Biosensor engineer brings rapid diagnostic technology to Arkansas agriculture
Feb. 9, 2026
By Amy Gimpel
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts
- Eric McLamore develops portable tech for on-site water quality, animal health testing
- Technology aims to eliminate costly lab delays in rural communities
- Research focuses on pathogen detection, phosphorus monitoring, non-invasive analysis
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Download a PHOTO of Eric McLamore
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Eric McLamore has joined the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture as a professor of biosensor engineering, bringing expertise in biosensor technology that could transform how Arkansas farmers and communities monitor water quality, detect food safety threats and protect animal health.
McLamore joins the department of biological and agricultural engineering as part of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Based at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville campus, his lab develops portable diagnostic tools that deliver results in the field, helping to eliminate delays and costs associated with sending samples to distant laboratories. He is also part of the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas.
His work focuses on three critical areas for Arkansas agriculture: detecting harmful pathogens in food and water, monitoring phosphorus levels to protect water quality and analyzing animal and plant tissue health without invasive procedures. These technologies are designed to be practical and accessible, McLamore said, providing farmers and rural communities with tools they can use on-site to make timely decisions.
“This position is the opportunity of a lifetime, and I am thrilled to be a part of the team at the University of Arkansas,” McLamore said. “The broad range of projects and faculty expertise in the departments of biological and agricultural engineering and poultry science creates a unique and exciting opportunity to be a part of multi-disciplinary teams working on complex problems. I am most excited about supporting early career scholars interested in working on research problems within this space.”
McLamore earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Texas Tech University and a doctorate from Purdue University. His background spans biological engineering, materials science and agricultural science, positioning him to work across disciplines to address the state’s farming challenges.
For the poultry industry, the state's largest agricultural sector, McLamore’s diagnostic tools could help producers quickly identify disease threats and improve flock health. His phosphorus monitoring technology can provide timely data in areas with concentrated animal agriculture, while his pathogen-detection systems support food safety from farm to table.
By partnering with farmers and rural communities, McLamore aims to ensure his technologies meet real-world needs and are accessible to those who need them most.
“Dr. McLamore is an extremely accomplished scholar and educator. He has a vast network of collaborators and has already begun building his network here. He will elevate the profile of the UADA and the University of Arkansas and make an impact on critically important issues in Arkansas agriculture,” said Terry Howell Jr., head of the department of biological and agricultural engineering for the Division of Agriculture and the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas.
To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit aaes.uada.edu. Follow the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station on LinkedIn and sign up for our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Agricultural Research Report. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas
System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment)
without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital
or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other
legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media Contact:
Amy Gimpel
Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
479-575-4929
agimpel@uark.edu