Dr. Sandra Guzmán

Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Dr. Guzmán's program focus in the development of technology-based solutions for agricultural water management. Dr. Guzmán leads the smart irrigation and hydrology program at IRREC working in direct contact with citrus-vegetable 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 using a bottom-up approach. 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 development of practical decision support systems for water management, implementation of smart devices and sensors for irrigation, artificial intelligence for the forecasting of hydrological variables, and monitoring soil-water-plant interactions.

Dr. Guzmán works on solutions to protect East Florida water resources and improve citrus production, from the farm scale to the watershed scale. Her current research involves the simulation of agricultural practices, water quantity, quality, and crop production and their impacts on the upper Floridan aquifer.

Dr. Guzmán is a team member of IRREC research professors who support the University of Florida’s statewide Institute of Food and Agricultural Science’s (IFAS) goal to restore Florida’s legendary grapefruit industry. Her experience with machine learning for groundwater forecasting and precision irrigation brings to the center a new perspective for water management in the region.

• Research

  Research 

  Dr. Sandra Guzmán's research program addresses gaps in irrigation technology adoption, nutrient management, and hydrology. To address producer needs, Dr. Guzmán and her smart irrigation and hydrology laboratory team develop practical Decision Support Systems (DSS’s) and technologies. The development of innovational water and agricultural management tools integrate stakeholder input, considering environmental and socio-economic factors at the interface of technology and society. Furthermore, Dr. Guzmán's research studies involve the effects of land use and land management practices on the sustainability of freshwater systems. 

  Link to my peer-reviewed journal publications:

• Extension

  Agricultural Engineering 

  The UF/IFAS institution is known for strong research and extension programs.

  Dr. Sandra Guzmán's research and extension programs are included in those traditions. Dr. Guzmán's extension work teaches growers about groundbreaking technologies and how to employ the new applications in the field.

  Part of Dr. Sandra Guzmán's work includes integrated programs with growers to test the efficiency of technologies including sensors, apps, and software, in addition to educational programs for industries and extension on these technologies.

  One way Dr. Guzmán delivers learning to growers is through her work to develop and deliver The Florida Citrus Show, in collaboration with AgNetMedia. The show, now in its 78^th year, features educational sessions for both citrus and vegetable production and a rousing festive-like tailgate-style trade show. A second extension platform in which Dr. Guzmán is involved is with the IRREC Open House event, an outreach event to share the research and extension programs offered to their community.

  A link to my EDIS publications

   

• Education
  • Ph.D. Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Mississippi  State University, 2016
  • MSc  Agricultural Engineering, National University of  Bogotá, Colombia, 2011
  • BSc  Agricultural Engineering, National University Bogotá, Colombia, 2009
• Publications
  • Google Scholar
  • ResearchGate 
  • EDIS publications
• Awards and Service

  Service

  • 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)

  Awards

  • Co-PI: Study Abroad and Spanish Language for Precision Agriculture. Supported by the Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje (National Learning Service) SENA and the U.S. Department of State. Competition #13: 2017 tech challenge – promoting study abroad in innovation, investigation, entrepreneurship, and bilingualism. $25,000
  • Selected as the 2016 Graduate Student Ambassador from the office of graduate school - Mississippi State University
  • Nominated for 2016 Graduate Research Assistant of the Year, for the significant contributions to the growth of Mississippi State University through exemplary leadership abilities and outstanding research
  • Nominated to the 2016 James Worth Bagley College of Engineering Student Hall of Fame, for superior academic achievement, leadership, service, and character within the college and the field of Engineering
  • Travel Grant, Tucson Arizona, CUAHSI watershed science master class, course on watershed modeling, January 2016
  • Conference Grant, Baltimore, MD. Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers - SHPE Research and Innovation in STEM (RISE) Symposia, November 2015
  • Finalist of the 2015 Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers - SHPE RISE Symposia best poster presentation at the Agricultural, Civil Environmental and Biological Engineering track
  • Professional Scholarship, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), award, Recognition for achievements in academia, leadership, and community service, July 2015
  • Finalist of the 2015 American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) Boyd-Scott Graduate Research Award
  • Second Place Poster competition, Mississippi Water resources Conference, Jackson MS, April 2013
  • Training Fellowship, Denver CO. SHPE’s 27th Annual National Institute for Leadership Advancement (NILA) Training Program
  • Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station MAFES/FWRC Director’s Fellowship Award. Fellowship to complete doctoral studies in Biological Engineering. January 2013
  • National Center for Banana Research CENIBANANO (Centro Nacional de Investigación del Banano), Fellowship Award. Bogotá, Colombia, Fellowship to complete Master´s degree in Agricultural Engineering, August 2009