Dr. Pete W. Jacoby is a Professor and Plant Ecologist in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA. He holds Affiliate Faculty status in the Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems located at the WSU Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center near Prosser, WA, USA. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Wyoming and his B.S. from Texas A&M University. During his early career, he served as an extension specialist with Texas A&M Agri-Life Extension before joining the University of Arizona as state-wide Extension Specialist for Natural Resource Sciences. He returned to Texas as a research scientist and Associate Professor with Texas Agri-Life Research at Vernon, TX. He served in administrative positions at the University of Nebraska and Washington State University before returning to a faculty position. Dr. Jacoby’s previous research focused on studies of root system dynamics of perennial shrubs and plant eco-physiology. In his present position, he developed a method of applying subsurface irrigation known as Direct Root Zone (DRZ) and conducted research associated with this method to conserve water in wine grape vineyards published in high-impact international scientific journals. Dr. Jacoby is active in the Irrigation Association, American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers, and American Society of Agronomy.
Dr. Sindhuja Sankaran is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological System Engineering at Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA. She holds a B.S. in Zoology from the University of Madras, India (2000), an M.S. in Environmental Science from Anna University, India (2002), an M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Iowa State University, USA (2006), and a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering from the North Dakota State University, USA (2009). After completing her Ph.D., she worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Citrus Research & Education Center, University of Florida from 2009 to 2013. She joined Washington State University as an Assistant Professor in June 2013. Dr. Sankaran’s research focuses on sensor technologies for crop phenotype monitoring to support plant breeding, crop plant research, and precision agriculture applications. Her work involves the development and integration of opto-electronic, biological, and chemical sensor technologies for non-invasive, rapid, continuous monitoring of plant responses to the environment, abiotic and biotic stressors, and other applications.
