Our research focuses on sustaining the region known as America's Breadbasket, which feeds the U.S. and world.

We are investigating engineering and socioeconomic innovations to conserve water, create renewable energy, and help rural communities thrive.

All our research teams are inter-disciplinary

THEME 1: Innovations for soil, water and microbial systems in the face of drought

Use heat transfer to predict/alter evaporation and microfluidics to determine the impacts of drought stress on microbes.

THEME 2: Hydrologic science and water conservation systems for efficient food production

Understand the complex engineering, social, and economic systems of the Ogallala Aquifer.

THEME 3: Anaerobic bioreactors to transform animal waste into usable energy/water/fertilizer

Engineer an Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor and understand the social and economic barriers to implementing in farms.