Still reeling from the excitement of watching our 2026 graduates turn their tassels! 🎓
Go change the world, but remember: you’ll always be a part of the #BAEPack! 🐺❤️
At age 13, Jeffrey Bradley knew he wanted to be part of the Wolfpack. Now, he's graduating with a full-time job lined up at John Deere. 🐺🚜
The biological and agricultural engineering technology major is kickstarting his career with a broad range of skills to draw upon — not just from his coursework, but also the many involvements he had on campus. From designing tractors with the Pack Pullers to interning with Extension to playing the tuba in the marching band, Bradley made the most of his time at NC State.
“Jeffrey’s one of those students that you could tell him to do anything, get out of the way and trust it will be done right, ” said Grant Ellington, BAE associate Extension professor and Pack Pullers advisor. “Regardless of the technology we were using, there were several software packages that I got him to learn and then teach me.”
Learn more about Bradley and his journey at the link in our bio.
Meet Megan Aljian, a BAE senior whose journey has taken her from the forest floor to the forefront of student innovation.🌲🐺
Graduating this spring with a degree in biological engineering, Aljian has spent her college years helping people build connections with each other and with the natural world.
As she begins her career as a stream restoration engineer at McAdams, she brings experience as an undergraduate researcher, a resident advisor and a startup founder. 🎒🧪
"BAE is really a program that pulls for each other," Aljian says. "I have never seen a program where the alumni reach back so much and the professors go above and beyond for students."
Tap the link in our bio to read more about Aljian’s journey from innovation to restoration. 🎓
Congratulations to the faculty, staff and students who were honored at the 2026 @ncstatecals Celebration of Excellence awards ceremony!🎊🐺
So proud of our #BAEPack awardees for their hard work and accomplishments! 👏
- CALS Outstanding Student Researcher Award: Christopher Oates
-CALS Student Sustainability Award: Taj Hewitt (Undergraduate), Madison Haley (Graduate)
- CALS Student Organization Engagement/Activity of the Year: BAE Graduate Student Association (represented by Sam Holberg)
-CALS Student Organization of the Year: Pack Pullers
-George J. and Rhoda W. Kriz Faculty Study Leave Award: Celso Castro-Bolinaga
Meet our a-May-zing graduate student of the month...
Carson Crowley!🐺🔩
Hometown: Durham, NC
Previous degrees:
BS in Biological and Agricultural Engineering Technology at NC State
Who is your advisor, and what is your research topic?:
Dr. Frank Bai - I am studying Biological and Agricultural Engineering (concentration in Systems Analysis).
What first made you interested in this field?:
The hands-on aspect is what first made me interested in this field. Being able to design something and then actually take it out into the real world to test and apply it in order to solve significant problems in the industry is very rewarding and allows you to be involved through the whole engineering process.
Song you’ve been loving?
“Music for the Soul” - Sam Barber
Fun fact?
I have been playing the guitar for 15 years
Last Friday, our department gathered for the annual BAE awards banquet to recognize the hard work and dedication shown by our faculty, staff and students over the past year. 🏆
A huge shoutout to BAE alumnus Jonathan Page for joining us as our guest speaker. Thank you for the encouraging words and for inspiring the next generation! 🐺🫶
Senior design day never disappoints! 🐺🤝
Congratulations to our seniors!
Last Friday, they presented their final projects to the department. We are so proud of everything they’ve accomplished!
Next stop ➡️ graduation under the pavilion 🎓
Earlier this month, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) officially announced the 2026 Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) recipients—and we have a major reason to celebrate!
We are thrilled to announce that Caldonia Carmello, an incoming graduate student joining Dr. Natalie Nelson’s lab, has been named a 2026 NSF Fellow. 🐺
Carmello will be using mapping and modeling techniques to research coastal tidal flooding and water quality. 🌧️🏖️
This fellowship is one of the most prestigious honors for early-career scientists, and we can't wait to see the impact Carmello makes on our coastal communities!
@nsfgov
How often do you think about the Roman Empire? 🏛️
Bill Hunt, a William Neal Reynolds Professor and BAE Extension specialist, thinks about it a lot. In the summer, Hunt teaches a Roman engineering study abroad class where students study early Roman engineering marvels in Spain.
However, you don’t have to travel to Spain to see the influence of Roman engineering; you can find it right here on NC State’s campus.
Check out the link in our bio to watch Hunt’s full walkthrough of William Neal Reynolds Coliseum and see NC State through a Roman lens! 🐺
Happy National Gardening Day!
To celebrate, we are reminiscing on some of our favorite moments from the Graduate Student Association PEER Garden. 🌶🍠🌱
The monstrous sweetpotatoes are a stand out for sure.
Happy gardening!
Happy Graduate Student Appreciation Week!
From the research to the classwork, our BAE graduate students bring so much value to our #BAEPack. 🔬🐺
Yesterday was NC State's annual Graduate Student Research Symposium, and a number of our students presented their research! Shoutout to Christopher Oates for earning 2nd place in the environmental sciences category! 🌎
BAE was well represented this week at the #AIinAgriculture Conference at North Carolina State University!🌾🤖
The conference, co-led by Daniela Jones, focused on Advancing Artificial Intelligence and Data-Driven Innovations for Resilient and Competitive Agricultural Systems. 🪴
Faculty and students presented, networked and attended talks led by national experts.
