Sunoj Shajahan is a research associate with Cornell CALS’ Nutrient Management Spear Program (NMSP). With a background in agricultural engineering, he joined the NMSP team with the goal of eventually taking a faculty position. This fall, Shajahan embarks on a new journey as assistant professor in computational engineering for precision agriculture in the agricultural and biological engineering department at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Hear from Shajahan as he reflects on his growth throughout his time at NMSP.
Sunoj Shajahan joined the Nutrient Management Spear Program (NMSP) in October 2019 as a postdoctoral researcher. He had a strong background in engineering, ranging from his undergraduate and master’s studies in food process engineering at Tamil Nadu University, to his Ph.D. in agricultural and biosystems engineering at North Dakota State University. In December 2022, he transitioned into a research associate position with NMSP.
When he began at NMSP, he aimed to grow his expertise in computational engineering, big data analytics, and building automated workflows. Shajahan also hoped to learn about the different ways he could apply these concepts to digital agriculture and agricultural sustainability.
“I like how NMSP puts data into action,” Shajahan said, "translating engineering concepts for farmers, stakeholders and consultants who see value in working with us.”
Shajahan’s projects largely focused on precision agriculture, exploring alternative approaches to estimating corn yield using satellite and drone imagery. Although he focused on yield estimation for corn silage and grain, he is looking forward to expanding the skills he has acquired at NMSP and bringing engineering solutions to agriculture. His goal is to simplify data-intensive agricultural research by streamlining data extraction and processing.
“I am confident that I can apply the skills that I learned in this project to any other crop and domain,” he said.
During his time at NMSP, Shajahan produced peer-reviewed publications, participated in proposal writing for extension-focused state funding sources and federal grants, and focused on applied research. He was involved in recruiting new team members (including students and staff) and gained communication skills.
“Working at NMSP has been an incredible journey, and I am immensely grateful for the opportunities, experiences, and support I have received during my time here,” said Shajahan. “The dynamic, diverse environment and the amazing team of colleagues have significantly contributed to my professional growth. This invaluable experience instilled the confidence I needed to pursue a faculty position, acquire grants, and handle projects independently.”
