Awards and Honors

Biological systems engineering M.S. student Ivan Wongso has earned first place for his research presentation at the 2021 Food Improved by Research, Science, and Technology (FIRST) event, held by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) during its annual meeting. He won over three other finalists under the Quality Management Division.

UC Davis biological systems engineers Chang Chen and Ke Wang placed first and third, respectively, in the 2021 graduate student paper competition hosted by the Association of Overseas Chinese Agricultural, Biological and Food Engineers (AOCABFE, also known as AOC). The competition is held every year at the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) Annual Meeting.

A 2019 paper from the UC Davis Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department recently received the European Society of Agricultural Engineers (EurAgEng) Outstanding Paper Award. The award is given every other year by the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) to two to three standout papers published in the Biosystems Engineering journal.

UC Davis graduate students made their presence known at this year’s Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Food Engineering Division graduate student poster competition, taking home all three top spots.

Associate professor Isaya Kisekka has received the 2020 Irrigation Association (IA) Excellence in Education Award. The annual award recognizes outstanding educators in irrigation, water management and water conservation. Kisekka was cited for being “instrumental in reviving the irrigation curriculum at UC Davis” by co-developing three new irrigation courses and helping create the Irrigation and Water Management minor.

Adjunct professor Zhongli Pan has been named a fellow of the Institute of Food Technologies (IFT). IFT fellows are recognized by their peers for “exemplary professionalism in the field of food science,” including scholarship, service, leadership or innovation that helps improve humanity through food science and technology.

Biological and agricultural engineering (BAE) distinguished professor and department chair Bryan Jenkins was named the recipient of the 2020 James R. and Karen A. Gilley Academic Leadership Award from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE).