Alumni Spotlight: Ben Cauthen

Ben Cauthen graduated from the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering in 2018 with a degree in biological engineering with an agricultural concentration. As part of Cauthen’s senior design group project, his team fabricated a pine straw cleaning machine to reduce pine straw industry labor requirements. The Pine Bine streamlines the pine straw harvesting process to make the industry more efficient and profitable.
The team went on to patent the Pine Bine after graduation. Currently, Cauthen is an engineer and project manager for Cavanaugh & Associates.

Time in BAE

“BAE is the best engineering department at NC State because of the staff, professors, students, alumni and hands-on experience. Other degrees do not provide the community and real world experience BAE provides.

The most unexpected skill I learned in BAE was how to work with a community of people to achieve a common goal. I frequently work with BAE alumni or others connected to the BAE department, and that is always rewarding.”

Career Path

“I’m an engineer and project manager for Cavanaugh & Associates. We perform independent and owner’s engineering services for clients with bioenergy projects to correct design issues and optimize project performance. We also deliver projects as an EPC (engineering-procurement-construction) firm. For those projects, I perform process design, submit permit applications, prepare equipment specifications, obtain equipment and material proposals, obtain contractor bids and assist with construction and commissioning management.”

Advice to current BAE students

“Try to experience as many different work environments and types of jobs as you can while you are in school. You will never have a better opportunity to find what you enjoy doing and what you are talented at, and the best way to do that is to experience new things. Don’t put too much pressure on finding the ‘right’ or prestigious job. You will ultimately excel at doing what you enjoy and what you have talent at, so lean towards that while you can. Surrounding yourself with the type of people who want to see you grow and succeed is extremely important as well.”