Chris Harbourt

Chris Harbourt is a Research Assistant Professor in Agricultural & Biological Engineering and Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). He holds a B.S. from Virginia Tech and M.S. and Ph.D. from UIUC in Agricultural Engineering. His expertise spans engineering, entrepreneurship, and agriculture, with a focus on aerial agronomy, robotics, sustainability, and software development. He is founder and managing partner of Hatch Ag Group, LLC, and former CEO of Agrible, Inc. Harbourt’s research emphasizes using manned-aircraft sensors to advance agricultural practices. He has contributed to peer-reviewed studies on pesticide transport, soil photolysis, and water quality. He advises students and teaches courses like TE 460 (Engineering Entrepreneurship) and CPSC 599. Notably, he served on the External Advisory Committee for the College of ACES (2016–2019). His ventures include Ag Air Imaging and TellTail, Inc., reflecting his dual commitment to academia and industry.