November 10, 2020
BY CSU BAKERSFIELD
Goals
The primary goal of the proposed project is to
- Provide research opportunities to Hispanic students majoring in Engineering, Biology, and Economics in the Central Valley,
- Expand experiential learning opportunities through mentored research internships at USDA facilities in the region,
- Develop students’ writing and communication skills through an annual summer workshop series that will provide student participants skills pertinent to applying for graduate school and jobs in the four fields, and
- Establish an alliance including university professors, scientists, local USDA officials and education specialists, that will help recruit and retain outstanding students.
Experiential Learning and Research Activities
Faculty and students will collaborate on research projects involving smart irrigation systems and the water agriculture nexus in California’s Central Valley. The engineering students will collaborate with Dr. Jafarzadeh in designing smart irrigation systems for agricultural use while Dr. Michieka’s team will quantify the economic benefits of using smart irrigation systems. Dr. Gillard’s team will assess the potential impacts of the changed irrigation schedules on the soil microbiology. Other water related issues will be studied in the projects. Each year, 11 students will experience research and internship experiences under the guidance of a faculty mentor.
Research Activities
During the Fall (and spring) semesters, each student will receive a $2,800 stipend for participation in a 10-week research activity (up to 20 hours per week). Interested? Please send an email to nmichieka@csub.edu
Internship
During the summer, two students will work at the USDA – NRCS office in Bakersfield for up to 20 hours a week receiving a stipend of $2,400. Each student will intern with the USDA-NRCS. Interested? Please send an email to nmichieka@csub.edu
Research Workshops
The findings (and experiences) obtained in the research activities and internships will be shared at a one day workshop at the end of the summer, at CSUB campus. Interested? Please send an email to nmichieka@csub.edu
Research Faculty
PI: Dr. Nyakundi Michieka, Associate Professor of Economics, California State University, Bakersfield. Contact: nmichieka@csub.edu
Co-PI: Dr. Saeed Jafarzadeh, Associate Professor of Engineering, California State University, Bakersfield. Contact: sjafarzadeh@csub.edu
Co-PI: Dr. Jeroen Gillard, Assistant Professor of Biology, California State University, Bakersfield. Contact: jgillard@csub.edu
External Consultant: Dr. Yiannis Ampatzidis, Assistant Professor of Precision Agriculture and Smart Machines at the University of Florida. Contact: i.ampatzidis@ufl.edu