Briana Bittner
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Sandponics offers more affordable path for farming in water‑scarce regions , articleResearchers are working on improvements to sustainable agriculture that could reduce environmental damage, lower production costs, and expand food growing opportunities in water-limited regions. The system they’re using, referred to as sandponics, reimagines aquaponics by replacing expensive synthetic substrates with one of the world’s most abundant natural materials.
Date: May 17, 2026 -
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Class of 2026: Michaela Foster jumps in ecological engineering , articleGuided by a love for the outdoors, Foster blends ecological engineering, hands‑on research, and vibrant student communities to shape a future focused on restoring and protecting natural systems.
Date: May 06, 2026 -
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Gluing streambanks could help restore healthy rivers , articleSenior Keegan O'Hara is supported by research funding from the Global Change Center as he develops a “recipe” to encourage soil microorganisms to create substances that act like glue, quickly strengthening reconstructed streambanks until vegetation can grow.
Date: Apr 27, 2026 -
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Experimental vaccine could help turn the tide on America’s opioid epidemic , articleResearchers discovered a way to use nanoparticles to create a vaccine that prevents specific opioids from causing their signature addictive high. They hope this can be used to curb opioid overdose deaths.
Date: Mar 09, 2026 -
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From microorganisms to Mars: Undergraduate research explores how to successfully grow crops in space , articleWith support from the Virginia Space Grant Consortium, biological systems engineering senior Jessica Dodson looks to bridge synthetic biology and space agriculture, with potential applications for NASA and climate-resilient farming on Earth.
Date: May 13, 2025 -
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Class of 2025: April Sayers transfers engineering knowledge to inaugural programs , articleAfter transferring to Virginia Tech, April Sayers found her passion in biological systems engineering. Through research, leadership in ASABE, and service in the Defense Civilian Training Corps, she’s made a lasting impact.
Date: May 12, 2025 -
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Class of 2025: Reilly Oare named College of Engineering Outstanding Master's Student , articleReilly Oare found her passion in using machine learning to improve stream habitat restoration. Her research helps environmental agencies make smarter decisions, while her love for the outdoors continues to inspire her work.
Date: May 12, 2025 -
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Students engineer solutions in remote corners of the world , articleVirginia Tech students learned about water quality in the remote Himalayan mountains of Nepal during a three week long trip to improve irrigation.
Date: Oct 09, 2024 -
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Class of 2024: Julia Riley tackles challenges inside and outside of the classroom , article“My journey at Virginia Tech has been an incredibly fulfilling one that continues to remind me that the unexpected parts of life can sometimes be the most rewarding," said Riley, the College of Engineering's Outstanding Senior.
Date: May 06, 2024 -
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Innovative screening can detect 'cancer fingerprint' in dogs , articleUsing a unique urinalysis technique, researchers at Virginia Tech have created a simple, noninvasive, rapid screen to detect the presence of cancer in dogs.
Date: Feb 07, 2024 -
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Stefan Roberts named head of the Department of Biochemistry , article“I will ensure that we continue to build and expand on our strong record of significant contributions to both research and teaching,” said Roberts, who started in the position earlier in September.
Date: Oct 09, 2023
