Wastewater and nutrient management engineer aims to help farmers boost profitability, protect the environment

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Wastewater and nutrient management engineer Xiao joins bio and ag engineering department

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand, according to wastewater and nutrient management engineer Yiting Xiao.

NEW FACULTY — Yiting Xiao recently joined the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture as an assistant professor and extension specialist in the department of biological and agricultural engineering. (U of A Sytem Division of Ag photo)

Xiao, who returns to her alma mater as an assistant professor and extension specialist in the department of biological and agricultural engineering, aims to help local producers and communities increase resilience to the challenges of water quantity and quality.

“I’m thrilled to return to Arkansas and work alongside our stakeholders to apply sustainable, green engineering solutions that both protect the environment and boost farm profitability. I can’t wait to see these technologies make a real difference on the ground,” said Xiao.

Xiao joins the biological and agricultural engineering department as part of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the research and extension arms of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. She is based at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville campus. In this position, Xiao will work to strengthen Arkansas' wastewater and nutrient management through research and outreach.

Xiao's work focuses on sustainable nutrient management and upcycling agricultural waste. She works with advanced oxidation and biological processes, such as anaerobic digestion, to treat nutrient-rich wastewater and remove persistent pollutants.

Additionally, Xiao plans to collaborate with county extension agents to conduct outreach and demonstrate best management practices, develop decision-support tools and translate research findings into practical solutions.

Xiao noted that her graduate and postdoctoral work required her to translate environmental engineering research into real-world applications, inspiring her drive to help producers and communities.

“These experiences shaped my passion for developing sustainable technologies that are not only scientifically sound but also practical, economically viable and aligned with the real needs of Arkansas producers and communities,” she said.

Before joining the biological and agricultural engineering department, Xiao served as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Qilu University of Technology in China, followed by master’s and doctoral degrees in biological engineering from the University of Arkansas.

“Dr. Xiao has a unique combination of knowledge, talents, and passion for helping people that will be perfect for this role,” said Terry Howell Jr., biological and agricultural engineering department head for the Division of Agriculture and the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas. “Arkansans will benefit from her work in a variety of ways, either by her finding ways to maximize the value of products on farms or by knowing that our abundant natural resources are being preserved as a result of her work.”

To learn more about the Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website. Follow us on X at @ArkAgResearch, subscribe to the Food, Farms and Forests podcast and sign up for our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Agricultural Research Report. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. Follow us on X at @AgInArk. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu.