BSE's Barker earns NU presidential graduate student fellowship

Burdette Barker, a doctoral student in biological systems engineering, is one of three UNL students to receive University of Nebraska system 2016-17 presidential graduate fellowships, NU President Hank Bounds announced.

Barker, from Fruit Heights, Utah, is in his third-year pursuit of a doctorate, with researched focused on improving spatial irrigation management with the intent of more optimal use of water. He is a collaborator on a multidisciplinary university research project, in which he’s investigating the impact of alternative conservation practices on soil moisture available for crop production.

As a research assistant at Utah State University, where he received his undergraduate and master’s degrees, Barker focused on measuring crop water use.

Currently, Barker participates in classroom instruction as a teaching assistant and guest lecturer at UNL, where he presents on irrigation-related topics. He hopes to one day become a faculty member at a land grant university, where he will continue to identify critical challenges in irrigation management.