Bahar Aliakbarian

Bahar Aliakbarian is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering (BAE) at Michigan State University (MSU), affiliated with both the College of Engineering and College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Her research focuses on sustainable technologies, food waste valorization, and biomedical engineering. Dr. Aliakbarian’s work integrates RFID systems into supply chains for environmental and pharmaceutical applications, develops smart packaging solutions, and explores bioactive compounds from agricultural byproducts for health and industrial uses.

Research Interests:

• RFID-enabled supply chain sustainability
• Extraction and encapsulation of phenolics from food waste
• Biodegradable vascular prostheses and biomedical materials
• Antioxidant-rich natural products for skin and vascular health
• Anti-tampering medical packaging design

Key Contributions: Her studies on RFID technology address challenges in pharmaceutical tracking, beverage packaging, and environmental lifecycle analysis. She has pioneered methods to recover bioactive compounds like phenolics from tart cherry pits, olive pomace, and grape marc for cosmeceutical and biomedical applications. This work aligns with broader goals of reducing food waste and advancing sustainable materials science.

Grants & Labs: While specific grants are not listed, her publications indicate active collaboration with industry partners on topics like smart packaging systems, vascular graft engineering, and agricultural waste upcycling. Her lab focuses on interdisciplinary solutions bridging engineering, agriculture, and healthcare.