There are many members of the department team that enable the innovative research and education conducted in the department of agricultural and biosystems engineering. One piece of the puzzle is the Research Scientists who work with all ABE entities to manage projects in their respective labs. Get to know Barbara Tran, Research Scientist with the Water Quality Research Lab:
How did you first get involved with Iowa State?
I am an Iowa native who grew up in Iowa City and got an environmental science degree from the University of Iowa. I have a particular interest in environmental conservation, water quality work, and its relation to public health. When I came across this research position, improving agricultural water quality, I was immediately drawn to apply. Iowa State University is a reputable research university, and I knew I would enjoy working with like-minded colleagues and students in this field of work.
What is your ISU ABE area of expertise, and where do you most often do your work?
I oversee the denitrifying bioreactor projects by coordinating with other agencies on construction planning, and I help with water monitoring. My days vary throughout the week, whether I am in the field or in my office space.
What is your research background?
This is my first research position! But I’ve been doing various environmental-related work for years, including doing land management as a Park Ranger at Florida State Parks. Closer to home, I worked at the Limnology Laboratory for the State Hygienic Laboratory in Ankeny, collecting water samples and doing stream assessments across the central and western parts of Iowa (e.g., looking at the types of macroinvertebrates and fish species and their diversity to assess the stream quality).
Favorite Iowa State memory so far?
My favorite memory so far is touring around campus with Assistant Professor and Extension Forestry Specialist Billy Beck as he identified trees and highlighted their characteristics. This was a special treat for the last day of our two teachers who participated in the Research Experience for Teachers program for the Water Quality Research Lab over the summer and worked on studying different properties of wood species and how they relate to the effectiveness of nitrate removal in the bioreactors.
The picture includes me, Ji Yeow Law, an engineer with the Water Quality Research Lab, and Shoaib Ahmed, a graduate research assistant, while we were out water sampling at a Black Hawk Lake watershed.