapter 2 President for the 2020-2021 years.

Jessica graduated from UC Davis in 2013 with a B.S. in Biological Systems Engineering. After completing veterinary school at Texas A&M in 2017, and a post-doctoral fellowship (residency) in laboratory animal medicine at the University of Michigan in 2020, she recently started a position as a clinical veterinarian and assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). She helps with the logistical and clinical care of research animals on campus and works closely with researchers to help them plan and execute their animal experiments. During her residency she also completed a few research projects of her own and hopes to continue creating evidence-based science to improve animal research. She is so thankful for the skills she learned in EBS, and continues to use them every day to communicate with researchers across disciplines and improve biomedical research.