Said Attalah, PhD

Said Attalah began his career at the University of Arizona in 2010 as a graduate student in Biosystems Engineering. He earned his M.S. degree in 2013 and completed his Ph.D. in Biosystems Engineering in 2018. Since 2010, he has held multiple research and academic roles at the University, including graduate assistant/associate, research specialist, research associate, research professional, and post‑doctoral research associate. In 2022, Said joined Dr. ElShikha’s research team at the Maricopa Agricultural Center, where he serves as a post‑doctoral research associate specializing in water resources and irrigation management. His work supports field‑based research on crop water use, irrigation scheduling, sensor‑based monitoring, and strategies to improve water use efficiency under Arizona’s high‑demand climatic conditions. He collaborates with scientists, technicians, and extension professionals to develop practical, data‑driven solutions that enhance agricultural sustainability and support growers across the state. Said’s professional interests include precision irrigation, soil‑water‑plant interactions, remote sensing for crop monitoring, and the development of decision‑support tools for water‑limited environments.