Lisa Umutoni, a Clemson University doctoral student from Kigali, Rwanda, recently received the prestigious American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) Nye Graduate Fellowship.
The Nye Graduate Fellowship, established by John C. Nye, supports outstanding minority graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in agricultural and biological engineering. This award acknowledges Umutoni’s promise in the field of water management and enhances her visibility among peers and industry professionals.
“This recognition signifies that my work is not only visible but valued and encouraged,” Umutoni said. “It creates vital opportunities for networking and collaboration within the ASABE community, crucial for advancing my research and professional growth.”
Umutoni’s doctoral research under the mentorship of Vidya Samadi, assistant professor of Agricultural Sciences and director of Clemson’s Hydroinformatics Research Group, focuses on innovative, data-driven solutions to agricultural water management challenges. She aims to improve efficiency in agricultural water use and develop strategies to optimize irrigation.
Since joining Clemson University in Spring 2022, Umutoni has received numerous accolades, including the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) graduate student grant in 2022, the 2024 Young Civil Engineer Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers-South Carolina Section and the Wade Stackhouse Fellowship in 2024.
She holds a water science and engineering master’s degree with a specialization in Hydroinformatics from IHE Delft Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands. She plans to graduate from Clemson in August.
Samadi said Umutoni has made significant advancements in agricultural water resource engineering principles and has actively served the needs of the South Carolina farming sector. This includes conducting interviews with low-income farmers, including female, Black and Hispanic farmers, to gain insight into their needs and incorporate their perspectives into her irrigation decision support tool.
“What truly distinguishes a remarkable scholar isn’t just their technical prowess, but a profound and unwavering commitment to advancing scientific understanding,” Samadi said. “This commitment manifests in Lisa’s dedication to rigorous research, intellectual curiosity and a passion for contributing to the broader society.
“She is a smart, hard-working, motivated and personable young woman who has a bright future in engineering.”
In addition to Samadi, her other advisors are Charles Privette, Bulent Koc and Jose Payero from Clemson University, and George Vellidis from the University of Georgia.
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