Biosystems Engineering students, faculty excel at ASABE meeting
Published: Aug 13, 2026 10:00 AM
By Phillip Tutor
From left, students Olivia Ray, Aubrey Hoffnagle, Jasmine Feld and Natalie Krimm at the ASABE meeting in Indianapolis.
A contingent of 43 students and faculty from Auburn’s Department of Biosystems Engineering returned from the annual international meeting of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) with a bevy of awards, commendations and organizational appointments.
Appearing July 12-15 before 1,500 conference attendees in Indianapolis, a trio of Auburn graduate students — Hanieh Najafi, Chandra Khanal and Raziyeh Jokar — won second place in the bioprocess startup competition for development of a bio-based product that spreads spray droplets evenly across leaf surfaces.
For their startup product, called AgroWet, Najafi, Khanal and Jokar used a low-value byproduct of soybean oil processing to develop a surfactant and spray adjuvant that improves agrochemical retention. The trio divided the project into three key areas of responsibility: Najafi focused on process development and formulation, Jokar handled cost and sustainability and Khanal oversaw process scale-up.
“The award underscores the growing interest of our graduates in translating the emerging and breakthrough technologies from their cutting-edge research into the marketplace,” said Oladiran Fasina, department head of biosystems engineering.
Another student, Jasmine Feld, was elected as second vice president of ASABE’s International Student Branch. Feld joined fellow undergraduates Olivia Ray, Natalie Krimm and Aubrey Hoffnagle at the conference in anticipation of the Southeastern ASABE Student Rally, which Auburn will host in March 2027.
That event, which may draw 200-plus students to The Plains from across the Southeast, is designed as a networking and professional-development opportunity in which undergraduates are introduced to industries based in the host state. Auburn hasn’t hosted the event since 2014.
While in Indianapolis, Auburn representatives gave more than 35 presentations that highlighted the department’s research into engineering and technology advances regarding challenges in food security, water access and environmental sustainability.
Faculty also enjoyed their time in the spotlight.
Fasina received the society’s 2026 James R. and Karen A. Gilley Academic Leadership award for what the ASABE described as “visionary guidance, strategic innovation and a deep commitment to faculty, staff and student success” that has resulted in “an elite research program” at Auburn. David Blersch, associate professor of biosystems engineering, won the Outstanding Manuscript Reviewer Award.
“Fasina’s dedication to academic rigor is highlighted by his leadership in creating three new majors and options within the Auburn University biosystems engineering department, significantly expanding educational opportunities for students,” the ASABE wrote.
Fasina, a 34-year society member who was named an ASABE Fellow in 2014, focuses his research on the engineering properties of biological materials, including food products, forage crops, fertilizers, waste residues and biomass feedstocks.
“This award, which also is for current and past faculty, staff and students of the department, recognizes our collective passion for student-centered excellence, cutting-edge research and outreach/extension programs, and the strong supportive and collaborative culture in the department,” he said.
Media Contact: , pot0004@auburn.edu, 334-844-3591
