Photo by Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS
A University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researcher and her postdoc have been inducted into the Sigma Xi scientific research honor society. The inductees are Sandra Guzmán, assistant professor at the UF/IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) and Gregory Conde, postdoctoral research associate in Guzmán’s Smart Irrigation and Hydrology Laboratory.
“Dr. Guzmán and Dr. Gregory Conde are celebrated for innovational ‘smart’ water solutions and lead a dynamic team of agricultural and biological engineers,” said Mark Kistler, IRREC director. “Dr. Guzmán’s IrrigMonitor software has contributed to optimizing water for citrus and vegetable operations across the state.”
Guzmán and Conde are natives of Colombia, South America.
Kistler said Guzmán is known for her ability to take risks and reach breakthroughs that translate to early adoption of new technology for irrigation and water management. Her educational sessions fill presentation auditoriums during the annual Florida Citrus Show.
“Guzmán’s Smart Water and Irrigation Laboratory team members demonstrate initiative and strong motivation,” Kistler said. “Between 2023 and 2024, Guzmán led a team of nine associates at diverse levels of scientific expertise. That team included two postdoctoral research associates, three visiting scholars and scientists, two Ph.D. students and two master’s students. Each of the team members published articles in professional journals.”
Guzmán is also a researcher of Science and Technologies for Phosphorus Sustainability (STEPS). The national center is a convergence research community that addresses the challenges in phosphorus sustainability by integrating disciplinary contributions across the physical, life, social and economic sciences.
Guzmán said Conde co-founded a robotics company, RUNIBOT, in Colombia to teach children about electronic engineering. She said Conde’s work for UF/IFAS is focused on integrated AI machine learning and control systems to upgrade water used for agriculture.
Source: UF/IFAS
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