Tarleton, Texas A&M AgriLife grant expands bioenergy research

Tarleton State University’s Office of Sponsored Projects and Texas A&M AgriLife Research received an almost $1 million grant on Oct. 19 to expand their study of bioenergy recovery from animal waste and improve the sustainability of agricultural industries.

The $997,500 grant comes from the Chancellor’s Research Initiative, a fund established by Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp in 2013 to enable the recruitment of star researchers throughout the A&M system.

Texas A&M AgriLife was awarded a grant in 2014 by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to kick start technologies that use animal waste from Tarleton’s dairy center to generate heat and electrical power.

As a result of the latest grant, Tarleton’s Southwest Regional Dairy Center hired Eunsung Kan, Ph.D., whose research focuses on technologies that recycle dairy manure and wastewater for power generation and other purposes in a way that is environmentally responsible but does not increase operational cost for the dairy farmers.

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“Dr. Kan’s arrival brings our original vision for the Southwest Dairy Center to fruition,” said Tarleton President F. Dominic Dottavio. “We are creating a leading research center for animal waste management and bioenergy recovery that will help develop sustainable food production practices and improve quality of life for Texans and others.”

Kan previously served as assistant professor in the Department of Molecular Bioscience and Bioengineering at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He earned his doctorate in chemical and environmental engineering from the University of California at Riverside and conducted postdoctoral research for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He serves as editor of the Open Journal of Water Pollution and Treatment.

In addition to leading a team of researchers, Kan will help leverage additional federal, industrial and foundation funding to continue Tarleton and Texas A&M AgriLife’s focus on improving the use of natural resources and reducing environmental concerns associated with water and air quality.