BLACKLAND - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Business Administrator II
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor ( Global Ecosystem Modeling )
- Assistant Professor at Blackland Research
Dr. Bawa is an Assistant Professor at Blackland Research and Extension Center- Texas A&M AgriLife Research since March 2022. He received his PhD from South Dakota State University in 2021. Dr. Bawa's research interests include (1) analysis of hydrologic and environmental impacts of changes in land use and management and (2) assessment of regenerative agricultural practices focusing on soil- and water-related ecosystem services through field experiments as well as modeling frameworks. He addresses conservation practices related stakeholders' concerns using his advanced modeling, analytical, and technical skills. Since 2018, he has been an active member of three major soil and water management agricultural societies, including tri-societies (ASA-CSA-SSSA), the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ASABE), and the American Geophysical Union (AGU).
Dr. Anish Jantrania is an Associate Professor/Extension Specialist in the Biological & Agricultural Engineering Department at Texas A&M University. He is based at he Blackland Research & Extension Center in Temple, Texas. Dr. Jantrania has over 25 years of experience working in the wastewater industry, in the public and private sectors, with a focus on On-Site Sewage Facilities (OSSF/septic systems), and decentralized wastewater systems used in areas not served by public sewer. His research and extension interests focus on sustainable infrastructure to ensure the availability of clean water to meet society's water demands, and to ensure safe sanitation to protect public health and environmental quality. Before coming to Texas, Anish has worked in Virginia, Massachusetts, and West Virginia, and has studied in West Virginia, South Carolina, Ohio, and India. His work in Texas will focus on developing a statewide extension education and research program related to surface and groundwater quality protection with specific emphasis on non-point sources, OSSF, and other environmental issues. His work will also focus on education and research needs in water treatment technologies (such as desalination), water capture and multiuse, and conservation technologies that address identified needs in both agricultural and urban sectors.
Job Titles:
- Research Scientist
- Member of the CEAP Grazinglands Modeling Team
Dr. Manyowa Norman Meki is a member of the CEAP Grazinglands Modeling Team, responsible for the development of plant parameters for modeling the impacts and benefits of conservation practices on grazinglands with the APEXgraze model. Research interests include applying EPIC/APEX models to identify agricultural practices/cropping systems that optimize productivity and sustainability of food production with the least environmental impacts. Assists model developers in improving the capabilities, accuracy and precision of the EPIC/APEX models. Other activities include providing EPIC/APEX training and user support.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Research Scientist
Dr. Natalja Čerkasova is interested in the development of hydrologic and water quality models for identifying present and future water resources and water quality issues. Her current interest research focuses on setting up a large-scale fine-resolution hydrological and water quality models using SWAT and coupling it with the hydrodynamic model of the largest European coastal lagoon. In addition, her research experience includes environmental model development, GIS solutions, decision support tools, database development and application for environmental research, and analysis of climate and land-use change on the environment. Currently, her research is focused on testing of SWAT+ and its applications across the US and the EU
Dr. Srinivasan was named the Resident Director of the Blackland Research and Extension Center, effective Sept. 1, 2020.
Dr. Raghavan Srinivasan (Ph.D., Purdue University), who also serves as the Director of the Spatial Sciences Laboratory at TAMU, models transport of pollutants to assess surface and ground water quality impacts, develops Internet-based tools using GIS and remotely sensed data, and integrates data into spatial information systems. Manages training and educational outreach for use of GIS and application of natural resource and hydrologic models for water quality and land use change. He is a member of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers and the American Water Resources Association.
Job Titles:
- Postdoctoral Research Associate
Dr. Sagarika Rath's interest lies in developing hydrologic and water quality models to tackle water resources and water quality issues while providing potential solutions. Currently, she is contributing to the US National Model study and CEAP Wildlife project using SWAT+. In addition, her research experience includes integrated surface-groundwater model development, analysis of impact on water quality due to Best Management Practices and land-use change.
Job Titles:
- Senior Scientist / Program Development
- Senior Scientist at Texas a & M 's Blackland Research
Dr. Terry Nipp is a Senior Scientist at Texas A&M's Blackland Research and Extension Center. Terry has lead responsibility for university outreach and developing interdisciplinary and multi-institutional projects that apply the Integrated Decision Support System's (IDSS) suite of modeling tools to farms, watersheds, and landscapes to address the challenges of water quality and quantity, climate, agriculture, environment and food systems. Terry also serves as a Research Consultant with Columbia University's Center for Climate Systems Research and works with the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP).
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Research Scientist
- Assistant Research Scientist at Blackland Research
Dr. Yared Bayissa is an assistant research scientist at Blackland Research and Extension Center in Texas A&M University. His research focuses on developing drought monitoring and early warning systems, drought vulnerability and risk assessment, and drought preparedness using mainly remote sensing and biophysical models' products. In addition, his work involves impact assessment of soil and water conservation practices on agricultural production, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic sectors. Dr. Yared has extensive experience in watershed modeling, application of remote sensing in hydrological studies, impact assessment of climate and land use changes, and application of data mining approaches and other statistical learning techniques to hydrology.
Job Titles:
- Program Manager
- Research Support
Job Titles:
- Postdoctoral Research Associate
- Research Associate at Blackland Research
Dr. Noa-Yarasca is a post-doctoral research associate at Blackland Research and Extension Center- Texas A&M AgriLife Research since August 2022. His research interests focus on (1) Hydrological and ecological modeling based on physics and artificial intelligence involving conservation practices to achieve flow, water quality and ecological benefits, (2) Assessment of stakeholder's decision-making in watershed management conservation practices plans through decision-making support systems, (3) Time series characterization, modeling, and anomaly detection utilizing machine learning and deep learning approaches.
Job Titles:
- Natural Resources Specialist
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor ( Digital Agriculture )
- Assistant Professor at Blackland Research
Dr. Gurjinder Baath is an Assistant Professor at Blackland Research and Extension Center and has a joint appointment with the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at Texas A&M University. His data-driven research program focuses on assessing and establishing best management practices to improve yield, resource use efficiency, and environmental and ecological sustainability of traditional and alternative cropping systems in Texas and beyond. Dr. Baath emphasizes precision agriculture technologies, especially non-destructive remote sensing techniques, in an effort to improve production efficiency and reduce environmental footprints of agriculture. Additionally, an integration of current sensing technologies, process-based models and big data analytics to develop real-time decision support tools is of particular interest to his program. Dr. Baath's research experiences include: (i) quantifying the impact of abiotic stresses (drought, heat, and salinity stresses) on multiple field crops, (ii) investigating alternative crops for food, forage, and green cover capabilities, (iii) utilizing crop simulation models to appraise productivity and long-term sustainability of different cropping systems, and (iv) coupling remote sensing techniques and machine learning algorithms for in-season crop management. He serves as an Associate Editor for Agronomy Journal and the President of Association of Agricultural Scientists of Indian Origin (AASIO).
Job Titles:
- Software Applications Developer III
Job Titles:
- Software Application Developer Specialist
Dr. Osorio Leyton's research interest focus on linking process-based simulation models, geospatial analysis, machine learning, and data analytics to support data-driven decision-making for agriculture, and natural resource management. In addition, his research experience includes the development and application of simulation models, remote sensing, and spatial statistics for ecosystem management. Dr. Osorio Leyton is the P.I. of the project "Establishing and Strengthening Predictive Livestock Early Warning System (PLEWs) in Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, and South Sudan" sponsored by the United Nations-The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The project contributes to the development of the Predictive Livestock Early Warning System (PLWES) in East Africa and other parts of the world. PLEWS provides estimates of livestock forage and water availability and their deviations from average conditions, this information on forage and water status, can assist in adaptive management decisions to improve drought response and reduce risks. Dr. Osorio Leyton also works overseeing data analytics, model application, and advance modeling research and analyses related to the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service's Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) to inform national and regional scale agricultural and natural resource conservation policy, with an emphasis on water and soil quality, food security, and rural stability. Dr. Osorio Leyton received his Ph.D. in Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, his MS in Animal Production at National Agrarian University La Molina (Pe), and his BS in Agronomy from the University of San Simon (Bo). Dr. Osorio Leyton serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of International Soil and Water Conservation Research (ISWCR). Dr. Osorio Leyton is a member of Alpha Epsilon, Honor Society of Agricultural, Food, and Biological Engineering (AE), Society for Range Management (SRM), American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), American Water Resources Association (AWRA), and the Bolivian Society of Engineers (SBI).
Job Titles:
- Assistant Vice Chancellor for External Relations
- Assistant Vice Chancellor for External Relations for Texas a & M AgriLife
Joe Cox currently serves as assistant vice chancellor for External Relations for Texas A&M AgriLife. He joined the AgriLife team after his exceptional work for several offices in the Texas House of Representatives, where he focused on policy areas pertaining to agriculture, natural resources and the environment, and energy. Before working in the House of Representatives, Mr. Cox was employed by a private government-relations firm and represented a broad spectrum of clients.
Dr. Wolfe is involved, primarily, in research investigating erosion and sedimentation caused by land disturbance. He manages and directs the Water Science Laboratory at Texas A&M AgriLife Research's Blackland Research and Extension Center in Temple, Texas. The laboratory conducts basic research in water resource conservation and management. Environmental field instrumentation and telemetry are used to monitor hydrological parameters of interest. In addition to field work, the laboratory supports analytical capabilities for dissolved nutrients, sediment, and microbial analyses. Water quality data is used to evaluate both aquatic and terrestrial conditions, processes, and effectiveness of land management practices. Wolfe is also interested in the use of grasses as ornamental species to be used in water and resource conserving landscapes of high aesthetic value. Dr. Wolfe is a member of the American Water Resources Association.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Research Scientist
Katie Mendoza received her Master's in Meteorology from Florida State University. Since then, she has studied the impacts of Natural Decadal Climate Variability on water resources and agriculture using various methods and tools, including the SWAT and EPIC models. Katie's work involved collecting, analyzing, visualizing, and evaluating data to offer meaningful and actionable information to diverse stakeholder groups. At Blackland, Katie uses SWAT to model transport of pollutants to assess surface and ground water quality impacts, effects on natural resources, and potential land-use change. She also contributes to enhancing the capabilities of the online user interface of the HAWQS tool.
Job Titles:
- Senior Research Associate
Lisa serves as the Watershed Coordinator and manages all aspects of the Lampasas River Watershed Partnership, including data collection, grant and report writing. Lisa has worked in water resources since 2004 and holds a Bachelor's of Science in Animal Science from Tarleton State University (2003) and a Master's of Science in Rangeland Ecology and Management from Texas A&M University (2009).
In the early days of her career with Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Lisa specialized in restoration of disturbed military lands, erosion control methods on rangelands and stormwater sampling. For the last 7 years, she has worked with landowners, homeowners, and local, state and federal agencies to improve surface water quality in the Lampasas River and its tributaries. This culminated in the development of the Lampasas River Watershed Protection Plan. This watershed protection plan was the 4th in the state of Texas to receive EPA acceptance and stakeholder approval in 2013. Lisa now oversees the implementation of the watershed protection plan through projects which provide, financial and technical assistance and educational programs to stakeholders and seeking funding to facilitate these programs. Copies of the watershed protection plan and more information can be found at http://www.lampasasriver.org/.
Dr. Doro has a great interest in the development and application of simulation models to agro-ecosystems at field and small watershed scale to assess their performances, sustainability, and dynamics considering factors such as the conservation of natural resources and the impact of climate change while defining possible adaptation and mitigation strategies. Dr. Doro's main duty is to provide support to the Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) modeling team lead by Dr. Lee Norfleet of the United State Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS). While his main assignment is the development of a database for the regional calibration of the Agricultural Policy Environmental eXtender -APEX model (one of the simulation models used in the CEAP activity), because of his skills, Dr. Doro is constantly involved in the evaluation of the model outputs, model calibration, and debug of the APEX model source code. He is also involved in training on the use of the APEX and EPIC models.
Job Titles:
- Senior Research Specialist
Job Titles:
- Software Applications Developer II
Mousumi Deb has been working as a Software Applications Developer II at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research | Blackland Research and Extension Center since May 2018. She has experience as a full-stack software application developer and a web developer. Previously she worked as a Web developer intern for the City of Nolanville, TX and Solution Analyst intern at FedEx World Headquarter in Memphis, TN. She is currently designing, implementing, and testing robust and scalable solutions for end-users and stakeholders in Livestock Market Information System. She is also working on developing the Forage Forecast Dashboard project. She provides technical support to various system-level users and stakeholders for all the in-house implemented software solutions.
Job Titles:
- Software Applications Developer III
Job Titles:
- Programmer I
- Software Programmer at the Texas a & M AgriLife Research
Pratheeba Kalaiselvan has been working as a Software Programmer at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research | Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology since July 2018. Pratheeba's work involves helping to develop web applications that interface with models, such as the Hydrologic and Water Quality System (HAWQS), and the SWAT+ Editor interface. She also helps to develop and maintain various other websites and applications for the Blackland Center and Texas State Soil & Water Conservation Board.
Professional interests include: water resources monitoring, range vegetation, and cropping systems. Roger has specialized training and experience in project development, range vegetation and fertility; Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping and analysis; field data collection - GPS field data collection; restoration and conservation of Fort Hood Training Lands (large range areas as well as demonstration plots); storm water quality monitoring and analysis of range vegetation response to compost application and related activities; storm water quality monitoring and analysis of range vegetation in response to compost application and seeding; storm water sampling recovery and field maintenance; validation of CroPMan modeling including soil samples and cropping system studies; and carbon infiltration studies and techniques related to native biomass in native soil.
Job Titles:
- Postdoctoral Research Associate
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Research Scientist
Job Titles:
- Agricultural Research Tech I
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Research Scientist
Dr. Abitew has research interests in watershed modeling, climate change and variability impacts on water resources, data assimilation and integration, and remote sensing-based surface energy balance modeling. His PhD research focused on hydrologic modeling of poorly gauged basins using a SWAT model based on alternative data sources - public domain remote sensing products and reanalysis climate data. Currently, he is working on ‘Enhancement of APEX for Simulating Soil Erosion and Salt Transport in the Colorado River Basin' project that is funded by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Job Titles:
- Software Applications Developer II
Job Titles:
- Senior Research Associate