Chetan Badgujar, PhD
I was born and raised in Maharashtra, India, where I completed my B.S. in Agricultural Engineering at Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV), Akola, followed by an M.S. in Agricultural Engineering from Punjab Agricultural University, India. In 2018, I moved to the United States to pursue my Ph.D. in Biological & Agricultural Engineering at Kansas State University. My PhD research revolved around mechatronics and ground robotic systems in food production agriculture. Following my doctoral studies, I was awarded the USDA–ARS SCINet Postdoctoral Fellowship through ORISE and worked as a postdoctoral fellow at USDA–ARS location in Kansas, collaborating with the entomologist and engineers. I am currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and am trained as an agricultural engineer.
My past and current research focus on applied robotics, mechatronics, agricultural machinery, and artificial intelligence for food production systems. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family.
Rajesh Gund
PhD student
My passion for agricultural engineering began early—in 9th grade, I wrote that my goal was to become an agriculture manager. This drive has led me through diverse academic and professional experiences.
I hold an M.Tech. in Agricultural Engineering from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and a B.Tech. in Agricultural Engineering from Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth in India. Beyond academics, I have had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through multiple internships at prestigious institutions including CSIR (Punjab), IIT Bombay, ICAR (Punjab), SKUAST (Kashmir), CFMTTI (Madhya Pradesh), and NERFMTTI (Assam).
My research focuses on agricultural robotics, working on precision agriculture, greenhouse gas sensors, sensor interfacing, CAD modeling, and embedded systems. My work is driven by a commitment to solving real-world challenges in agriculture—enhancing productivity and sustainability through innovative technological solutions that benefit farmers of all scales.
Outside the lab, I enjoy playing football, working on robotics projects, and hope to learn horse riding during my time in Tennessee.
Subhash Tadiparthi
PhD student
Growing up watching large tractors tilling the fields was an influential reason that led choosing Agricultural Engineering as a career path. My academic background includes a B.S. from Dr NTR College of Agricultural Engineering (CAE Bapatla) and an M.S. from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Kharagpur) which has deepened my understanding of tractor systems and farm equipment. Working on multiple internships alongside gaining industrial experience at Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited (TAFE R&D Chennai) during this time inspired my interest in applying engineering solutions to agricultural problems.
My teaching interests spans from engineering fundamentals till mechatronic systems and real-life artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms. Being an agriculture engineer with interdisciplinary background, my past and current research focuses on working with sensors and developing AI model pipelines to address agriculture and stored product challenges. Beyond academia, I enjoy traveling, spending time with family and friends, and playing the drums as a hobby.
Tanmay Jalgaonkar
MS student
I grew up in the coastal region of Maharashtra, India, where rice is a major crop. From an early age, I observed farmers relying on traditional practices, often limited by small field sizes and low adoption of modern technologies. These experiences inspired me to pursue a career in agricultural engineering, with a strong interest in making advanced technologies accessible and practical for farmers. I completed my B.Tech., in Agricultural Engineering from Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth (DBSKKV), Dapoli, where I actively participated in innovation competitions and rural technology projects and gained experience with drones, basic robotics, and immersive technologies such as AR/VR. Through the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), I was selected for international training at Western Sydney University, Australia, where I received hands-on training in precision agriculture, IoT, protected cultivation, hydroponics, and agricultural automation.
I later worked as a Project Associate at a Government of India–supported Science and Technology Park in Pune, supporting agri-tech startups and contributing to agricultural innovation projects. These experiences strengthened my conviction that robotics and automation can transform agriculture and benefit both small and large-scale farmers. Currently, my research focuses on developing automated and digital tools for bird pest management in fresh produce systems, integrating multiple deterrent technologies with AI-based detection and computer vision approaches. I am grateful to be working in a field that aligns deeply with my passion. Outside of research, I enjoy photography and playing musical instruments, including guitar and drums.
Undergraduate student members:
- Ducan McNamara (Spring 2026 – Present)
- Research project: Evaluating a low-cost temperature sensor for compost process monitoring.
- Rushi Patel (Summer 2025 – Present)
- Research project: Developing a solar thermal system for weed control.
- Shivam Patel (Fall 2025 – Present)
- Research project: Large storage structure floor plan mapping using a robotic system.
- Paul Chua (Summer 2024 – Fall 2025)
- Research project: Development of a digital tool for bird pest management.
- Benjamin Hagerty (2023 – 2024)
- Daniel Mazeall (2024 –2025)
- Christopher Chapman (06/2024 – 12/2024)
- Olivia Ficalora (06/2024 – 12/2024)
- Ruhi Kabarwal (08/2024 – 05/2025)