Xinhua_Jia

02/10/25

Xinhua Jia, North Dakota State University professor of agricultural and biosystem engineering, grew up in northwest China, where she learned the huge impact water has on agriculture and on the world in general.

That background certainly influenced Jia’s career path, with much of her focus on water research. Her research since coming to NDSU in 2007 focused on subsurface drainage, water drainage management and water quality with a focus on farmers’ fields. As the Red River Valley was hit by flooding from 2008-2011, her work expanded to cover cold region hydrology, snowmelt runoff and infiltration into frozen soils.

Since 2022, she has served as the director of the North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute (NDWRRI), which plays a major role in addressing water-related issues by providing research, training and collaboration at the state level.

“The NDWRRI has two core missions: addressing critical water issues in North Dakota and training the workforce for water-related fields,” Jia said.

NDWRRI was founded in 1965 by congressional authority as one of 54 institutes nationally that are administered through the United States Geological Survey. The Water Resources Research Act requires NDWRRI to use its federal allotment funds for planning competent research; cooperating with colleges and universities to develop a statewide program to resolve state and regional water problems; and to cooperate closely with other organizations and institutes to increase the effectiveness of the institute.

Jia’s tenure as NDWRRI ends in February but she’s left a lasting imprint on the institute. She will work with the new Director to be named in February on the transition. Jia has led the development of the Water Resource Certificate program for undergraduate students at NDSU to help alleviate workforce shortages in North Dakota. She also conducted outreach opportunities for NDWRRI that included a closer alignment with the ND, Department of Water Resources and the ND Department of Environmental Quality. The NDWRRI supported faculty-led, student research during Jia’s tenure as director. In 2023-24, NDWRRI funded 24 research projects. This resulted in 12 peer-reviewed journal articles, nine theses/dissertations, 28 presentations and numerous educational activities.

Important state-wide conferences were held to address PFAS chemicals in the environment and the Fargo-Moorhead Diversion project. In Jan. 2024, the first North Dakota PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) Conference was hosted at NDSU. PFAS are groups of synthetic chemicals that are resistant to materials such as oil, heat, water and grease, and are difficult to break down which causes them to persist in the environment. The conference raised awareness about these forever chemicals and shared NDSU and UND research on PFAS detection and mitigation strategies.

The 2024 Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion Conference was hosted by the NDWRRI in Aug. 2024 to provide faculty researchers an update on the project’s status, social impact and the unusual engineering design. The meeting also allowed industry and government participants to learn more about flood-related research being conducted at NDSU and UND.

“The Institute has made significant contributions to tackling the state’s water-related challenges through research, education, and outreach,” Jia said.

“Dr. Jia has had an impactful time in her leadership role, and the water-focused conferences showcased NDSU’s thought leadership on issues critical to the state’s future challenges and opportunities," said NDSU Vice President for Research and Creative Activity (RCA) Colleen Fitzgerald. "Another terrific initiative has been the Water Fellows program, coordinated by RCA’s Heidi Grunwald, which has invested in faculty researchers whose expertise aligns with NDSU strategic research priorities: food, energy and water security.”

Her journey into water research started in China--she has a bachelor’s degree in agronomy from Xinjiang University in China--and continued to the United States as she added her master’s and doctorate degrees at the University of Arizona.

Her post-doctorate work at the University of Florida focused on water resources was after which she started looking for a full-time faculty position in 2007.

“NDSU was the first to have an opening,” Jia said. “I was drawn to the colder, four-season climate, which is similar to my hometown.”

Jia has been at NDSU ever since. She’s worked in the agricultural and biosystems engineering department, serving since 2019 as a professor. In addition to her teaching assignments, which include courses on natural resource management, drainage and watershed hydrology, she’s been involved in various studies of water research.

She had the chance to lead the NDWRRI at the start of 2022 and it fit right into Jia’s research background, which focused heavily on water.

“When the opportunity arose to support the NDWRRI, I was eager to pursue it,” Jia said. “My research experience in drainage, snow hydrology, and irrigation and my status as a full professor and professional engineer, and my strong connections with stakeholders (including farmers, state agency personnel, and federal representatives) uniquely positioned me to lead the institute forward. More importantly, I am passionate about the institute and was committed to elevating it to the next level.”

Jia leveraged her expertise during the Red River Valley flooding from 2008-11, her research on cold region hydrology and snowmelt runoff contributed to improved flood prediction models in the valley Jia said.

After the state faced a drought in 2012, Jia started focusing on smart irrigation for specialty crops; she’s furthered that into water management for indoor crops and is conducting studies in controlled environment agriculture.

Looking ahead, Jia said NDWRRI is poised to continue playing a vital role in addressing North Dakota's water resource challenges. The Institute plans to seek additional funding opportunities, support affiliated faculty with proposal submissions, and meet all requirements for proposals, reports, and conferences set by the U.S. Geological Survey.

“By continually fostering research, education, and collaboration, NDWRRI is well-positioned to lead sustainable water management and innovation, ensuring effective management of the state's water resources for future generations,” Jia said.

“I am thankful for Dr. Jia’s leadership and her role in enhancing the NDWRRI,” Fitzgerald remarked. “She’s established a solid foundation for the new Director to be able to continue to increase the impact and transdisciplinary nature of NDSU’s water researchers in addressing important challenges for North Dakota.”