6.7 Faculty of Engineering
| 6.7.1 |
Biosystems Engineering |
Head: Q. (Chong) Zhang
General Office: 483 Engineering Bldg
Telephone: (204) 474-6033
Fax: (204) 474-7512
Email: headbio@ms.umanitoba.ca
Web: www.umanitoba.ca/afs/bioeng
Academic Staff
Program Information
The Department of Biosystems Engineering offers graduate programs leading to M.Sc., M.Eng., and Ph.D. degrees. The graduate-studies programs in the department focus on applications of engineering in biological systems. Strong emphasis is placed on assisting graduate students to gain a broad range of skills and experience in conducting interdisciplinary research, in understanding the interrelationships among physical and biological factors, in mathematical modelling and computer usage, and in written and oral communication.
Graduates of the programs have obtained jobs throughout the world in industry, government, research, education, international consulting and self-employment. The range of their work includes: farm equipment development, structural analysis, building design, environmental assessment and management, application of machine vision in food processing, and storage of grain and food.
Fields of Research
Environment: Environmental impact assessments of agricultural and food production; biological reduction of wastewater; utilization of membrane bioreactor technology; management and utilization of agricultural and food processing wastes; land application of manure; odour measurement and control; protection and remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater; site preparation and selection.
Food Engineering: Infrared processing of food; superheated steam drying; extraction technologies for a complex oil/juice crop; preservation and transport containers for meat; modified atmosphere storage of meat, fruits, and vegetables; fast freezing of fruits; mathematical modelling of food systems; compaction of flour; physical, thermal, and rheological properties of foods; and water activities of foods.
Instrumentation: Computer analysis of images for grading, orientation, and automation; sensors and data acquisition for biological systems.
Post-harvest Preservation of Grains: Inter-disciplinary research on grain storing and drying systems; computer simulation of stored-grain ecosystems, physical methods of controlling insects and microorganisms; machine vision for automated handling and classification of grain; properties of grains and oilseeds; expert systems for managing stored products.
Power and Machinery: Harvesting and processing of new crops such as hemp and sea buckthorn; precision agriculture, equipment for manure handling; guidance systems for agricultural machinery; tillage and seeding; soil-machine interaction.
Soil and Water: Irrigation and drainage engineering; soil-plant-water relations; flow and contaminant transport in porous media.
Structures: Structural aspects of light-frame buildings; bulk solids storage structures (bins and silos); bulk properties of grains and powders; flow of bulk solids; use of wood and other structural materials; animal and plant growth environments; environments in buildings designed for biological processes.
Research Facilities
Departmental research facilities include: porous-media laboratory; superheated-steam drier; infrared treatment equipment; differential scanning calorimeter; texture analyser; soil bin; tractor cab simulator; loading frames for structural testing of wood beams, columns, and trusses; computer-controlled data acquisition systems; electronic nose; and olfactometer for odour measurement; and access to a university farm for research on both animal and crop production.
The Department has a 1400-m2 state-of-the-art laboratory for research on stored-grain ecosystems. The facility includes: machine vision equipment; a soft x-ray unit; near-ambient, high temperature, infrared and microwave driers; a fan-testing unit; instrumentation for measuring loads in grain storage structures; equipment to measure physical, thermal, biological, and quality characteristics of grains and oilseeds; thermal disinfestation systems; environmental chambers; grain handling and cleaning equipment; and several grain bins.
M.Sc. in Biosystems Engineering
Admission
For admission into the Master of Science program, applicants are normally required to hold a Bachelor's degree in Biosystems Engineering or equivalent from a recognized university. Candidates with degrees in related areas will be accepted at the discretion of the department head.
Application Deadlines
Canadian/U.S. students should submit their application and supporting documentation to the Department at least 3 months prior to their intended start date. International students should submit their application and supporting documentation to the Department at least 7 months prior to their intended start date.
Program Requirements
Minimum Program requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies are found in the Graduate Studies Regulations Section of this Calendar. A minimum of 18 credit hours of coursework is required, which should include: 034.729; other courses in the 700 series of Biosystems Engineering of not less than three hours of credit; and approved ancillary courses. In addition, a thesis must be submitted based on original research conducted by the student.
Master of Science students are required to spend at least one academic session in full-time resident graduate study. On recommendation of the department head, the residence requirement may be waived in special cases.
Second language reading requirement: none
Expected time to graduate: 18-24 months
M.Eng. in Biosystems Engineering
Admission
For admission into the M.Eng. program, applicants are normally required to hold a B.Sc.(Eng.) degree. Candidates with degrees in related areas will be accepted at the discretion of the department head.
Application Deadlines
Canadian/U.S. students should submit their application and supporting documentation to the Department at least 3 months prior to their intended start date. International students should submit their application and supporting documentation to the Department at least 7 months prior to their intended start date.
Program Requirements
Minimum Program requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies are found in the Graduate Studies Regulations Section of this Calendar. A minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework is required, which should include: a seminar course of Biosystems Engineering, six hours assigned to an approved project and report; and at least 12 credit hours of 700 level courses offered by the Faculty of Engineering. An oral presentation of the project to a department examining committee is required.
Second language requirement: none
Expected time to graduate: 12 months
Ph.D. in Biosystems Engineering
Admission
Admission to the Ph.D. program is normally from the Master of Science. Students making exceptional progress while enrolled in the M.Sc. program may be transferred to the Ph.D. program upon the consent of the department head and based on a recommendation from the student's advisor and an appointed selection committee which investigates the student's qualifications and suitability for Ph.D. study. In such cases, the program credit hour requirements shall be decided at the time of the transfer.
Application Deadlines
Canadian/U.S. students should submit their application and supporting documentation to the Department at least 3 months prior to their intended start date. International students should submit their application and supporting documentation to the Department at least 7 months prior to their intended start date.
Program Requirements
Minimum Program requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies are found in the Graduate Studies Regulations Section of this Calendar. Students are normally required to take a seminar course of Biosystems Engineering and expected to meet a requirement of teaching and learning in post-secondary education. The teaching and learning requirement may be met by: completing 069.803 Introduction to College Teaching and one or more of the Teaching Workshops of 15 h duration; or completing the teaching workshops in Teaching Techniques, and Course Construction and Organization (15 h each) plus other teaching workshops of at least 15 h duration; or completing teaching workshops of 45 h duration. Teaching workshops are offered each year by the University of Manitoba. The advisory committee for the student must approve the process which will be followed by the student to meet the teaching and learning requirement.
Second language requirement: none
Expected time to graduate: three years
Course Descriptions
