Mark R. Wilkins, Ph.D., P.E.

Dr. Mark Wilkins is a professor of Biological Systems Engineering and Food Science & Technology at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He also serves as the director of UNL's Industrial Agricultural Products Center.

Wilkins came to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln from Oklahoma State University, where he was on the faculty of the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department for 11 years. Prior to joining OSU, Dr. Wilkins was a postdoctoral engineer at the USDA-Agricultural Research Service’s Citrus and Subtropical Products Laboratory in Winter Haven, Florida. Wilkins earned a M.S. (2001) and Ph.D. (2004) in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a B.S. in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from Purdue University in 1999. 

Wilkins' research interests are in bioprocessing and food processing. He has co-authored 55 refereed journal articles and 2 book chapters. Wilkins’ teaching interests are in biochemical engineering, food engineering, ethics, and short-term study abroad. He also served on OSU’s Graduate Faculty Council for 4 years and was the Graduate Program Coordinator for his department at OSU. He is licensed as a Professional Engineer in the state of Oklahoma. He is married to Lana and has two children: Hannah (4) and Daniel (2).

Nebraska Corn Board Partners with UNL for Distinctive $2 Million Presidential Chair

The Nebraska Corn Board has made a $2 million commitment to the University of Nebraska Foundation to establish the permanently endowed Nebraska Corn Checkoff Presidential Chair. The endowment will provide annual support to the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) for research and development related to corn demand.

For nearly 30 years, the Nebraska Corn Board and the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln have collaborated on education and research on behalf of 23,000 Nebraska corn farmers and their investment in their corn checkoff. Now, they are partnering to establish the Nebraska Corn Checkoff Presidential Chair.

The endowed chair will enable the university to award faculty members with an annual stipend for salary, research and program support. Recipients of the award will be selected based on teaching and research ability, academic promise and accomplishments.

To read more about this partnership, click here.