Markus Keller

Markus Keller is a **Château Ste. Michelle Distinguished Professor** in the **Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture** at **Washington State University (WSU)**, affiliated with the **Prosser Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center (IAREC)**. His research focuses on grapevine physiology, viticulture production systems, and environmental stress management. He holds a **Ph.D. (1995)** and **M.S. (1989)** in Agricultural Engineering from the **Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), Switzerland**.

**Research Interests**: Dr. Keller’s work addresses crop physiology, irrigation strategies, cold hardiness, berry shrivel, and mechanized viticulture. His projects include developing deficit irrigation frameworks, understanding water movement in berries, and predicting frost damage risks using machine learning. He collaborates with industry partners like the USDA and Washington wine producers.

**Key Contributions**: His studies on grapevine water relations, berry development disorders, and cold tolerance have advanced sustainable viticulture practices. He leads teams investigating precision agriculture tools for vineyards, including hyperspectral imaging and decision-support systems.

**Grants & Funding**: Supported by grants from USDA, Washington wine tax, and juice processors. His work integrates applied research with grower education on frost protection and yield optimization.

**Lab & Collaborations**: Directs research at WSU’s Viticulture and Enology program, collaborating with international teams on climate resilience and grapevine health. Mentors Ph.D. and M.S. students in experimental design and field studies.