Burdette Barker

Burdette Barker serves as Assistant Professor and Extension Irrigation Specialist at Utah State University, specifically within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. His work spans agricultural, small farm, and landscape irrigation management across the Western United States.

• PhD in Biological Engineering (2017, University of Nebraska-Lincoln)
• MS in Irrigation Engineering (2011, Utah State University)
• BS in Biological Engineering (2009, Utah State University)

Research focuses on crop water use, irrigation losses, flow measurement, and irrigation system performance. His work integrates remote sensing, soil moisture monitoring, and precision irrigation technologies to optimize water use in arid environments.

Recent publications emphasize high-throughput phenotyping, center pivot maintenance, and saline soil management, reflecting his expertise in both technical and applied aspects of irrigation engineering.

• Outstanding Graduate Mentor (2025, Utah State University)
• Presidential Fellowship (2016, University of Nebraska-Lincoln)
• Second Place Graduate Poster (2015, Nebraska Water Center)

Barker mentors graduate students in Civil & Environmental Engineering, including Maziyar Vaez-Roudbari and Namuna Dhakal. He contributes to extension programs like Quantifying Field Irrigation Performance (2022–Ongoing) and Irrigation Technology Decision Support (2023–Ongoing).