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Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Dr. Sandra Guzmán

Assistant Professor, Irrigation, Hydrology, and Best Management Practices (BMP’s)

Dr. Sandra Guzmán is an agricultural engineer working as an assistant professor at the Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) in Fort Pierce, Florida. Her main interest is the implementation of innovative tools for better use of water resources in agriculture. She is currently leading the smart irrigation and hydrology program at IRREC working in direct contact with citrus producers and stakeholders in Southeast Florida. As she defines: one of the major opportunities for real change is to be working hand to hand with producers in the region. Understand the producer’s challenges in water management and provide effective solutions that adapt to the current technological developments is Guzmán main goal.

To approach these challenges, Guzmán's research and extension programs emphasize providing solutions that include: the implementation of smart devices and sensors for irrigation, artificial intelligence for the forecasting of hydrological variables, and monitoring soil-water-plant interactions.

Guzmán earned her B.S. and M.S. degrees in agricultural engineering from Universidad Nacional de Colombia in 2009 and 2011, respectively and received her Ph.D. in biological engineering from Mississippi State University in 2016, with an emphasis on water management and forecasting. Currently, Guzmán works in the simulation of water and nutrient transport from agricultural practices at the field and watershed scale for the upper Floridian aquifer.

Contact Information

sandra.guzmangut@ufl.edu  |  Website

772-577-7342

Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC)
2199 South Rock Road, Fort Pierce, Florida 34945-3138

  • Research

    Departmental Research Area:

    • Land and Water Resources Engineering

    Research Focus:

    • Simulate crop yield, water and nutrient balances (http://floridanwater.org/modeling/)
    • Apply artificial intelligence to forecast hydrologic variables
    • Develop programs for efficient use of water, and evaluation of smart irrigation technologies
    • Implement Best Management Practices (BMP’s) in Southeast Florida
  • Extension
    • Promote educational programs in water use and scheduling for irrigation
    • Incentivize freshwater systems conservation using BMP’s
    • Increase public awareness of water issues
  • Education
    • Ph.D. Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Mississippi State University, 2016
    • M.S. Agricultural Engineering, National University of Colombia, 2011
    • B.S. Agricultural Engineering, National University of Colombia, 2009
  • Professional Experience
    • 2018 - Present
      Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida
    • 2017-2018 
      Postdoctoral Fellow, Auburn University - Water Resources Center
    • 2016-2017
      Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Civil Engineering/Landscape Architecture - Social Research Science Center (SSRC), Mississippi State University
    • 2012
      Exchange Research Assistant. Department of Civil Engineering/Landscape Architecture - Social Research Science Center (SSRC), Mississippi State University
    • 2011-2012
      Design Engineer, SNC-Lavalin, Bogotá, Colombia
    • 2011
      GIS Analyst- Colombian Consulting (Consultoría Colombiana), Bogotá, Colombia
  • Publications
  • Awards and Honors
    • National Center for Banana Research CENIBANANO (Centro Nacional de Investigación del Banano), Fellowship Award. Bogotá, Colombia, Fellowship to complete Master´s research in irrigation and drainage for banana production, 2009
    • Professional Scholarship, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) Award, 2015
  • Other Professional Activities
    • American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE)
    • American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
    • American Society of Agronomy (ASA)
    • Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS)