Department of Biological Systems Engineering

Welcome to the Department of Biological Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech!

Thank you for visiting our website and giving us the opportunity to tell you a bit about our department. We hope that you will explore the rest of the website to learn more details about the exciting work and activities in which our students, faculty, and alumni are involved.

Biological Systems Engineering (BSE) is the engineering discipline that applies concepts of biology, chemistry and physics, along with engineering science and design principles, to solve problems in biological systems.

Our faculty and students work in a broad range of biological systems, from natural systems, such as watersheds with a focus on water resources, to built systems, such as bioreactors and bioprocessing facilities. We work from the nanoscale to the macroscale. We seek to improve animal, human, and environmental health through development and design of healthy food products, vaccines, bioenergy, biomaterials, and water quality management practices. We convert biological resources, such as switchgrass, plant proteins, and animal manure, into value-added products, such as biopharmaceuticals, biofuels, and biomaterials, in a sustainable manner.

If you have questions or would like to visit the department and speak with someone, please contact us. We would love to tell you more about BSE!

All BSE programs are administered on the Blacksburg campus and all BSE courses consist of resident instruction delivered on the Blacksburg campus.