Abby Engelberth

Associate Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Co-Lead of Circular Economy Systems

Contact Info

Email

aengelbe@purdue.edu

Websites

Dr. Engelberth’s research and teaching focus on the conversion of agricultural and food processing residues into higher value products, with an emphasis on bioprocess design, separation technologies, and techno economic analysis. She is particularly interested in advancing circular economy approaches that improve resource efficiency and sustainability across food, fuel, and bioproduct systems.

Dr. Engelberth’s work integrates experimental research with systems level assessment to inform both industrial practice and policy relevant decision making. Through collaborations with industry, government, and interdisciplinary academic teams, she seeks to translate fundamental chemical and biological engineering principles into scalable solutions that support a more sustainable future. She co-leads the Circular Economy Systems Special Initiative at ISF.

Education

Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 2009; M.E. in Chemical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 2006; B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 2004

Research Interests

Dr. Engelberth’s research interests center on the development and evaluation of sustainable bioprocesses for agricultural and food system applications. Her work spans the valorization of agricultural, food, and industrial byproducts; the design and optimization of separation processes for bio based products; and the application of techno economic analysis and life cycle thinking to assess feasibility and impact. A unifying theme of her research is the integration of experimental data with economic and sustainability frameworks to guide decision making and enable circular economy solutions that are both practical and impactful.

Research Impact

Dr. Engelberth’s research group focuses on identifying pathways for deploying bio based technologies that are technically feasible, economically viable, and environmentally responsible. By combining laboratory scale experimentation with broader systems analysis, her work helps bridge the gap between innovation and implementation, ensuring that engineering advances align with real world constraints and societal needs.


Research Area