Zhulu Lin

Associate Professor

Faculty

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Dr. Zhulu Lin

Zhulu Lin received his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia in 2003. He joined NDSU in December 2008 with a 40% teaching and 60% research appointment. His teaching responsibilities range from a freshman introductory course to graduate-level courses. His research program mainly focuses on modeling and managing large-scale agricultural and hydrological systems for sustainable uses of soil and water resources.

Areas of Study & Research

  • Surface and subsurface hydrology and modeling
  • Soil and water resources management
  • Environmental systems analysis

Other Research Interests

  • Impact of climate and land use changes on water resources
  • Machine learning and deep learning applications to water resources
  • Food, energy and water nexus
  • Risk identification and assessment

Courses Taught

  • ABEN 110 Introduction to Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
  • ABEN 377 Finite Element Analysis in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
  • ABEN 444/644 Transport Processes in Biological and Environmental Systems
  • ABEN 747 Numerical Modeling of Environmental and Biological Systems
  • ABEN 765 Small Watershed Hydrology and Modeling

Previous Work

  • Contractor, Florida St. Johns River Water Management District, 2007–2008
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Georgia, 2004–2006

Current Grants

  • Lim, S. (PI), S. Steinbach, Z. Lin, V. Rayamajhee, R. Goyal, P.L. Kennedy, PARTNERSHIP: U.S. soybean and corn supply chain resilience: Impacts of extreme droughts on production, shipping, trade, and global food security. USDA-NIFA Foundational and Applied Science Program, $800,000, 2024-2027.
  • Lin, Z. (PI). Evaluating the effectiveness of agricultural conservation practices in improving surface water quality in the Red River of the North Basin. International Water Institute. $32,294. 2023-2027.
  • Lin, Z. (PI), R. Proulx. North Dakota statewide irrigation reconnaissance study. North Dakota Irrigation Association. $96,084. 2024-2025.

Awards & Honors

  • Adjunct Professor, Department of Earth System Science and Policy, University of North Dakota, 2017 – 2019
  • Outstanding Oral Presentation Award, LASOSU2021: International Forum on Land Degradation, Soil Conservation and Sustainable Development, Dalian, China, 2021
  • H. Roald and Janet Lund Excellence in Teaching Award, NDSU Agriculture and Extension Faculty and Staff Awards, 2023
  • North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute Water Fellow, 2025

Professional Associations

  • American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE)
  • American Geophysical Union (AGU)
  • The Honor Society of Agriculture (Gamma Sigma Delta)

University Affiliations

Education

  • Ph.D., Soil and Water Resources, University of Georgia
  • M.S., Statistics, University of Georgia
  • M.S., Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai, China
  • B.S., Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai, China