Venkat Sridhar to support global food and water security as a National Academies Jefferson Science Fellow

Venkat Sridhar, associate professor of biological systems engineering in Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture of Life Sciences and College of Engineering, has been named a 2024 Jefferson Science Fellow by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Sridhar is recognized internationally as an expert in assessing and mitigating the impacts of climate and human-induced change on the world’s water resources. He is one of nine U.S. faculty members selected for the highly competitive fellowship. 

Established in 2003, Jefferson Science Fellowships engage faculty members in foreign policy and international development through one-year fellowships at the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Fellows contribute their technical expertise to the agencies while gaining a deeper understanding of international policy, diplomacy, and development. 

Sridhar will spend the next year embedded in the USAID’s Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security, sharing his expertise in hydrology and global water resources modeling and management. He also will help provide leadership and coordination for the nation’s 21 Feed the Future Innovation Labs and global research partnerships to enhance food security with universities and other government agencies. 

“To serve in this prestigious role at the intersection of science and policy is a great honor,” Sridhar said. “Being a researcher throughout my career, it has been my dream to explore and offer relevant expertise in the field of food security, particularly concerning water resources management in the face of floods and droughts worldwide. I am truly excited to serve in USAID, where I can have an impact on food security on a global scale.”

At Virginia Tech, Sridhar has worked extensively on modeling research to understand both human and climate impacts on water resources, water management, drought, and flooding. He develops computational hydrological models and data sets that are used around the world to predict and manage both land and water resources in river basins. Using simulation models and spatial visualization techniques, Sridhar has offered valuable insights for policymakers and water managers from the Mekong Basin, which covers six countries in Southeast Asia, and river basins throughout India, to Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay watershed.

“Dr. Sridhar is a global leader in the use of big data and modeling to ensure that the planet maintains a clean, reliable water supply,” said Dwayne Edwards, professor and head of the Department of Biological Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech. “He is a prime example of Virginia Tech faculty who are at the forefront of meeting our planet’s greatest challenges. I have no doubt he will be a great asset to USAID and that his work there will be an ongoing source of learning and opportunity for students and faculty at Virginia Tech.”

Sridhar’s current research focuses on quantifying flood flows in the upper reaches of the Ganges River Basin and developing a salinity prediction tool that will assess the effects of sea level rise on rice cultivation in the Mekong Delta. As a co-investigator on a $5 million USAID grant-funded project, Sridhar is part of a Center for International Research, Education, and Development team helping universities in India increase training, research, and collaborative innovation on disaster-resilient infrastructure. He is a two-time Fulbright Scholar Award recipient.

“Professor Sridhar’s selection as a Jefferson Science Fellow is a testament to his groundbreaking research and Virginia Tech’s leadership in addressing critical global challenges,” said Guru Ghosh, vice president for outreach and international affairs. “His expertise in water resource management will undoubtedly advance USAID’s mission to enhance food security worldwide. We are incredibly proud to have Professor Sridhar represent Virginia Tech on this prestigious international stage as he works at the intersection of science, policy, and diplomacy to help build a more sustainable and resilient future.”

After completing the fellowship, Sridhar hopes to broaden his contributions to Virginia Tech’s global research programs and to share his experience at the intersection of engineering, policy, and international development with students.

“Virginia Tech is a globally renowned land-grant university,” Sridhar said. “It is truly gratifying to be part of its mission and to represent the university at various platforms around the world.”