Introduction

Current Employment:

Dr. Chávez is an Associate Professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department and an Irrigation Specialist with Extension at Colorado State University. He has teaching, research, and extension responsibilities. His expertise is in irrigation water management, crop/vegetation water consumptive use (evapotranspiration, ET) determination and modeling, use of remote sensing for mapping ET, irrigation scheduling, irrigation systems design, irrigation systems efficiency, drainage and wetlands engineering, and precision irrigation. He teaches CIVE 512 Irrigation Systems Design, CIVE 519 Irrigation Water Management, and CIVE 549 Drainage and Wetlands Engineering.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Utah State University, 2005
  • M.S. in Irrigation Engineering, Utah State University, 1999
  • B.S. in Agricultural Engineering, Paraiba Federal University, 1992

Academic Positions:

(Jul 1 2015-present) Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Colorado State University

(2009-2015) Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Colorado State University

(2005-2006) Postdoctoral Research Associate, Washington State University

Other Positions:

(2006-2008) Research Agricultural Engineer, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Bushland, TX

(2000-2005) Research Assistant, Remote Sensing Services Laboratory, Utah State University, Logan, UT

Honors & Awards:

  • 2019 USCID Merriam Improved Irrigation Award, presented on December 26th by Larry D. Stephens, Executive Vice President of USCID. The announcement of this honor was given at the November, 2019 USCID Conference in Reno, Nevada.
  • 2019 Certificate in Recognition of Ten Years of Service, Col. State Univ. Extension, Nov. 11, Fort Collins, CO
  • 2014 Certificate in Recognition of Five Years of Service, Colorado State University Extension, Nov. 11, Fort Collins, CO
  • 2014. Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan (Vice-Chancellor) Award, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan
  • 2013. Borland Chair of Hydrology award (2013-2015), Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
  • 2012. College of Agriculture Sciences Research Award, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
  • 2010. Faculty Award for Excellence in Service/Outreach, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
  • 2009. Certificate of Merit Award for exemplary performance during the rating period January 1, 2008 through November 30, 2008. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), ARS, CPRL, Bushland, TX
  • 2008. Certificate of Merit Award for exemplary performance during the rating period January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007. USDA, ARS, CPRL, Bushland, TX
  • 2007. Spot Award for first regional ET mapping of the Texas Panhandle, USDA, ARS, CPRL, Bushland, TX
  • 2006. Certificate of Appreciation, USDA, ARS, Vegetable and Forage Crop Research, Prosser, WA
  • 2002. Graduate Research Scholarship, Organization of American States, Washington, D.C.
  • 1999. Graduate Scholarship, Biological and Irrigation Engineering Department, Utah State University, Logan, UT
  • 1997. Graduate Scholarship, Organization of American States, Washington, D.C.

Professional Memberships:

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASABE)
Irrigation Association (IA)
United States Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (USCID)

Office in Professional Societies:

Chair, 2015-2016, Western Extension and Research Activities (WERA-1022). Meteorological and Climate Data to Support ET-based Irrigation Scheduling, Water Conservation and Water Resources Management.

Vice-Chair, Secretary, 2014-2015, Western Extension and Research Activities (WERA-1022). Meteorological and Climate Data to Support ET-based Irrigation Scheduling, Water Conservation and Water Resources Management.