Sudip Kunwar, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Precision Agriculture
Langston University

Pioneering precision agriculture through UAV technology, AI-driven phenotyping, and genomic prediction to advance sustainable farming systems.

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Dr. Sudip Kunwar

About Me

I am an Assistant Professor of Precision Agriculture at Langston University, where my research leverages UAVs, advanced sensors, and artificial intelligence to design scalable phenotyping platforms.

With over 7 years of experience in phenotypic analysis, remote sensing, genomic selection, and multi-omic predictive breeding strategies, I bring expertise in advanced statistical analysis, R and Python programming, and quantitative genetics.

My commitment is to advance agricultural technology through innovative tools and analytical approaches that accelerate crop genetic improvement and strengthen agricultural resilience.

320+

Citations

15+

Publications

h-5

H-Index

Research Interests

Quantitative Genetics

Advanced statistical modeling for complex trait analysis and genetic improvement

Predictive Breeding

Genomic prediction and machine learning for accelerated crop improvement

Precision Agriculture

UAV-based sensing and AI for optimizing agricultural inputs

High-throughput Phenotyping

Scalable platforms for rapid trait assessment in breeding programs

Remote Sensing

Multi-spectral and hyperspectral imaging for crop monitoring

Artificial Intelligence

Deep learning and ML algorithms for agricultural applications

Education

Aug 2021 - Aug 2025

Ph.D. in Plant Breeding

University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

Specialization: Phenomics and Quantitative Genetics

Advisor: Dr. Ali Babar

Jan 2019 - May 2021

M.S. in Horticultural Sciences

University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

Specialization: Phenotyping and Plant Physiology

Advisor: Dr. Ute Albrecht

Apr 2013 - Dec 2017

B.Sc. Agriculture

Agriculture and Forestry University, Chitwan, Nepal

Professional Experience

Aug 2025 - Present

Assistant Professor

Langston University - School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

Biosystem Engineering and Precision Agriculture

  • Apply UAV-based and proximal sensors, machine vision, and AI to advance phenotyping
  • Develop precision agriculture tools to improve efficiency of agricultural inputs
  • Lead research and teaching initiatives integrating cutting-edge technology
Aug 2021 - Aug 2025

Graduate Research Assistant

University of Florida - World Food Crop Breeding and Genetics Lab

PI: Dr. Ali Babar

  • Enhanced predictive ability of genomic prediction models for complex traits
  • Designed and executed wheat and oat breeding trials and selections
  • Operated UAV flights integrating hyperspectral sensors and genomic data
Jan 2019 - Aug 2021

Graduate Research Assistant

University of Florida - Plant Physiology Lab

PI: Dr. Ute Albrecht

  • Evaluated citrus rootstock breeding trials for horticultural and physiological attributes
  • Collaborated on precision agriculture projects using UAV and machine learning
  • Conducted greenhouse research and molecular physiology experiments
Mar 2018 - Jul 2018

Agri-Market Analyst

Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project, Nepal

Sweet Orange Super-zone, Sindhuli

  • Analyzed agricultural market data for farmers
  • Published "Superzone profile" booklet with comprehensive sweet orange information
Aug 2018 - Dec 2018

Program Manager & Instructor

Shree Rajeshwari Higher Secondary School, Nepal

High School Crop Science Program

  • Prepared and delivered lectures for field agronomic crops course
  • Trained students in basic agronomic field studies

Selected Publications

Effectiveness of low-density high-throughput marker platform and easy-to-measure traits for genomic prediction of biomass yield in oat (Avena sativa L.)

Adewale S., Babar MA., Jarquin D., Khan N., Acharya JP., Kunwar S., et al.

The Plant Genome 19(1), e70179 (2026)

Enhancing prediction accuracy of key biomass partitioning traits in wheat using multi-kernel genomic prediction models

Kunwar S., Babar MA., Jarquin D., Ampatzidis Y., et al.

The Plant Genome 18(2) e70052 (2025)

Leveraging Multi-Omics Data with Machine Learning to Predict Grain Yield in Small vs. Big Plot Wheat Trials

McBreen J., Babar MA., Jarquin D., Ampatzidis Y., Khan N., Kunwar S., et al.

Agronomy 15(6), 1315 (2025)

Enhancing genomic‐based forward prediction accuracy in wheat by integrating UAV‐derived hyperspectral and environmental data with machine learning under heat‐stressed environments

McBreen J., Babar MA., Jarquin D., Ampatzidis Y., Khan N., Kunwar S., et al.

The Plant Genome 18(1), e20554 (2025)

Field performance of 'Valencia' orange trees on diploid and tetraploid rootstocks in HLB-endemic conditions

Kunwar S., Meyering B., Grosser J., Gmitter F.G., Castle W.S., Albrecht U.

Scientia Horticulturae 309, 111635 (2023)

Determining leaf nutrient concentrations in citrus trees using UAV imagery and machine learning

Costa L., Kunwar S., Ampatzidis Y., Albrecht U.

Precision Agriculture 23(3), 854–875 (2022)

Crop diversification for improved weed management: A review

Sharma G., Shrestha S., Kunwar S., Tseng TM.

Agriculture 11(5), 461 (2021)

Field performance of ‘Hamlin’orange trees grown on various rootstocks in huanglongbing-endemic conditions

Kunwar S., Grosser J., Gmitter FG., Castle WS., Albrecht U.

HortScience 56(2), 244–253 (2021)

Awards & Scholarships

2024

First Place - Oral Presentation

8th Annual Plant Breeding Retreat, University of Florida

2024

Gerald O. Mott Award

Crop Science Society of America

2024

Bayer University Mentorship Program

Selected for B4U Program

2024

First Place - Poster Competition

8th Annual Plant Science Symposium, UF

2024

Dr. Elaine Turner Plant Breeding Scholarship

University of Florida

2024

Plant Breeding Top-up Award

University of Florida

2023-25

William C. and Bertha M. Cornett Fellowship

UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

2023-24

NAPB Borlaug Scholarship

National Association of Plant Breeders

2023

Travel Grant - CSSA

Western Society of Crop Science, Hawaii

2022

Travel Scholarship

Society of Organic Seed Professionals, West Virginia

2022

Student Speaker Award

Plant Science Council Symposium, UF

2021

Second Place - Best Student Paper

Florida State Horticultural Society

2021

Plant Breeding Graduate Initiative Fellowship

Ph.D. Program, University of Florida

2013-17

Full Merit Government Scholarship

B.Sc. Agriculture, Agriculture and Forestry University, Nepal

Scientific Presentations

Deciphering the genomic regions influencing the hyperspectral-based phenome correlated with yield associated traits in wheat

University of Florida Plant Breeding Retreat 2025

Daytona, FL

Enhancing wheat yield potential: integrating genomic and phenomic approaches for biomass partitioning optimization

3rd International Wheat Congress 2024

Perth, Australia

Integrating remote sensing with genomics to enhance agronomic trait prediction in wheat

University of Florida Plant Breeding Retreat 2024

Daytona, FL

Integrating remote sensing data for phenomic and genomic prediction of agronomic traits in wheat

University of Florida Plant Science Symposium 2024

Gainesville, FL

Optimizing genomic prediction models to predict HI, yield, and biomass partitioning traits in wheat

Louisiana State University Plant Science Symposium 2023

Baton Rouge, LA

Determining yield, harvest index, and biomass partitioning traits using UAV-based hyperspectral sensor and machine learning

Western Crop Science Society (WCSSA) Annual Meeting 2023

Honolulu, Hawaii

Potential use of UAV-based remote sensing tools for indirect assessment of harvest index and biomass partitioning traits

AI Conference 2023

Orlando, FL

Estimation of harvest index and biomass partitioning traits using UAV-based remote sensing and genomics

Student Organic Seed Symposium 2022

Morgantown, WV

Evaluating citrus rootstocks for high-density plantings in HLB-endemic conditions

American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) Annual Conference 2021

Denver, CO

Field performances of 'Hamlin' orange trees on diploid and tetraploid rootstocks in HLB-endemic conditions

Florida State Horticultural Society (FSHS) Annual Meeting 2020

Florida

Technical Skills

Data Analysis & Programming

R Programming

Python

Statistical Analysis

Agricultural Technology

UAV Operation

Hyperspectral Imaging

Machine Learning

Get In Touch

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Email

[email protected]

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Phone

(405) 466-3220

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Location

Langston University
100 Success Ave., Holloway Bldg.
Langston, OK 73050