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Dr. Phuong DaoAssistant Professor
Department of Agricultural Biology Colorado State University |
I am Dr. Phuong Dao, an Assistant Professor and the principal investigator of the Dao HyperAI Lab (Hyperspectral Remote Sensing & Agricultural Intelligence) in the Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University. I am also a Faculty in the campus-wide Graduate Degree Program in Ecology. I am a remote sensing and geospatial scientist and a plant ecologist. I am broadly interested in understanding how plant-disturbance interactions at the gene and species levels impact ecosystem functioning and biodiversity across spatial and temporal scales by integrating remote sensing, biochemical and genetic methods, biological modeling, and machine learning. I also developed and is currently advising the Agricultural Data Science undergraduate minor program. This minor trains students with knowledge and skills in data science and data analytics and how to apply them in predictive analytics, improved crop management, risk assessment, animal health, soil health, agricultural environmental protection, climate change mitigation and adaptation, supply chain management, and unlocking the potential of urban farming.
Prior to joining CSU, I was a Postdoctoral Associate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (with Prof. Philip Townsend) and NSF-ASCEND Biology Integration Institute (directed by Prof. Jeannine Cavender-Bares, Prof. Philip Townsend, and Prof. Peter Reich). My postdoctoral research investigated the genetically-driven chemical defense in aspen forests in response to insect herbivore impact. I earned a dual PhD degree in Physical Geography and Environmental Studies from the University of Toronto in Canada. In PhD research, I investigated drought impacts on grassland native and invasive species functional traits. I earned an MSc in Remote Sensing Science and Technology from the National Central University in Taiwan and a BEng in Surveying Engineering from University of Mining and Geology in Vietnam. EDUCATION & TRAINING 2021-2023: Postdoc, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA 2016-2021: PhD (dual degree), University of Toronto, Canada 2013-2015: MSc, National Central University, Taiwan 2006-2011: BEng, University of Mining and Geology, Vietnam HONORS/AWARDS 2022: National Best PhD Thesis Award, Canadian Remote Sensing Society 2020: Oscar J. Marshall Graduate Fellowship, University of Toronto 2020: Mitacs Research Training Award, Mitacs/University of Toronto 2020: Arts and Science Program Fellowship, University of Toronto 2020: Doctoral Completion Award, University of Toronto 2020: Second Place, Student Honors Paper Competition, AAG-2020 Annual Meeting 2019: Graduate Student Research Award of the Year, University of Toronto 2019: Best Paper Award, University of Toronto 2017: CGCS Graduate Student Research Awards, University of Toronto 2016: Connaught International Scholarship, University of Toronto 2014: Award for the Excellent Oral Presentation, at the ICEO&SI2014 Conference 2013: International Student Scholarship, National Central University 2011: Second Prize, Uni of Mining and Geology Student Scientific Competition 2011: Award for Outstanding Students, University of Mining and Geology 2010: Award for Outstanding Students, University of Mining and Geology 2009: Scholarship for Excellent Students, University of Mining and Geology 2008: Third Prize, National Physics Olympiad, Vietnam 2008: Award for Outstanding Students, University of Mining and Geology 2007: Scholarship for Excellent Students, University of Mining and Geology |
Nga T. NguyenResearch Associate
Department of Agricultural Biology _____ I have a keen research interest in GIS, remote sensing, and how they can be applied to model natural resources and the environment. More specifically, I am interested in using geospatial big data, machine learning, and cloud computing platforms such as Google Earth Engine to investigate changes in ecohydrology under the impacts of climate change. I am a strong proponent of open science and reproducible research. I received a Ph.D. in Renewable Natural Resources from Louisiana State University in 2021. I also earned a M.Sc. in Geo-information Science and Earth Observation from the University of Twente in 2010. In my free time, I enjoy practicing yoga and engaging in outdoor activities. |
Sydney HedbergMaster Student
Graduate Degree Program in Ecology Co-supervise with Prof. Alan Knapp _____ I am interested in using geospatial techniques to scale up grassland response to drought and detecting the spatial and temporal patterns of drought across the shortgrass steppe region of the U.S. I got my BA in Biology, Environmental Studies, and Geography with a GIS Concentration. Since undergrad, I have worked 4 seasonal field ecology and GIS jobs with the National Park Service, US Forest Service, and at the Cedar Creek Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site. |
Sai PennamMaster Student
Department of Computer Science College of Natural Sciences _____ My research interests lie in the area of AI for Process Operations, Computer Vision in Agriculture, and Object Detection. I join Dao Lab as a research assistant and intern. I am currently responsible to developing an automatic Python disease screening pipeline for Sugar Beet breeding with USDA-ARS Fort Collins. I enjoy reading journals and articles, illustration, engaging in creative thought processes, and collaborating with individuals with different backgrounds. |
Dao LabThree PhD students are coming in the Fall 2024
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Emma HoopesUndergraduate Intern/Assistant
Department of Agricultural Biology _____ I am most interested in extensive applications of remote sensing and machine learning in agriculture. I am currently an undergraduate student in the Department of Agricultural Biology, majoring in Entomology. I joined the Dao Lab as a research intern (with the CAS Undergraduate Research Fellowship) and as a research assistant. My internship project focuses on detecting and characterizing crop diseases using hyperspectral remote sensing and machine learning. I also enjoy hiking, roller skating, and knitting. |
Miguel HernansanzUndergraduate Intern/Assistant
Department of Soil and Crop Sciences _____ I am interested in learning and applying innovative methods in digital agriculture to enhance overall agricultural efficiency. I am an undergraduate student in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, majoring in Soil and Crop Sciences. I join Dao Lab as a research intern and a research assistant. My internship research project aims to understand herbicide resistance in weeds and the interactions between weed and wheat crops in wheat production system. I enjoy skiing, cooking, and composing. |