Margaret Gitau

Margaret Gitau is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering at Purdue University, specializing in water resources and ecohydrologic engineering. She holds a Ph.D. from Penn State University (2003) and leads research on integrated hydrologic modeling, climate impacts, and data-driven decision-making for sustainable water management. Her work emphasizes ecohydrology, digital agriculture, and FEW (Food-Energy-Water) Nexus frameworks, particularly in data-scarce regions.

Research Focus: Her lab develops models for water quality, phosphorus dynamics, agrivoltaic systems, and climate resilience. Key projects include optimizing food-energy co-production, analyzing East African water data policies, and evaluating crop diversification impacts in Kenya. She serves as Associate Editor for Transactions of the ASABE and contributes to international conferences like the ASABE Global Initiative.

Education & Affiliations: Ph.D. in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from Penn State (2003). Collaborates with global partners on sustainable technologies for African agrifood systems. Her research bridges engineering, environmental science, and policy, addressing climate change, land use impacts, and resource management.

Labs & Teams: Leads the Purdue Water Resources and Ecohydrologic Engineering Research Group, focusing on interdisciplinary solutions for water sustainability and ecohydrologic challenges. The group emphasizes data science, model development, and stakeholder engagement for actionable outcomes.