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Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Sushant Mehan

Sushant Mehan Profile Picture

Title

Assistant Professor and SDSU Extension Water Resource Engineer Specialist

Office Building

Raven Precision Agriculture Center

Office

202

Mailing Address

Raven Precision Ag Building 202
Ag and Biosystems Engineering-Box 2100
University Station
Brookings, SD 57007

Biography

I work at water resources engineering and hydro-informatics interface. My research agenda includes advancing the understanding and physical representation of nutrients' fate and transport to manage water resources using the computing infrastructure. I am also interested in exploring how interactions between climate and land management operations impact water quantity and quality. My passion for working on water resources, precisely water quality, is driven by the idea that resolving water problems can solve much unseen unpredicted chaos in the ecosystem. I love to work as a problem solver on issues related to water sustainability.

Education

  • B. Tech. in agricultural engineering | Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India | 2011
  • M. Tech. in agricultural engineering | Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India | 2014
  • Ph.D. in agricultural and biological engineering | Purdue University | 2018

Academic Interests

  • Water resources engineering
  • Hydroinformatics
  • Digital water
  • Community science
  • Engagement in water science

Academic Responsibilities

In my academic role at South Dakota State University, I am focused on enhancing the precision and reliability of hydrologic models, which predict water flow and usage in various environments. Also pioneering the integration of traditional process-based modeling with innovative machine-learning geospatial techniques to optimize agricultural water management, aiming to make these operations more efficient and sustainable. This work is crucial for advancing agricultural practices in the era of big data and smart farming technologies.

Committees and Professional Memberships

  • American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE)
  • American Geophysical Union (AGU)
  • Soil Science Society of America (SSSA)
  • Tau Beta Pi (TBP), The Engineering Honor Society
  • Alpha Epsilon (AE) Honors Society, Purdue University Agricultural and Biological Engineering Chapter
  • National Association County Agricultural Agents (NACAA)
  • South Dakota Association of Agricultural Extension Professionals (SDAAEP)
  • Indian Society of Agricultural Sciences

Awards and Honors

  • 2023, Trailblazers in Engineering (TBE) Fellow
  • 2023, ASABE Outstanding Reviewer (NRES-Natural Resources & Environmental Systems)
  • 2022, Early Career Engineer of the Year from the Association of Agricultural, Biological and Food  
     Engineers of Indian Origin (AABFEIO)
  • 2020, Ohio State Post-Doctoral Association Professional Development Award
  • 2020, ASABE Outstanding Reviewer (NRES-Natural Resources & Environmental Systems)
  • 2020, “Highest Likes and Most Watched Video” Winner at ASABE Inspired Video Challenge
  • 2019, Top Reviewers in Environment and Ecology (Global Peer Review Awards powered by Publons)
  • 2019, Top Reviewers in cross-field (Global Peer Review Awards powered by Publons)
  • 2018, Outstanding ABE Ph.D. Student: Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 
     Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
  • 2018, ASABE New Faces: Professional
  • 2018, Special Mention Graduate Ag Research Spotlight
  • 2018, First Place in Poster Competition, Second Place in Oral Presentation, Second Place in Pitch 
     Your Thesis Competition at 5th ABE GSA Research and Industrial Symposium, Purdue University, 
     West Lafayette, IN
  • 2017-2018, Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship, College of Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907
  • 2017, Indiana Soybean Innovation Competition (Winner of student competition): Team competition- The final product is filed for International Patent
  • 2014, Indian Council of Agricultural Research International Fellowship
  • 2012, 2014, University Fellow, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
  • 2011, Outstanding Best Student at Undergraduate Level, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 
      Punjab, India
  • 2011, Nominee of Indira Gandhi National Service Scheme (NSS) National Award
  • 2010, Dr. Dalip Singh Deep Memorial State Award
  • 2010, College Merit for Literary Events
  • 2010, Outstanding Student Indian Society of Technical Education (ISTE)
  • 2008, 2011, Best Speaker of the University (Punjab Agricultural University)
  • 2007, 2011, Best Debater of the University (Punjab Agricultural University)
  • 2010, Swami Vivekananda Youth Award
  • 2010, Ajit Matto Award for Outstanding Academic Performance

Patents

  • Soy-based filtration system
    • The patent application generally relates to filter media useful for manufacturing air filters for residential and commercial office heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), particularly to filters and filter media comprising soybean-based materials.

Work Experience

  • August 2023-present, assistant professor and Extension water resource engineer specialist, South Dakota State University
  • January - August 2023, postdoctoral fellow, Colorado Stat University
  • March 2022 - January 2023, research associate, University of Wisconsin, Madison
  • June 2020 - February 2022, postdoctoral scholar, Ohio State University
  • October 2018 - May 2020, agricultural engineer, Formation Environmental LLC
  • January 2016 - August 2018, graduate research assistant, Purdue University - West Lafayette
  • January 2015 - December 2016, graduate research assistant, South Dakota State University
  • January 2012 - May 2012, lecturer, Northwest Institute of Engineering and Technology, Punjab, India

Areas of Research

Mehan's research in watershed hydrology involves understanding how water moves through and affects a particular land area. He studies agricultural water management, seeking ways to use water resources efficiently for crop production. His work also examines the impact of climate on water resources, assessing how changes in climate and land use patterns can influence water availability and distribution, which is critical for developing adaptive strategies in agricultural practices and water resource management.

Mehan's research applications are crucial for sustainable agriculture. By enhancing water quality models, he helps predict and improve the safety and usability of water bodies. His evaluation of water management practices leads to more effective water use in agriculture, ensuring that crops receive the right amount at the right time while conserving resources. Additionally, he develops predictive models that aid in forecasting water needs for agriculture, assisting in long-term resource management, and ensuring the resilience of farming practices against environmental changes.

Department(s)