Tropical Research And Education Center

Dr. Young Gu Her

Associate Professor – Hydrology & Agricultural Engineering

Dr. Young Gu Her is a hydrologist and agricultural engineer working as an associate professor at the Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead, FL. He earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in Agricultural Civil Engineering at Seoul National University. In 2011, he graduated from Virginia Tech with a Ph.D. degree in Biological Systems Engineering. His Ph.D. study has concentrated on the development of a new grid-based two-dimensional hydrological model capable of explicitly describing watershed process dynamics. Recent research includes (1) evaluating the effectiveness of conservation practices, such as no-till, filter strip, crop rotation, cover crop, and fertilizer management practices, in reducing sediment and nutrient loadings, (2) developing a model to simulate low impact development practices including a green roof, rain garden, cistern, and porous pavement, (3) developing computational techniques for improved efficiency of hydrologic simulation, and (4) assessing climate change impacts on hydrological processes and water resources. He also has been involved in simulating the flood discharge and volume of stormwater for detention basin design and monitoring the hydrological processes of agricultural watersheds, including streamflow, groundwater, and water quality parameters. His current research is focusing on developing a simulation tool capable of providing a holistic view of climate change and sea level rise impacts on South Florida’s agriculture and water resources. His long-term research interests lie in enhancing our ability to manage agricultural crop production and natural resources in sustainable ways by (1) developing unified fine-resolution large-scale (U.F.L.) simulation tools that facilitate integrated hydrological modeling and spatially consistent decision making and (2) creating new scientific knowledge that helps us better understand hydrological processes under projected changes in climate and sea level.

Research Interests
- Unified fine-resolution large-scale (UFL) hydrological modeling
- Climate change and sea-level rise impact assessment and adaptation strategy development
- Effectiveness assessment and spatial optimization of agricultural conservation (or best management) practices (BMPs) and low impact development (LID or green infrastructure) practices
- Quantification of uncertainty in hydrological modeling
- Agricultural flood and drought forecasting and prediction
- Geospatial analysis of landscape and weather patterns
- Advanced computing techniques for improved modeling efficiency

Lab website

Hydrology Lab

Education
- Ph.D. Hydrology, Virginia Tech, 2006-2011
  Department of Biological Systems Engineering (Land and Water Division)
  Dissertation: HYSTAR-Hydrology and Sediment Transport Simulation using Time-Area Method
- M.S. Agricultural Civil Engineering, Seoul National University, 2000-2002
  Thesis: Application of a GIS-based Soil Loss Estimation System
- B.S. Agricultural Civil Engineering, Seoul National University, 1995-2000
  Secondary Major: GSCR-Graduate Certificate Program (Secondary College: Interdiscipinary)
  Concentration: GITC-Geospatial Information Technology Certificate

Publications

Awards and Honors
- Junior Faculty 2021 International Educator of the Year award, awarded by UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
- 2021 - Elected as a Committee Member of the UF Water Institute
- Outstanding Reviewer for the Natural Resources & Environmental System (NRES) community of American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE)
- 2017 IFAS Early Career Scientist Seed Fund Awarded