Jane Frankenberger

Jane Frankenberger is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering at Purdue University, specializing in environmental and natural resources engineering. She holds a B.A. in Physics from St. Olaf College, an M.S. in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Minnesota, and a Ph.D. from Cornell University. Her career includes eight years working in Africa (DRC and Senegal) and roles at the U.S. EPA and USDA. Currently, she serves as the Extension Water Quality Coordinator, leading projects on watershed management, drinking water protection, and TMDL compliance. Her research focuses on agricultural drainage, water quality, and climate change adaptation in drained landscapes. She teaches a graduate course on GIS applications and has contributed to over 100 peer-reviewed articles, emphasizing nutrient reduction strategies and drainage management.

• Education:
  • B.A. Physics, St. Olaf College
  • M.S. Agricultural Engineering, University of Minnesota
  • Ph.D. Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Cornell University
• Key Roles:
  • Extension Water Quality Coordinator
  • Lead of water quality projects in Indiana
  • Author of extension publications on watershed management

Research Interests: Her work addresses watershed management, conservation drainage practices, and climate resilience in agricultural systems. She develops models to assess the effectiveness of conservation practices and integrates geospatial tools for decision-making. Recent studies focus on nitrate dynamics in tile-drained systems and climate change impacts on crop yields.

Publications highlight trends in drainage water management, nutrient load reduction, and interdisciplinary approaches to sustainable agriculture. Her work bridges engineering, ecology, and policy to improve water resource management at local and global scales.

Grants and collaborations include USDA-NIFA projects on transforming drainage research and international initiatives in Peru and Colombia. She emphasizes stakeholder engagement through workshops and outreach programs to enhance community-driven water management solutions.