SRE 2022

The 2022 inaugural MSU/USDA Summer Research Experience (SRE) Program included a cohort of 10 graduate students from across the country. Working with MSU faculty, participants applied training and high-performance computing resources to a variety of research projects across multiple agricultural disciplines.

Student (Home Institution)	Mentor (Department)	Research Project Title
Sabyasachi Biswas (Mississippi State University)	John Ball, PhD (Electric & Computer Engineering)	Design and Implementation of a Software Defined Radio-Based Radiometer Operating from a Small Unmanned Aircraft System
Ajaya Dahal (Mississippi State University)	Ali Gurbuz, PhD (Electric & Computer Engineering)	Spectrum Scanning and Passive Microwave Remote Sensing
Eric Fiah (Mississippi State University)	Mahalingam Ramkumar, PhD (Computer Science)	Combined Microbiome and Farm Practices Variables for Pathogen Prediction
Luke Fuhrer (University of Georgia)	Joby Czarnecki, PhD (Geosystems Research Institute)	Identification of Palmer Amaranth in Cotton Utilizing Deep Learning
Mirhossein Karimi (Mississippi State University)	Ali Gurbuz, PhD (Electric & Computer Engineering)	A Machine Learning Framework for Yield Estimation Problem Using LiDAR and Multi-Spectral Images
Xiaoying Li (Virginia Polytech Institute)	Bindu Nanduri, PhD (Comparative Biomedical Sciences)	Microbiome Characterization Along the Farm-to-Fork Continuum of Pastured Poultry Flocks in the Southeastern United States
Chintan Maniyar (University of Georgia)	Sathish Samiappan, PhD Alessandro Matese, PhD (Geosystems Research Institute)	Neural Network-Based High Throughput Field Phenotyping of Horticultural Crops Using Hyperspectral UAV Imagery
Rito Medina (University of California, Fresno)	Joby Czarnecki, PhD (Geosystems Research Institute)	Predictive Soil Mapping for Apparent Electrical Conductivity Using Composite Soil Imagery & EM38 Soil Survey Data in the Mississippi Delta
Emma Schultz (Mississippi State University)	Garrett Street (Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture)	On the Move: How Animal and Small Unoccupied Aircraft System (sUAS) Movements Influence Survey Error
Dhiraj Srivastava (Virginia Polytech Institute)	Sathish Samiappan, PhD Alessandro Matese, PhD (Geosystems Research Institute)	Study of Deep Learning Methods for Remote Sensing of Turf Weeds Using Visible Spectrum Imagery

2022 Participant Testimonials

"SRE was an eye opener for me, and it introduced me to different research areas. We were fortunate to meet different Researchers and faculties who gave us the best training we could ever have. This is the best opportunity you could ever dream about "
– Eric Kudjoe

“The SRE program is at the forefront of agricultural innovation. The program spotlights the need for interdisciplinary cross over and collaboration to further push the boundaries of what is possible in the agriculture industry. Being a part of this program was such a special experience and has allowed me to further my exploration of what is possible.”
- Luke Fuhrer

“I enjoyed working with people at MSU during the past summer. My mentors were helpful and amazing. This program allowed me to work on exciting research projects which led to the publishing of two papers. I feel that my resume has become strong due to this program, which will open many doors for my future career.”
– Dhiraj Srivastava

“The SRE program brings researchers from a myriad of backgrounds together to collaborate on innovative and exciting projects. The opportunity to learn about and utilize the power of high-performance computing greatly enhanced my technical capabilities. This was truly an incredible research experience. The skillsets that I gained and the collaborative networks that I developed throughout the program will be valuable for the rest of my career.“
– Emma Schultz

“SRE – as the name suggests, was an overall experience, not just a research internship. There were a lot of trainings to hone our scientific and academic skills which eventually helped us in our SRE research, apart from pursuing a research project with our respective mentors. The thing I loved the most was the interdisciplinary nature of the research carried out and the consequent collaborations – these helped us develop all rounded skills from even outside our domain of study.”
– Chintan Maniyar

Participating in the Summer Graduate Research Experience program at Mississippi State University was a truly transformative experience for me. As an electrical and computer engineering student with a passion for remote sensing, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to work on a project related to passive microwave remote sensing under the guidance of esteemed professors in the field. The program provided me with the chance to apply the theories and concepts I had learned in class to a real-world setting. I was able to work with state-of-the-art equipment and cutting-edge technology, which allowed me to gain hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of the field. The program also allowed me to collaborate with graduate students and other researchers, which was a valuable experience. I was able to learn from their expertise and perspectives, and it helped me see the bigger picture of the field. This program not only enhanced my knowledge and skills but also solidified my passion for electrical and computer engineering, particularly in the area of passive microwave remote sensing. I highly recommend this program to any graduate students who are interested in gaining real-world research experience in this field.
– Ajaya Dahal