Dr. Janie McClurkin Moore
Assistant Professor
PHEED Team Faculty Advisor
Background:
Dr. Janie McClurkin Moore is an Assistant Professor in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department at Texas A&M University in College Station. A native of Columbus, Ohio, she attended North Carolina A&T State University where she received a B.S. in Bio Environmental Engineering in 2006. She then began pursuing her graduate education at Purdue University in the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department, completing her Ph.D. in 2015. While at Purdue, Dr. Moore was a Scholar in the Midwest Crossroads Alliance for Graduate Education in the Professoriate. She also worked closely with Engineering Education, LSAMP, MEP and the College of Engineering at Purdue.
Before moving to Texas, Dr. Moore was an Assistant Professor in the Biological and Environmental Science Department at California University of Pennsylvania, in California, PA. She created the Biogas Energy AcadeMy, which exposed more than 100 eighth grade students from Pittsburgh Public Schools to the University’s Farm and lessons in Renewable Energy.
Dr. Moore’s current research centers around three different areas 1) the inactivation of biological threat agents with post-harvest treatment technologies, 2) mycotoxin risk assessment in stored grains and 3) innovative instruction strategies for Biological and Agricultural Engineering students.
Graduate Students
Ruzlan Habib
PhD Student
Background:
Ruzlan is a first year PhD student in the Biological and Agricultural Department at Texas A&M University under supervision of Dr. Janie McClurkin Moore. He completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Food Engineering and Tea Technology from Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh. Previously, he closely worked with heavy metal determination in foods and feeds as he holds interest in food safety. He continues working on inactivation of foodborne pathogens and searching for heavy metal removal techniques from post-harvest produces with greater food safety concept.
Education:
B. Sc. (Engineering) and M.Sc. (Engineering) in Food Engineering and Tea Technology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh.
Research:
1) Inactivation and control of pathogens of fresh produce through ACP treatment
2) Alleviate heavy metal toxicity from food
Awards & Honors:
- Selected to Receive Student Travel Scholarship award to attend International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) annual Meeting 2018 at Utah, USA.
- Awarded ‘Best Poster Certificate’ for poster presentation in ‘International Conference on Physics 2018’ organized by Bangladesh Physical Society.
- Awarded a certificate for excellence in volunteerism by JAAGO foundation in 2011.
- Awarded a certificate for successful completion of ‘Community Level Volunteer Training’ on ‘Collapsed Structure Search, Rescue, Fire Fighting and First Aid Course’ by Fire Service and Civil Defense (FSCD) department of Bangladesh in 2012.
- Awarded a certificate for volunteering and efforts in Swapnotthan, A volunteering Organzation of SUST, as President in 3rdExecutive Committee in 2015.
- Awarded a certificate for participation in Technology Workshop organized by Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of SUST in 2012.
- Awarded a certificate for outstanding and dedicated service to the International Coastal Cleanup by Ocean Conservancy in 2011.
- Awarded a certificate for successful completion of Training Course on ‘Quality Control and Unit Operation in Food Industry’ by Training Institute for Chemical Industries, Bangladesh in 2013
Cara London,
PhD Candidate
Background:
Cara is from Aiea, Hawaii and initially came to us as a visiting senior from Vanderbilt University. While with the team she researched the In Vitro Ligand Degradation by C16H17N3O4S Targeting Urate Oxidase (UOX) on Aspergillus flavus. She is a member of the National Society of Black Engineers, social and service oriented Greek letter organizations and past member of the Vanderbilt Student Volunteers for Science. When she isn’t studying, Cara enjoys experimenting with food and believes that the best place to understand someone, is at the table. She’s also a nature lover and a traveler and has kayaked in 2 oceans, 6 smaller bodies of water, and in 4 out of the 10 different countries she’s been to.
Education:
Engineering Science Major, Engineering Management and Anthropology Minor. Vanderbilt University.
Research:
The role of cultural factors in influencing adoption and integration of post harvest technology into low industrial value chains.
Awards & Honors:
- Chancellor’s Scholar
Publications & Presentations:
Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Oral and Poster presentation
Not Pictured
Eldridge Raymond, PhD Student
Nahndi Kirk-Bradley, PhD Student
Shikhadri Mahanta, PhD Student
Undergraduate Students
Not Pictured
Grace Tomilayu
Senior Mechanical Engineering Student
Laura Landis
Sophomore Biological and Agricultural Engineering Student
Past Team Members
Hamidreza Sharifan, PhD
Background:
Hamid is a PHinsheD student in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at Texas A & M University. He received his MSc in Environmental Engineering from Texas Tech University and completed his PhD under supervisory of Dr. Janie Moore.
Education:
PhD in Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
MSc in Environment and Process Engineering from Stuttgart University in Germany
MSc in Environmental Engineering from Texas Tech University in USA
Research:
His research was centered on the interaction of engineering nanoparticles, heavy metals and metalloids with dietary plants (legumes and leafy vegetables) in soil and hydroponics towards food safety and sustainability.
Awards & Honors:
- 2019 Scholarship Award from German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for RISE Professional Program of North American Students; further study and training on Animal and Plants Metabolism Studies.
- 2019 Awarded the extended proposal for the National Science Foundation-PIRE Flood Risk Reduction Program. Delft and Texas A &M Universities for the Project of Sustainable Agriculture under Risk of Coastal Flood in Perspective of Nanotechnology
- 2018 Peer Review Awards Top 1% in the Field Environment and Ecology by Publon : Web of Science Group
- 2017 Travel grant from American Phytoscholar Grant Program, 14th International Phytotechnologies Conference, Canada
- 2017 Travel grant from National Science Foundation and Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization, 1st Pan American Congress, Brazil
- 2017 Rollins Family Fellowship, Texas A &M University
- 2017 Harold J. “Bill” Haynes Fellowship, Texas A &M University
- 2016 Travel grant from Buchanan Family Trust/Oklahoma State University.
- 2016 Grant-in-aid for providing the supplemental material of interaction of UV filters in a chlorinated water,PI:Hamidreza Sharifan.
Ezekiel “Zeke” McReynolds
MS Student
Background:
Ezekiel McReynolds is a Masters student in Biological and Agricultural Engineering at Texas A&M University. He is working in a top secret location while attempting to finish his MS research and thesis. Through his studies at Texas A&M he has traveled to Southern Africa and to Guatemala, and found his passion in International Agricultural. It was during his last year as an undergraduate student he found the desire to work towards a graduate level degree in food security. He enjoys travels abroad looking at ways to work in international agricultural development.
Education:
B.S. in BAEN Minor in International Agricultural Development
Research:
Agricultural Security and Risk Assessment
Soil Slicer and root angle MRI project
Controlled atmosphere grain storage unit
Awards & Honors:
- 2016 Texas Section ASABE BAEN Superior Student Service Award
- 2018 Texas A&M Engineering Showcase Runner up in Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Catelyn Evans, MS
Background:
Catelyn completed her MS in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department. Catelyn’s previous research focused in molecular biology research involving stem cell therapy. The skills gained from her undergraduate research were easily transferable to microbiology techniques used in the lab involving bacteria and fungi projects.
Education:
B.S. in Biological Systems Engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), 2018
Research:
Catelyn’s research focused on developing a control and treatment method to reduce the risk of spreading aflatoxin content within animal feed. Novel non-thermal treatment technologies such as atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) continue to be effective in quickly reducing microbial infestations and mycotoxin levels in stored grains. The usage of the plasma will allow for a way to continuously treat feed and protect our food and feed supply from compounds which lead to post-harvest loss.
Awards, Honors, & Leadership:
- American Association of University Women, Selected Professions Fellow, 2019-2020
- Black Graduate Student Association, Community Outreach Chair, 2019-2020
- Region V Academic Excellence Chair, National Society of Black Engineers, 2017-2018
- Region V Vice Chair, National Society of Black Engineers, 2016–2017
- Region V Oklahoma Assistant Vice Chair, National Society of Black Engineers, 2015–2016
- UNL McNair Scholar, 2015-2018
Seaborn Carter, M.S.
Jasmine Gibson, Junior
Background:
I born and raised in Chesapeake, Virginia and currently living in Haymarket, Virginia. I am attending North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, North Carolina wherel I am majoring in Biological Engineering with a discipline in Natural Resources. After graduation, I plan to use my knowledge of agriculture to travel around the world tending to the land of underdeveloped countries as well as informing them of the best methods to use in their own.
Education:
North Carolina A&T State University
Research:
The use of agarose gel containing highly charged polymers to remove and collect anionic nutrient in aqueous systems
Kendale Search, Senior
Background:
Kendale is a visiting senior from Shawnee State University, where she is majoring in Plastic’s Engineering with a minor in Mathematics. Her interest with mathematics began when she was just an elementary school girl, completing the homework of her sister that was years older than her. She was introduced to plastic’s engineering her sophomore year of college where she quickly gained an interest in the hands on learning it had to offer. In her free time, Kendale enjoys participating in many competitive sports as well as exploring the beautiful outdoors.
Education:
Plastic’s Engineering Major, Mathematics Minor. Shawnee State University.
Research:
Shelf Life Preservation of Plantains After Ozone Treatment
Awards & Honors:
- Society of Plastics Engineers
Charles Sterling, Junior
Victoria Baltazar,
MS Student
Background:
Victoria Baltazar came to our research team as a senior at Texas A&M in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering. She studied water treatment systems and resources. Her past research projects included 1) Women’s education and training module development to reduce maize and wheat post-harvest losses, 2) TAMU Physics and Engineering pilot course, 3) Bio-Microbics Aerobic Treatment Unit Failure and 4) Sustainability of sonic drilling technology, she enjoyed her undergraduate research experience with PHEED so much she decided to join us as a graduate student. She served as the president of the TAMU Orchestra Club and the historian and SEC representative of the ASABE chapter at A&M.
Education:
Texas A&M University, College Station
Research:
Degradation of biopolymers in Cotton Gin Trash with Atmospheric Cold Plasma
Awards & Honors:
- Dean’s Honor Roll
- Alpha Epsilon Honor Society
Hallie Supak, BAEN
Background:
Hallie was a senior Biological and Agricultural Engineering student with an interest in food engineering. Her interest in this field started from growing up on her family’s cattle ranch where being hands on in agriculture became a passion. She hopes to use her degree to aid in international food security.
Education:
Texas A&M University, College Station
Research:
Women’s education and training module development to reduce maize and wheat post-harvest losses
TAMU Physics and Engineering pilot course
In Vitro Ligand Degradation by C16H17N3O4S Targeting Urate Oxidase (UOX) on Aspergillus flavus
Awards & Honors:
- 2018 Grand Innovation Challenge winning team
- 2018 Semi-Finalist in Thought for Food Global Innovation Challenge