Vaishali Sharda

Vaishali Sharda is an Associate Professor and Steve Hsu Keystone Research Scholar in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at Kansas State University. She holds a Ph.D. from Auburn University (2012), an M.Tech. from Punjab Agricultural University (2003), and a B.Tech. from Punjab Agricultural University (2001). Her expertise integrates agro-hydrologic models, climate data, and farm management to study food-energy-water systems and sustainable agriculture.

• Education: Ph.D. Biosystems Engineering (Auburn), M.Tech. Farm Power & Machinery (Punjab), B.Tech. Agricultural Engineering (Punjab)

Her research focuses on water sustainability, crop productivity, and climate change impacts using models like SWAT, MODFLOW, and DSSAT. She explores irrigation decision feedback, spatial soil variability, and ENSO effects on water availability. Sharda has co-authored over 16 peer-reviewed articles and contributed to book chapters, with an h-index of 4 (as of 2019).

• Awards: ASABE Superior Paper Award (2017), Honor Society Memberships (Alpha Epsilon, Gamma Sigma Delta)

Sharda's work bridges anthropogenic and natural systems, addressing Ogallala Aquifer sustainability and drought resilience. She serves on ASABE’s hydrology and irrigation subcommittees and has presented research globally.