The University of ÁùºÏ±¦µä, Reno has appointed Azadeh Alizadeh as an horticulture specialist and assistant professor for Clark County. She will lead efforts to educate residents on climate-smart gardening and landscaping to help address the county’s food insecurity and water challenges.
Alizadeh’s appointment comes at a critical time for southern ÁùºÏ±¦µä, where water scarcity and food insecurity are significant concerns. She will collaborate with Extension colleagues to provide community education on sustainable horticulture, gardening and efficient water use tailored to crop needs.
"My goal is to help Clark County residents enhance food production in their gardens while managing water limitations," she said. "Water management is essential, and my research will focus on irrigation techniques that maximize efficiency in home gardens to preserve resources for future generations."
Industry experience in precision agriculture and data analytics
Alizadeh brings extensive experience in agricultural field trials, focusing on irrigation water optimization, soil quality and plant wellness. Before joining Extension, she was a plant research scientist with Upterra, a company specializing in agricultural water management equipment, where she evaluated soil quality and studied the effects of water molecules on plant performance.
Alizadeh also served as a field scientist at Arable Labs, a San Francisco-based startup that manufactures crop intelligence sensors to capture and analyze data on weather, plant, soil and irrigation for agribusinesses. Prior to that, she worked as a research associate at Agralogics Inc., an IT company that provides real-time satellite and historic weather data to farmers and researchers.
"Azadeh’s expertise in sustainable horticulture and water management will be invaluable in helping Clark County residents address both food security and water conservation in their gardens,” said Eric Killian, Extension southern area director. “Her dedication to research and education will greatly benefit the community.”
Education and research contribution
Alizadeh has co-authored six peer-reviewed articles and is part of a team that applied for a on a real-time water monitoring system for irrigation management and stress detection in trees. She holds a Ph.D. in agriculture and biological engineering and a master’s degree in agricultural science from the University of Florida, Gainesville. She also earned a master’s degree in environmental science from the University of Zanjan, Iran, and a bachelor’s degree in natural resources – environmental engineering from the University of Tehran.
