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The M.Sc. program began in 1968 and the Ph.D. program began in 1988 under the name Agricultural Engineering. In 1995, to reflect the broadening range

of opportunities for Engineers with a biological background, both the name of the department and the designations were changed from Agricultural Engineering to Biosystems Engineering. The Department of Biosystems Engineering is administered by the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, but the academic programs function under the Faculties of Engineering and Graduate Studies.

Program DescriptionThe Department of Biosystems Engineering offers graduate programs leading to M.Sc., M.Eng., and Ph.D. degrees. The M.Sc. degree has a mandatory thesis component based on an original research project. The M.Eng. is a master’s degree requiring a design project report rather than a research thesis.

The graduate-studies programs in the department place a strong emphasis on assisting graduate students to gain a broad range of skills and experience in conducting interdis-ciplinary research, in understanding the interrelationships among physical and biological factors, in mathematical modelling, and in written and oral communication.

Graduates of the programs have obtained jobs throughout the world in industry, government, research, education, consulting, and self-employment. The range of their work includes: farm equipment design, structural design, envi-ronmental engineering, nuclear-engineering research and management, bioprocessing (pharmaceutical and food), and biomedical engineering.

Research InterestsEnvironment and Resources: Environmental impact as-sessments; management and utilization of agricultural and food processing wastes; environmental odour management; wastewater treatment; biofiltration and bioremediation; wetlands for nutrient removal; biomass energy; and animal and plant growth environments.

Bioprocess Engineering: Biotechnology for biofuel produc-tion; infrared processing of food; superheated steam drying; oil extraction techniques; modified atmosphere storage of meat, fruits, and vegetables; physical, thermal, and rheologi-cal properties of foods; and water activities of foods.

Bioimaging: Computer analysis of images for grading and automation; near infrared spectroscopy; optical methods for detection of fungal damage in wheat; magnetic reso-

nance bioimaging and spectroscopy; and computer aided biodiagnostics.

Post-harvest Preservation of Grains: Studies of stored-grain ecosystems; grain drying; physical methods of controlling insects and microorganisms; machine vision for automated handling and classification of grain; properties of grains and oilseeds; structural design of grain storage systems.

Power and Machinery: Harvesting and processing of new crops such as hemp and sea buckthorn, precision farming, ergonomic evaluation of agricultural guidance systems, land application of manure; manure handling; field machinery, soil-tool interaction; humanitarian demining.

Soil and Water: Irrigation and drainage engineering; soil-plant-water relations; flow and contaminant transport in porous media.

Building Systems: Structural aspects of light-frame build-ings; grain and fertilizer storage structures; use of wood and other structural materials; and alternative building systems.

Research FacilitiesThe department has seven major laboratories: Advanced Membrane Separation; Air Quality; Biomachinery; Biopro-cessing; Soil and Water; Tractor Simulation; and the Cana-dian Wheat Board Grain Storage Laboratory. Major facilities in these laboratories include: membrane bioreactors; bio-fermentation units; olfactometers; gas chromatograph; soil bin; dynamometers; air-seeder; superheated-steam drier; infrared treatment equipment; soil core samplers; TDR; structural load testing equipment; tractor driving simulator, data acquisition systems and other instrumentation equip-ment; and access to a university farm for research on both animal and crop production.

The new 1400-m2 Canadian Wheat Board Grain Storage Laboratory includes: machine vision equipment; a soft x-ray unit; near-ambient, high temperature, infrared and micro-wave driers; near-infrared hyperspectral imaging systems; Soxhlet fat extraction system; Cyclotec mill; model bins;

studiesgraduateFaculty of Graduate Studies

University of Manitoba500 University CentreWinnipeg, Manitoba

R3T 2N2 CANADA

Contact:

Department of Biosystems EngineeringUniversity of ManitobaWinnipeg, Manitoba

R3T 5V6

p: (204) 474-6033f: (204) 474-7512

e: headbio@ms.umanitoba.ca

web: http://www.umanitoba.ca/afs/

biosystems_engineering/

http://umanitoba.ca/graduate_studies

The University of Manitoba (est. 1877) is the largest, most comprehensive and only research- intensive

post-secondary educational institution in Manitoba. The University attracts the brightest students and Faculty from around the world. Located in the heart of Canada, Winnipeg is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the country with nearly 100 languages represented.

Winnipeg’s climate of four contrasting seasons provides a multitude of outdoor activities to be explored. The campus is fully networked, and hosts over 40 Research Centres and Institutes. The 13 branch Research Library Facility ensures all of the information you need for your studies is at your fingertips. Access to reasonably-priced on- and off-campus housing makes the U of M one of the most affordable universities to study at in Canada.

The University of Manitoba (U of M) attracts exceptional scholars to its 18 Faculties and 4 Schools and provides a world-class educa-tion in the Social, Medical, Natural and Applied Sciences, as well as Engineering, the Arts and Humanities. Programming in over 80 disciplines at the graduate level lead to 82 Master’s degrees and 51 Ph.D.’s including: business management, engineering, agricultural and nutritional sciences, social sciences and humanities, education,

physical and earth sciences, medical and life sciences and exciting interdisciplinary opportunities. International students at the U of M have exclusive graduate funding opportunities available throughout their graduate program including entrance scholarships, bursaries and graduate fellowships.

An aerial view of the Fort Garry campus of the University of Mani-toba, situated on a bow of the Red River.

About the University of Manitoba

equipment to measure physical, thermal, biological, and qual-ity characteristics of grains and oilseeds; thermal disinfestation systems; environmental chambers; grain handling and cleaning equipment; and several grain bins.

Affiliations with OrganizationsGraduate students and faculty work closely with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Canadian Grain Commission scientists in Winnipeg and Lacombe, AB; engineers at Manitoba Consevation and Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiative; engineers at the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute; researchers at Na-tional Research Council’s Institute for Biodiagnostics(NRC-IBD); engineers at Manitoba Hydro; and with University professors in Food Science, Animal Science, Civil Engineering, Microbiology, and other departments.

Admissions InformationStudents accepted into an M.Sc. program normally hold a B.Sc. degree in Biosystems or Agricultural Engineering, or its equiva-lent. Students with degrees in related areas may be accepted at the discretion of the Department Head. The M.Eng. program is

limited to candidates with a bachelor’s degree in Engineering and preferably with some engineering experience. Students accepted into the Ph.D. program normally hold an M.Sc. A student with an M.Sc. from a foreign university is normally accepted into an M.Sc. program and then transferred to a Ph.D. program if the student’s performance during the first year is acceptable.

Funding OpportunitiesStudents may apply for departmental graduate research assistant-ships. Financial assistance requirements should be stated in the letter of application.

The Engineering and Information Technology Complex. Construction of this state-of-the-art facility was completed in fall 2005.