Welcome to BBE Engineering Capstone Home Page

******CAPSTONE 2025 SUBMISSIONS BEING ACCEPTED TO NOVEMBER 17, 2025******

Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering is a 4-year ABET accredited engineering program at the University of Minnesota. Seniors in our program are required to take BBE 4502W Capstone Design, which is the culminating design experience before graduating. Our students specialize in either Bioproducts Engineering, Ecological and Environmental Engineering, or Food Engineering. (See specialization details below.)

The Capstone Course

This course presents students with open-ended engineering problems and requires them to work in teams to design a solution for these problems using the engineering skills they have learned in the last 5 semesters in BBE. Our goal is to have one unique project per team of 3-4 students. For this we turn to our alumni, advisory board members, and the many companies and organizations that have supported our program over the years or hired our graduates. If you are looking for 3-4 creative and talented students to work on a project and considering project sponsorship check out the Project Sponsor page.

If you have any questions regarding the Capstone Course or our Department please contact

David Schmidt, Capstone Instructor, [email protected], (612) 709-3568
Huo Zhao, Department Head, [email protected], (612)-625-5200

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Bioproducts Engineering

Students in this specialization are prepared to play a vital role in the global sustainable bio-economy.

Design and develop sustainable process and product solutions to meet the world's growing material, chemical, and energy demands
Apply process engineering principles and practices to renewable bioresources
Design and implement solutions for sustainable manufacturing of biobased green products such as biofuels, bioenergy, biochemicals, bioplastics, paper, building materials, and composites

Environmental and Ecological Engineering

Students in this specialization are prepared to find sustainable solutions for the mutual benefit of both natural systems and systems significantly affected by human activities.

Explore, develop, and implement effective systems and sound solutions to address human impact on our natural environment
Focus on applications to land and water resources as well as water, air, and soil quality
Use and improve methods of land-use management, ecosystem services, ecological restoration, and waste management

Food Engineering

Students in this specialization are prepared to design, develop, and implement cost-effective systems and solutions for food manufacturing and processing technologies.

Create sustainable solutions to address the global need for food security
Provide safe, high quality, and nutritious food and promote healthy living
Design, develop, and implement food processing and manufacturing technologies