The University of Missouri (Mizzou) Precision and Automated Agriculture Lab (PAAL) is associated with the Agricultural Systems Technology, a program in the Division of Plant Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. With the focus of agricultural automation, research area involves sensing technologies in precision agriculture and phenomics (high throughput crop phenotyping), mechanical and robotic technologies in crop harvesting, management and breeding, and emerging technologies for Precision Livestock Farming (PLF). The PAAL is closely working with experts in Engineering, Plant Science (breeding, plant physiology, stress biology), Agronomy, Animal Science, veterinarian and other crop and animal related professionals. By adopting the state-of-art technologies in agricultural systems, researches will boost the solutions for world hunger and labor issues. We recently initiated a new research center in digital agriculture. Please check here at MU Digital Agriculture Research and Extension Center.

Our Mission

My research goal is to discover and develop emerging technologies for crop and animal production, management and breeding. Current research focuses on Integration of sensing, robotic and AI technologies to improve the efficiency of management, production and cost in crops and animals. The objectives include:

  • Robotic and AI technologies for  Precision Agriculture (PA) and Precision Livestock Farming (PLF)
  • Proximal and unmanned aerial system (UAS)-based remote sensing system for crop scouting and water, nutrition and soil management
  • Unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) for autonomous field data collection and high throughput phenotyping (HTP)
  • Internet-of-things (IoT)-based data-driven decision support system for precision crop and livestock management
  • Mechanical and automation (robotic) technologies for tree-fruit and row crop management and harvesting
  • Big data driven agricultural systems management

Perspective Graduate Students and Postdoc

  • Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) positions
  • Self-motivated PhD students are needed to work on the projects in the area of digital / precision agriculture, robotics, artificial intelligence for crop and animal production
  • Contact Dr. Zhou with a CV for details.
  • A new Postdoctoral Position in precision livestock farming is available.

Interested in Joining in PAAL

  • Visit Dr. Zhou at 211 Ag Engineering Building, Columbia, MO 65211 (map)
  • Visit PAAL at 127 Ag Engineering Building, Columbia, MO 65211 (map)
  • Send Emails to Dr. Zhou @ zhoujianf@missouri.edu.
  • Call 573-882-2495