Dr. Richard Scholtz

Associate Instructional Professor, Senior Lecturer – Agricultural Water Resources

Dr. Scholtz has taught a wide variety of lecture and laboratory engineering courses at the upper-division and graduate level. His teaching responsibilities are split between the Biological Engineering (BE) and Agricultural Operations Management (AOM) programs. Courses taught include: AOM 3734: Irrigation Principles and Practices in Florida, ABE 4042C: Biological Engineering Design I, ABE 4231C: Irrigation & Drainage Engineering Design, AOM 4314C: Power Machinery Management,  ABE 6931: Seminar, ABE 6252: Advanced Soil & Water Management Engineering and ABE 6986: Applied Mathematics in Agricultural and Biological Engineering.

Dr. Scholtz received his doctorate, master’s and baccalaureate degrees, all in Agricultural and Biological Engineering, from the University of Florida. He specializes in engineering and management practices geared to the promotion of sustainable agriculture and the environment, specifically those methods dealing with water and nutrient resources. Richard is the co-author of numerous journal articles and the text Mathematical Models of Crop Growth and Yield.

Dr. Scholtz also serves as the faculty advisor for the Florida Student Branch of American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers (ASABE), who successfully held the both the 2023 and 2015 ASABE Southeastern Region Rally. A student organized conference that hosts 16 Southeastern schools, highlighting the profession and providing an opportunity to showcase the unique research being conducted. Annually, Richard encourages students to be professionally active at the state-wide, regional, and international levels, and promotes participation in various Design Competitions: like the ASABE International Quarter-scale Tractor, ASABE Fountain Wars, & ASABE Gunlogson Environmental Design Competition. Richard is also the faculty advisor for the UF Chapter of Alpha Epsilon, Agricultural and Biological Engineering honor society. 

Dr. Scholtz specializes in engineering and management practices geared to the promotion of sustainable agriculture and the environment, specifically those methods dealing with water and nutrient resources.

Contact Information

rscholtz@ufl.edu

352-294-6704

Office:
169 Frazier Rogers Hall

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 110570
Gainesville, FL 32611-0570

Follow @DrScholtz

• Teaching
  • ABE 4042C: Agricultural & Biological Engineering Design I
  • ABE 4231C: Irrigation & Drainage Engineering
  • ABE 6252: Advanced Soil & Water Management Engineering
  • ABE 6931: Seminar
  • ABE 6986: Applied Mathematics in Engineering and Agriculture
  • AOM 3734: Irrigation Principles and Practices in Florida
  • AOM 4314C: Power Machinery Management
• Teaching
  • Water and nutrient transport and utilization
  • Nonlinear model development and application
  • Conveyance hydraulics
• Education
  • Ph.D. Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida, 2002
  • M.E. Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida, 1999
  • B.S. Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida, 1997
• Professional Experience
  • 2018 - Present
    Associate Instructional Professor/Senior Lecturer, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida
  • 2017 - 2018
    Senior Lecturer, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida
  • 2011 - 2017
    Lecturer, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida
  • 2007 - 2011
    Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida
  • 2006 - 2007
    Research Associate, Volunteer, and Courtesy Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida
• Publications
  • ORCID: 0000-0001-8989-0131
  • Google Scholar
• Awards and Honors
  • Distinguished Achievement Award, Florida Section of American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, 2024
  • Teacher of the Year Award, Florida Section of American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, 2020
  • North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Educator Award, 2019
  • Outstanding Service Award, Florida Section of American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, 2016
  • Teacher of the Year Award, Florida Section of American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, 2010
  • Young Educator Award, Florida Section of American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, 2003
  • Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate Fellow, National Science Foundation, 2000 - 2003
• Other Professional Activities
  • Academic Assessment Committee, University of Florida
  • University Curriculum Committee, University of Florida
  • Engineering Accreditation Commission, Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
  • Faculty Advisor, Student Chapter of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE)
  • Member, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE)
  • Member, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
  • Member, Sigma Xi
  • Member, American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)