Jacob Watkins

College of Engineering

Biological Engineering Department

Jacob has been a graduate research assistant in the Sustainable Waste-to-Bioproducts Engineering Center (SWBEC) for several years, working under the mentorship of Dr. Ronald C. Sims. His work with SWBEC has involved optimizing operating conditions for rotating microalgae biofilm reactors, evaluating biofuel and bioplastic production from high-ash microalgae, and developing methods to extract proteins, sugars, and micronutrients from microalgae for use in animal cell culture media. Jacob’s leadership and work ethic have been critical in driving research collaborations with Algix, Upside Foods, WesTech Engineering Inc., Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility, and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and his efforts have resulted in multiple publications and in a $40,000 cellular agriculture research sponsorship for an incoming graduate student. His research interests focus on the sustainable use of biomass resources and waste byproducts in municipal and industrial processes. After graduating, Jacob plans to work as a bioprocess engineer before pursuing a Ph.D. in biochemical engineering or materials science. Jacob enjoys backpacking, rock climbing, kayaking, and skiing.