Liang Dong, an educator in electrical and computer engineering and head of the Microelectronics Research Center at Iowa State University, will be the University of Georgia’s newest Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar, commencing Aug. 1.
Dong transitions to UGA following nearly 18 years at Iowa State, where he earned recognition as an influential figure and pioneer in sensors and precision agriculture. His studies have advanced innovative sensing and measurement methodologies for real-time assessment of soil conditions, plant vitality, and environmental aspects. These breakthroughs have enhanced agricultural management techniques and bolstered crop breeding initiatives by enabling the creation of new varieties that possess greater resilience to various stresses.
“I am extremely thankful for the University of Georgia’s ongoing collaboration with the Georgia Research Alliance,” stated UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “Dr. Dong’s contributions will propel joint research initiatives as he promotes innovative and sustainable strategies that greatly assist our state’s agricultural sector.”
The Georgia Research Alliance is a nonprofit, public-private cooperation that channels state resources to attract premier scientific talent, improve laboratories, and encourage exploration and entrepreneurship to generate economic impact in Georgia. GRA Eminent Scholars are distinguished specialists in their fields at Georgia’s leading research institutions. Collectively, these scholars secure hundreds of millions in public and private funding annually.
Dong will be UGA’s 19th active GRA Eminent Scholar.
“Dr. Dong operates at the crossroads of agriculture and technology, a vital sector for enhancing crop productivity and boosting food production,” remarked GRA President and CEO Tim Denning. “He is also an exceptionally collaborative researcher dedicated to introducing exciting new technologies to benefit farmers and food producers. UGA and the state of Georgia are incredibly fortunate to have him here.”
At UGA, Dong will serve as the GRA Eminent Scholar in Precision Agriculture with a dual role in the colleges of Engineering and Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Additionally, he will act as the associate director for research at the Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture. In this role, he will have opportunities to advance his sensor research for crop varieties in Georgia, the Southeast, and beyond.
“Through his interdisciplinary research, Dr. Dong is establishing new benchmarks in precision agriculture, and it is a privilege to welcome him to our exceptional faculty,” commented Benjamin C. Ayers, the university’s senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “He will play a crucial role as UGA pursues discoveries that support farmers and our state’s extensive agricultural industry.”
“Georgia is truly an exhilarating location for me to continue my sensor research because it presents a diverse array of important crops that are rare elsewhere,” Dong stated. “The environmental conditions in the Southeast differ significantly from what I’ve previously encountered, creating numerous new opportunities.”
“It’s an excellent chance to advance low-cost, high-performance sensing technologies that can assist farmers, researchers, and other stakeholders.”
Dong perceives advanced and economical sensing technologies as a vital element of the 21st-century agricultural puzzle. Drones, satellites, and weather stations provide extensive data about broad crop, soil, and environmental states, yet they do not directly inform us of internal plant conditions, especially at the molecular scale. Real-time monitoring of elements such as plant physiological signals can greatly enhance our comprehension of plant health under diverse environmental situations and management techniques. These insights can, in turn, expedite plant breeding, improve crop yields, and mitigate adverse environmental effects.
“Deep sensing utilizing affordable sensors can help bridge the gap,” he mentioned. “I consider plants as the end users. Just as humans are the end users of biomedical devices that gather data to enhance healthcare, wearable sensors for plants can report molecular-level indicators such as nutrient levels, hormone activity, and sugar concentrations without needing to cut the plant and send samples to the laboratory. This allows for quicker, more cost-effective results.”
His role at UGA will foster a mutually beneficial partnership for the university as it expands its research in precision agriculture.
“Dr. Dong’s proficiency in creating plant sensors will significantly enhance the initiatives we are undertaking at UGA to improve production efficiency for our growers,” stated George Vellidis, director of the Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture. “His latest sensor, for instance, can be directly affixed to a plant leaf to identify stress resulting from disease, pests, or drought. This serves as an incredible early warning system, enabling us to respond to adverse conditions and avert widespread crop damage.”
The article Liang Dong joins UGA as Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar first appeared on UGA Today.