Zhang joins MSU's Cross Campus Collaboration for Climate Resilient Agriculture
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EmailYilin Zhang joins the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering as part of the 1855 Professors initiative.
Building on its leadership in cross-campus collaboration and partnerships, Michigan State University (MSU)’s Office of the Provost launched the 1855 Professors initiative in 2024. The campus-wide recruitment effort brings cross-disciplinary professors together to enhance collaborations across campus. In 2025, one of the priorities was climate change resilience and the development of innovative technologies to address environmental changes. One of the 1855 professorship recipients selected to take on that challenge was Yilin Zhang, Ph.D., an 
assistant professor, whose work has built strong synergism between the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering.
Variable weather patterns and extreme weather events create new challenges for farmers in today’s agricultural sector. Plants are experiencing increased stress from unpredictable weather patterns. Stress in plants reduces productivity and yield, leading to wasted resources. At the same time, the limited availability of new farmland constrains our ability to compensate for these losses by expanding cultivated acreage, exacerbating the risks of food insecurity. To address this, Zhang developed polymer- and biopolymer-based nanocarriers that deliver a wide range of molecules and biomacromolecules directly to plants in a targeted manner. Nanocarriers are the delivery vehicles for targeted bioactive compounds to specific plant tissue, which maximizes efficiency and minimizes waste. By applying targeted compounds to plants, Zhang can combat plant stress, enabling farmers to achieve higher production and yields.
“Precisely delivering bioactive compounds to the appropriate plant tissue at the optimal time and dosage is essential for maximizing agrochemical efficacy and efficiency, ultimately strengthening plant health and resilience to climate stress.” said Zhang.
Another area Zhang’s team is addressing is contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are a global concern. Zhang’s research upcycles structural biopolymers from agricultural and textile waste into renewable, scalable, and cost-effective nanofibrils that remove contaminants such as PFAS from water and food systems. Using waste from other industries reduces overall waste production globally, which can encourage a more sustainable ecosystem.
“Upcycling structural biopolymers from abundant waste streams into value-added products is essential for meeting society’s growing demand for clean food and water, and for strengthening the domestic supply chain.” said Zhang.
