Ahmed Harb Rabia

Dr. Rabia is a Research Assistant Professor at North Dakota State University whose work focuses on precision agriculture, robotics, UAS, remote sensing, soil science, and plant phenomics. His research integrates advanced sensing technologies, GIS, laser applications, and machine/deep learning to develop data-driven solutions that enhance crop productivity, improve resource efficiency, and increase resilience to climate change.

Dr. Rabia leads projects on robotic phenotyping systems, multisensory crop disease detection, spatial weed distribution, laser-based weed management, and dynamic precision agriculture management. His work bridges fundamental research with real-world applications, engaging farmers, industry partners, and international collaborators.

His vision is to make agriculture adaptive, sustainable, and farmer-centered through the integration of technology and science.

• Precision agriculture
• Ag Robotics
• UASs/drone imagery analysis
• Applications of UASs/drones in agriculture
• Soil Health
• Satellite remote sensing for crop monitoring
• GIS applications for precision agriculture

• Research Assistant Professor: Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, North Dakota State University, ND, USA. (2023-present).
• Postdoctoral Research Associate: Crop Ecophysiology & Precision Agriculture laboratory, Plant & Soil Sci. Department, Texas Tech University, TX, USA (2020-2022).
• Visiting Scholar: Crop & Soil Sci. Department, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, GA, USA (2018-2020).
• Assistant Professor: Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Natural Resources and Agricultural Engineering, University of Damanhour, Egypt (2013-2022).
• Director of SPACE Center: Sustainable Production and Adaptation to Climate Change Effects Center), Faculty of Agriculture, Damanhour University, Egypt (2016-2018).
• Director of the Information Technology Unit: Faculty of Agriculture, Damanhour University, Egypt (2016-2018).
• Post-doctor fellow: IBIMET Institute, National Research Center of Italy (CNR) in Florence, Italy. (2014).
• Research Assistant (YSSP): International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Schlossplatz, Laxenburg, Austria (2011).
• Assistant Lecturer: Faculty of Agriculture (Department of Natural Resources and Agricultural Engineering), University of Damanhour, Egypt (2007-2013).
• Teaching Assistant: Faculty of Agriculture (Department of Natural Resources and Agricultural Engineering), University of Alexandria, Egypt (2002-2007).

• 2025: Awarded the 2025 George Washington Award by the NDSU AG ambassadors.

• 2024: a grant by The Dakota Digital Academy for faculty artificial intelligence (AI) professional development, ND, USA.

• 2019: a grant by the Georgia Cotton Commission to pursue a 6-month research visit to the University of Georgia, USA.

• 2018: a grant by the Egyptian cultural affairs and mission sector to pursue a 6-month research visit to the University of Georgia, USA.

• 2018: Certified Trainer of Trainees (TOT)

• 2017: a grant by the US National Academy of Sciences for the development and coordination of a curriculum on international standards of publication and responsible authorship (including the prevention of plagiarism).

• 2016: a grant by ARCA-Alexandria for a research project titled "Towards Sustainable Potato Production under Climate Change Conditions".

• 2016: Invited speaker at The First International Conference of Genetics and Its Role in life science development, Alexandria, Egypt.

• 2015: a grant by the US National Academy of Sciences for the development and coordination of a national workshop for teaching responsible Science, in Egypt.

• 2014: Awarded a Scholarship within the framework of the Multi-Disciplinary Training Program “Science for Diplomacy”, IBIMET Institute, National Research Center of Italy (CNR) in FIRENZE (ITALY).

• 2011: Scholarship by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) to attend the young scientist summer program (YSSP - 2011).Life Science Development

• Vice-Leader of the Precision Ag Systems (PAS) community within the American Society of Agronomy (ASA).
• FAA Certified Remote Pilot for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
• The International Society of Precision Agriculture (ISPA).
• The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA).
• The International Geospatial Society (IGS).
• The Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Association (GSDI).
• The Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS).
• The Italian Society for Soil Science (SISS).
• The Egyptian Soil Sciences Society (ESSS).