Mark Riley, associate dean for Research in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Engineering, has been elected to the Board of Trustees of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE). Riley joins a select group of newly elected leaders recognized for their contributions to advancing agricultural and biological engineering.
Riley, a longtime academic leader and researcher, has shaped the field through his work in bioprocess engineering, biosensors, and biological instrumentation. His career includes developing sensors to monitor metabolic activity in bioreactors, to detect viruses in drinking water, and to assess airborne particulate toxicity. He previously served as professor and department head of Biological Systems Engineering at UNL from 2012 to 2017.
Beyond his research, Riley has held influential leadership roles in professional organizations. He was the founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of Biological Engineering, served as president of the Institute of Biological Engineering, chairs the ASEE Engineering Research Council Board of Directors, and previously chaired the ASABE Foundation Development committee. Riley also serves as the Principal Investigator (PI) of the College of Engineering’s component of the EDA BBBRC-funded Heartland Robotics Cluster. He is a Fellow of AAAS, AIMBE, and IBE — recognitions that reflect his national impact on engineering education and innovation.
Election to the ASABE Board of Trustees places Riley among the society’s top decision-makers, where he will help guide strategic initiatives supporting research, education, and professional development across the global agricultural and biological engineering community.
Riley’s appointment to this three-year position underscores the university’s growing leadership in engineering and commitment to advancing technologies that support agriculture, sustainability, and human health.
