Rabin Bhattarai

Rabin Bhattarai is an Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His research focuses on understanding climate change impacts on agricultural systems, water quality management, and extreme weather event analysis. He has collaborated on projects involving crop yield optimization, nitrate loss reduction, and the development of novel biochar-based nutrient capture systems.

His work integrates modeling tools such as SWAT and DRAINMOD to assess subsurface drainage systems and their environmental impacts. Key contributions include a globally recognized water quality database for lakes and studies on extreme precipitation regimes in Illinois. Bhattarai's publications emphasize interdisciplinary approaches, combining hydrology, climate science, and engineering to address agricultural sustainability challenges.

Recent research highlights include analyzing socially vulnerable communities' exposure to compound extreme heat and precipitation events in the Upper Midwest and evaluating probabilistic approaches for extreme weather prediction. His datasets, such as the Framework of Simulating Structural Sediment Perimeter Barriers, demonstrate commitment to practical applications in erosion control and environmental engineering.

• Research Strengths: Climate-Driven Agricultural Systems, Hydrological Modeling, Sustainable Nutrient Management
• Notable Projects: Cover Crop Decision Support Tool, DIRECT4AG Project Series