NC State’s Biological and Agricultural Engineering (BAE) Department has announced an exciting new research collaboration with RES. This initiative bridges industry expertise with undergraduate research opportunities, and Zoe Chavis, a junior studying Biological Engineering with an Ecological concentration, has been selected as the inaugural NC State BAE RES Scholar.
A Research-Focused Partnership
This innovative scholar program provides a unique hands-on research experience for undergraduate students while fostering collaboration between academia and industry. Chavis will begin her appointment this spring, working on a project assessing stormwater control measures that are currently inefficient at removing nitrogen. Her research will focus on how these structures can be optimized to enhance nitrogen extraction.
Garey Fox, department head and professor at NC State BAE, emphasized the value of such programs: “This type of scholars program is mutually beneficial for all participants. Our students gain applicable, hands-on experience while engaging with faculty and industry mentors. Our industry partners get early access to top engineering talent while working directly with prominent faculty members. And faculty have the ability to advance valuable research.”
The Project and Mentorship
Chavis’s project will be led by William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor and Extension Specialist Bill Hunt, who will serve as her faculty mentor, alongside RES project manager Matt Butler, her industry mentor. The research builds on previous work conducted by Hunt and his team, which compared nitrogen removal between a traditional dry pond in the Town of Morrisville and a modified stormwater wetland. The converted wetland demonstrated significantly higher nitrogen removal rates, with potential applications for the nitrogen credit market.
RES is equally excited about the collaboration. “We are eager to work with Dr. Bill Hunt and NC State through this scholar program to explore innovative approaches to nutrient crediting in North Carolina through stormwater retrofits and welcome Zoe to our team,” says Butler. “She will be assessing dry pond to wetland conversions for nutrient crediting potential in conjunction with a North Carolina Division of Mitigation Services contract awarded to RES.”
A Promising Future
Beyond her research, Chavis is actively engaged in professional organizations, including the American Ecological Engineering Society and the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. She also serves as an ambassador for the BAE Department. Her past projects include the remote implementation of a Guatemalan water catchment system and research on tree hybridization and wood quality.
“I’m honored to be the first scholar to pilot this program and look forward to seeing where the project takes me!” says Chavis.
This collaboration between NC State and RES represents an important step toward integrating academic research with industry needs, providing students like Chavis with valuable real-world experience while advancing the science of ecological restoration. As the program develops, it is poised to become a model for future partnerships that merge research, industry innovation, and sustainability.
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