Institute of Agricultural Technology (IAT), Suranaree University of Technology (SUT): A Hub for Scientific Exploration

 

Background:

The Institute of Agricultural Technology (IAT) at Suranaree University of Technology (SUT) is a leading institute in Thailand dedicated to agricultural education and research. Established in 1993, IAT has a strong reputation for its innovative teaching methods, cutting-edge research facilities, and commitment to sustainable agriculture.

 

Outstanding academic evaluation results

1. Lecturer in the Food Technology Department was awarded the Graduate Researcher Development Scholarship for the Fiscal Year 2024. Her research project focuses on utilizing moist heat and xanthan to modify the physicochemical properties of waxy cassava starch.

 

2. Lecturer in the Department of Biotechnology is leading a research project that investigates the mechanisms and innovations of the B. valenzensis strain S141 for use in fertilizer development.
3. Lecturer in the Department of Animal Technology and Innovation has been granted the Golden Jubilee Doctoral Project (RGJ) for Fiscal Year 2024. Her research project focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of postbiotics derived from the microorganism Lactobacillus ingluviei C37 as a health supplement for broilers.

 

4. Lecturer in the Plant Production Technology Department received the Golden Jubilee Doctoral Project (RGJ) for Fiscal Year 2024. Her research project aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms for extending the shelf life of soybean seeds using plant growth regulators.

 

5. Lecturer in the Department of Biotechnology is undertaking the Golden Jubilee Doctoral Project (RGJ) for Fiscal Year 2024. His research project involves studying the functional properties of circular RNA that responds to red-white spotted virus in the immune system of the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei.

 

6. Notably, academic work by the researchers has been published in the academic journal Microbiology Spectrum (Scopus Q3). The article, titled "Exploring the Cellular Surface Polysaccharide and Root Nodule Symbiosis Characteristics of the rpoN Mutants of Bradyrhizobium sp. DOA9 Using Synchrotron-based Fourier Transform Infrared Microspectroscopy in Conjunction with X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy," lists Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phanlada Tittabut as the corresponding author, with Prof. Dr. Nueng Tiamrung and Prof. Dr. Nanthakorn Boonkerd as co-authors, all from the Department of Biotechnology.

 

Courses Offered:

 

Institute of Agricultural Technology offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in various disciplines, including:

Undergraduate programs include:

• Bachelor of Science Program in Crop Production Technology
• Bachelor of Science Program in Animal Technology and Innovation
• Bachelor of Technology Program in Innovative Agripreneur (International Program)

Graduate Programs include: (Master Degree)

• Master of Science Program in Modern Crop Science
• Master of Science Program in Animal Technology and Innovation
• Master of Science Program in Food Technology (International Program)
• Master of Science Program in Biotechnology (International Program)
• Master of Science Program in Biotechnology for Aquaculture (International Program)

Graduate Programs include: (Doctoral Degree)

• Doctor of Philosophy Program in Crop Science (International Program)
• Doctor of Philosophy Program in Animal Technology and Innovation (International Program)
• Doctor of Philosophy Program in Food Technology (International Program)
• Doctor of Philosophy Program in Biotechnology (International Program)
• Doctor of Philosophy Program in Biotechnology for Aquaculture (International Program)

 

International Collaborations:

Institute of Agricultural Technology actively fosters collaborations with international partners in Asia, Europe, North America, including:

1. Budapest University of Technology and Economics
2. Can Tho University, Vietnam
3. Guizhou University
4. Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale and Chulalongkorn University
5. Institut National Polytechnique of Toulouse (INPT)
6. Institut National Superieur des sciences agronomiques, del'alimentation et de l'envirnnement (Agrosup Dijon), France
7. Kagoshima University
8. Kobe University
9. Mie University
10. National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI)
11. Sejong University
12. Shinshu University, Japan
13. Soegijapranata Catholic University
14. The University of Otago
15. Universite Grenoble Alpes
16. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
17. University of Battambang
18. UniversteToulouse III- Paul Sabatier (France)
19. Utrech and Wageningen Universities
20. Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City - University of Science

 

These collaborations facilitate research exchange, faculty mobility Joint Laboratory and joint degree programs, enriching the academic experience for students and faculty alike.

 

Research awards:

IAT has a vibrant research culture, with faculty members actively pursuing projects funded by national and international agencies. Research includes:

1. The Gen-A-Tech researchers were honored with two gold medals, the ACE Gold Award and the Gold Medal, for their outstanding work on the ManDate Date Palm Gender Test Kit. This recognition was achieved at the Kaohsiung International Invention and Design EXPO (KIDE 2023) held at Kaohsiung Exhibition Center, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

 

2. The research team earned the prestigious Gold Prize Award for their innovative work on the "Cow Sex Sorting Liquid Kit" at the Seoul International Invention Fair 2022, an esteemed international invention and innovation competition.

 

3. Recognized faculty members have contributed to two international academic articles with their work titled "Fermentation of Non-Edible Lipids using Agro-Industrial Residues (AIRs) for Biodiesel Production by Rhodotorular paludigena CM33." Additionally, their research has been published in the Proceedings of the 2023 International Conference on Power and Renewable Energy Engineering, PREE 2023.

 

Outstanding student activities: กิจกรรมนักศึกษา:

 

Double Degree Program

Master's degree student, Department of Chemistry, participate in the Double Degree Program at the Dept of Macromolecular Science, Osaka university, receiving IPST and Jasso scholarships from Thailand and Japan.

 

Speech contest

Engaged in the online SUEP Cup Belt and Road International Speech Contest and secured 2nd place (Second Prize).

 

Research training sessions 

Participation in a training workshop focused on TMR feed (Total Mixed Ration) and mineral boxes for cattle took place in the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Engagement in the study of a program for modeling the atmospheres of exoplanets from observational data and collaborative planning of research studies on exoplanetary atmospheres occurred alongside the SPEARNET (Spectroscopy and Photometry of Exoplanetary Atmosphere Research Network) research group with Manchester University, United Kingdom.

 

Research opportunities 

Graduate students (Master's and Ph.D.) in the fields of Biotechnology, Food Technology have the opportunity to conduct research with prestigious academic and research institutions, including:

 

A PhD student majoring in Biotechnology conducted research at the Plant Health Institute Montpellier (PHIM), IRD, Montpellier, France, between June 12 and September 7, 2023. The research focused on Comparative genomic analysis to identify T3SS effector governing symbiotic efficiency and compatibility between Bradyrhizobium strains and legumes of the Vigna genus.

 

Master's degree students majoring in Biotechnology traveled to Novosibirsk State University and the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences laboratory to conduct research on Antibody engineering for targeted cancer therapy.

 

Master's degree students majoring in Food Technology are involved in research at the French Agricultural Research Center for International Development (CIRAD), Montpellier, France. This research is part of the joint research project under the Thai-French Higher Education and Research Cooperation for the year 2023-2024 at the French Agricultural Research Center for International Development (CIRAD), Montpellier, France.

 

International Cooperative:

Undergraduate students undertake cooperative education and work-integrated education (CWIE) at OLMIX ASIALAND VIETNAM Co., Ltd. in Vietnam.

 

Additionally, undergraduate students are engaged in cooperative education work at the Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, Can Tho University.

 

Contact:

Academic Building 2, 1st Floor, Suranaree University of Technology, 111 University Avenue, Suranaree, Muang, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000

 

Tel: +66-4422 4152, 0 4422 4743

Fax: +66-4422 4150

https://iat.sut.ac.th/