People
Fikadu Getachew
Doctoral Student
Agricultural & Biological Engineering Department
Fikadu is an agro-meteorologist with more than seven years of research experience in climate change and crop simulation modeling. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Meteorology Science from Arba Minch University, Ethiopia. He is a fellow of the Alexander Humboldt Climate Protection Fellowship and Young Scientist Support Program (APEC Climate Center in Busan Korea). He has also led the Ethiopian Crop simulation Modeling team, a part of the East African’s Agricultural Model Intercomparison Project (AgMIP).
Research interest
Fikadu's research interest is in detecting a proxy of drought indices from surface and satellite observations using crop simulation modeling approaches. His current research investigates the effects of supplemental irrigation and shifting planting dates to mitigate climate change impacts on sorghum production.
Kelsey Vought
Doctoral Student
Agricultural & Biological Engineering Department
Co-advised with Assistant Professor
Kelsey holds a BS in Civil Engineering from Purdue University, focusing in Environmental and Hydraulic engineering. Her research experience is in water quality and management. Previous research projects include autonomous sewer inspection robots, “smart” algae bioreactors for pesticide removal, and rapid lead detection methods for residential water supplies. Kelsey has international experience developing treatment processes for industrial textile wastewater.
Research Interests
Integrating hydrologic and data sciences with agriculture, Kelsey seeks to address global energy-food-water demands through Controlled Environment Agriculture. Her current research is in developing novel irrigation water treatment and reuse processes which aim to achieve pathogen disinfection, nutrient recovery, and energy savings. Kelsey aspires to bring food and water security to urban communities both locally and internationally.
Fitsum Teshome
Doctoral student (Spring 2021)
Agricultural & Biological Engineering Departement
Fitsum holds a BS in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from Haramaya University, Ethiopia, and M.Th. in Agricultural Engineering from Banaras Hindu University, India. Previously, he has worked as a Lecturer and Researcher at Madda Walabu University, Ethiopia, and Instructor at Agarfa A TVET College, Ethiopia. His research interests focus on hydrologic modeling, river basin management, surface, and groundwater interaction modeling, climate change impact studies, remote sensing hydrology, land cover change detection and scaling, and precision agriculture.
Research interest
His research interests focus on hydrologic modeling, river basin management, surface, and groundwater interaction modeling, climate change impact studies, remote sensing hydrology, land cover change detection and scaling, and precision agriculture.
Mohamed, Abdelmoneim Z. (Moneim), Ph.D.
Agricultural Scientist IV
Agricultural & Biological Engineering Departement |Tropical Research and Education Center
Dr. Abdelmoneim Z. Mohamed (Moneim) is an agricultural scientist IV at the Tropical Research and Education Center. Moneim is an irrigation extension specialist with more than 8 years of research and extension experience in irrigation and agricultural water management.
Moneim’s previous work has focused on modeling and optimizing the performance of moving sprinkler irrigation systems by developing new methods for calculating irrigation uniformity. Moneim has also been involved in research programs related to precision and automated irrigation. Currently, he is working on identifying methods to estimate evapotranspiration at a fine resolution. Moneim leads and coordinates work with multidisciplinary teams such as plant science, horticultural sciences, agronomy, etc.
His professional interests include: (1) formulating engineered solutions and developing new strategies to agricultural water management challenges to maximize water use efficiency, (2) Teaching farmers and extension educators about improved irrigation practices, irrigation systems efficiency evaluation, and crop water use efficiency, (3) developing education programs for growers, professionals, and stakeholders.
Moneim received a bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering in 2011 from Zagazig University, a master’s degree in land and water resources management: irrigated agriculture in 2015 from IAMB, and a doctorate in biological and agricultural engine.