Team
Meet the Smart Biosystem Laboratory Research Group (AGR-278).
Team
Members
Professor Manuel Pérez-Ruiz
University of Seville
Professor of the ETSIA of the University of Seville, specialized in Precision Agriculture and in the application of new technologies to agricultural production. He has developed much of his scientific work at the University of California, Davis (USA). He currently coordinates two research projects, one of the Excellence Program of the Andalusian Government and the other subject to the State Research Program.
Professor Juan Agüera Vega
University of Córdoba
Professor of Agroforestry Engineering at the ETSIAM at the University of Córdoba. Member of the research group Smart Biosystems Laboratory (AGR-278). University professor and researcher since 1982.
Professor Gregorio Egea Cegarra
University of Seville
His lines of research are focused mainly on the use of new technologies for the management of irrigation, deficit-based irrigation and modelling of the response of crops to the water deficit.
PhD Jorge Martínez Guanter
Corteva Agriscience
Digital Marketing Manager at Corteva Agriscience. PhD in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Seville. Skills in Agronomy, statistical analysis of large volumes of data, Automatic Learning techniques, Computer Vision, as well as mechatronics, LiDAR sensors, remote sensing, drones, GIS and control in microcontroller-based robotics.
Professor Antonio Miguel Pérez Romero
University of Seville
Professor of the Department of Graphic Engineering, within the area of Graphic Expression in Engineering at ETSIA. His lines of research focus on three fronts: 3D surveys, using laser and photogrammetry-SFM techniques. Accuracy of GPS-GNSS systems. Development of applications for teaching innovation in Topography and Geomatics.
Dr. Orly Enrique Apolo Apolo
PhD Student & Researcher
Dr. O. Enrique Apolo-Apolo received his B.Sc. (Hons) in Agricultural Engineering in 2016, M.Sc. (Hons) in Crop Protection and M.Sc. (Hons) in Geographical Information Systems in 2017 from the University of Seville, Spain. In 2022, he obtained his PhD with the highest distinction (summa cum laude) also from the University of Seville. His PhD dissertation was titled “Development and assessment of AI models based on deep learning algorithms to determine agronomic traits in fruit tree orchards and field crops”. He is working as a postdoctoral researcher in the Precision Scoring group at Ghent University since June 2022 on POSHMyCo project. His fields of interest include artificial intelligence, precision agriculture, proximal plant sensing, satellite imagery, machinery, robotics and electronic.
Professor Pedro Castro Valdecantos
Postdoctoral Researcher
Graduated in Agricultural Engineering specializing in Agricultural Operations, Own Master’s Degree in Plant Health and Official Master’s Degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Seville. PhD from Lancaster University (United Kingdom) in collaboration with CUHK (Hong Kong). Focused on the study of the physiology and biochemistry of crops against water stress. Currently working on determining the severity and performance impact of wheat rust with LiDAR sensors and Hyperspectral cameras.
Manuela Díaz Hidalgo
PhD Student and Project Manager
PhD student at School of Agriculture Engineering (University of Seville) and Project Manager focused on agricultural innovation.
Several years of experience within the agrofood sector being involved in many projects at Spanish, European and International level. Strong background on Product Development, Regulatory Affairs, Food Policy, Environmental Legislation and Sustainability
Cristina Cantais Sánchez
Assistant Technician
Bachelor of Law and Master of Quality Management, with experience in National and International projects management, as well as wide experience in management of training activities.
Technical and Management support to R&D projects, also developing every kind of support and back office activities.
Laura Ríos Pena
Postdoctoral Researcher
PhD in statistics and operations research and forestry engineer with commitment, initiative and enthusiasm.
She has led and developed European and national research projects in the field of engineering and environment, as well as in data science, fraud detection and advanced technology. She considers herself a data, statistics and environmental enthusiast.
Diego Gallardo
Junior Researcher
Agricultural Engineer from the University of Seville. Master in precision agriculture and master in Artificial Intelligence.
Skills in the analysis of large datasets with Python, remote sensing, GIS and development and implementation of machine learning and deep learning models.
Luis Sánchez Fernández
Junior Researcher
Agricultural engineer from the University of Seville.
Research background in the fields of plant-based sensors, drones, LIDAR, and hyperspectral sensors.
Currently working in the development of autonomous phenotyping platforms among other projects.
María Barrera Báez
Junior Researcher
Graduated in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Seville with a Master’s Degree in Digital Agriculture and Agri-Food Innovation. Strong background in the monitoring and automation of agricultural irrigation systems.
“Since before I finished my degree it was clear to me that I wanted to do everything in my power to contribute to making the world a more sustainable place”.
Miguel Roiz Domínguez
Junior Researcher
Final year student of Agricultural Engineering at the ETSIA, University of Seville, specialising in horticulture and gardening.
Scholarship student in the department of agro-spatial engineering and fluid mechanics.
Currently participating in the project “Survey on growers and citizens preferences on pest management for Xylella fastidiosa”.
María Acebes
Junior Researcher
Graduated in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Seville, focusing on horticultural and fruit plantations and gardening. Master’s Degree in Digital Agriculture and Agri-Food Innovation. Experienced in taking photographs of crops, diseases and pests, selecting and annotating images for algorithm training.
Currently participating in a research project for the early detection of pests and localized application of phytosanitary treatments
Tilde María Lucía Scali
Junior Researcher
Graduated in Political Science from Università della Calabria in Italy, she is currently pursuing a degree in Agricultural Engineering at Universidad de Sevilla. With a multidisciplinary background, she is passionate about the intersection of policy, sustainability, and technological innovation in agriculture.
Committed to continuous learning, she is actively involved in an Erasmus+ European project, emphasizing the importance of adapting to new knowledge and emerging technologies as key drivers of sustainable transformation in agriculture.
Mariana Chiozza
MSc
Agricultural Engineer from the University of Buenos Aires with a MSc.in Genetics and a PhD in Crop Production and Physiology from Iowa State University.
Background in soybean breeding, development and deregulation of transgenic technologies, crop trait predictions based on remote sensing data, and the application of mechanistic crop simulation models.
Currently focused on high-throughput estimation of soil and crop variables, leveraging multiple sensors for predictive modeling of wheat cultivars.
International Guest Researchers
Mino Sportelli
PhD student
Graduated in Agricultural science at the University of Bari with a master in Urban green areas and landscape design and management at the University of Pisa.
Strong research background in turfgrasses sustainable management developed during my cooperation at the New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico (USA). Currently attending the PhD program at the University of Pisa focused on innovative and non-chemical weed control.
Simon Appeltans
PhD student
Graduated as a bio-engineer, focusing on agriculture and phytopathology at Ghent University, Belgium.
Experienced in hyperspectral and multispectral imaging for disease detection using machine learning techniques in python and matlab programming. Currently working on a PhD at Ghent University and collaborating with ETSIA Sevilla on precision fungicide applications using hyperspectral proximal and remote sensing for a variety of economically important crops.
Rodolfo Quintana
MSc
MSc in Natural Resources and Environment in Arid Zones, and Irrigation Engineer at Chapingo Autonomous University.
He has performed research internships at University of Arizona and University of Seville working on projects to the make-decision on Digital Farming and Natural Resources and Environment through remote sensing and machine-leaning tools.
He is currently working in conjunction with the Smart Laboratory Biosystems Research Group developing advance technologies through time series of satellite imagery datasets.