Paz earns alumni award from University of the Philippines Los Baños

October 30, 2020

Joel Paz, a professor in Mississippi State’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, has been recognized as a top alumnus of the University of the Philippines Los Baños.

Studio portrait of Joel Paz

Agricultural & biological engineering professor Joel Paz
(photo by Beth Wynn / © Mississippi State University)

Paz has been named as the 2020 College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology Distinguished Alumnus by the UPLB Alumni Association.

“I am deeply honored to receive this award. To be recognized by my alma mater for my work in teaching, research, and extension, is very special,” Paz said.

Paz attended UPLB from 1985 to 1989, where he received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural engineering. He received his Ph.D. in agricultural engineering and water resources from Iowa State University in 2000.

Paz was selected for this award because of extensive research, teaching awards, published journal articles, and involvement in the Extension Service at MSU.

Paz’s research focuses on water quality and nutrient reduction, water resources, artificial intelligence, big data analysis, crop growth modeling, impacts of climate change, along with climate variability, and water-energy-food nexus. His research initiatives have received over $5.8 million in contracts, and grants from the USDA, USDOE, NASA, NSF, NOAA, RMA, and more.

In his work with the MSU Extension service, he has published 27 extension service articles/newsletters and 17 technical reports. Paz also conducted training workshops, in-service training, extension seminars and presented at state and regional extension programs.

The Bagley College of Engineering is online at www.bagley.msstate.edu and can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube at @msuengineering.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.

By Abbie Kate Hancock