Maria Melissa Rojas-Downing
rojasma@msu.edu
www.linkedin.com/in/melissarojasdowning
OBJECTIVE
Have a deeper understanding about Sustainable Agriculture and be a pioneer by helping and instructing
farmers and policy makers about the stewardship of both human and natural resources, inducing in
environmental health and economic profitability, leading to social and economic equity.
EDUCATION
PhD in Biosystems Engineering
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Topics of interest: Environmental modeling, remote sensing, climate change,
drought, livestock production
PhD Specialization in Environmental Science and Policy Program
Expected 2016
GPA: 3.97
Expected Dec. 2015
Master of Science in Biosystems Engineering
Graduated Dec. 2013
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
GPA: 4.0
Thesis: Resource Use and Conservation and Environmental Impacts in the Transition from Confinement to
Pasture-Based Dairies.
Professional Licensure in Agriculture Engineering
Graduated Dec. 2012
University of Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
Thesis: Analysis of the Levels of Soil Compaction Associated to Tillage of Sugarcane in Taboga
Sugarcane Mill
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Engineering
University of Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
Graduated Dec. 2010
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Publications
Rojas-Downing, M.M, Harrigan, T., Nejadhashemi, A.P. 2015. Resource Use and Conservation and
Environmental Impacts in the Transition from Confinement to Pasture-Based Dairies. In
Progress.
Rojas-Downing, M.M, Nejadhashemi, A.P. 2015. Relationships between Livestock Production and
Climate Change: Impacts, Adaptation, and Human Dimensions. In Progress.
Chen, R., Rojas-Downing, M.M., Zhong, Y., Saffron, C., Liao, W. 2015. Life Cycle Assessment and
Economic Analysis of Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Dairy Manure and Food Waste. Industrial
Biotechnology. Under Review.
Oral Presentations
Rojas-Downing, M.M., Morales, M. 2011. Soil Compaction in Sugar Cane. XVIII Conference of sugar
ATACORI. Organized by Association of Sugar Technicians in Costa Rica, September, 2011.
Poster presentations
Rojas-Downing, M.M, Nejadhashemi, A.P. 2014. Climate-Smart Agriculture for Enhanced Food
Security: Evaluation of Sustainable Management Techniques. 2013 Engineering Graduate
Research Symposium. Michigan State University, March 27, 2014.
Rojas-Downing, M.M, Nejadhashemi, A.P. 2014. The Use of Remote Sensing to Asses Drought
Impacts on Livestock. ESPP Research Symposium: Environmental Risk and Decision Making.
Michigan State University, October 10, 2014.
Rojas-Downing, M.M, Nejadhashemi, A.P. 2015. Relationships between Livestock Production and
Climate Change: Impacts, Adaptation, and Human Dimensions. ASABE First Climate Change
Symposium: Adaptation and Mitigation. Chicago, Illinois, May 3-5, 2015.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Graduate Research Assistant, MSU Biosystems Engineering
January 2014 – Present
 Perform research applying Decision Support System (DSS) technology to develop a Best
Management Practice (BMPs) allocation plan for sediment control.
Graduate Research Assistant, MSU Biosystems Engineering
February 2013- December 2013
 Evaluating the effect of an annual cover crop in alleviation compaction of agricultural soil.
Graduate Research Assistant, MSU Kellogg Biological Station
May 2012 – February 2013
 Perform research related to the Environmental and Economic Impacts due to Anaerobic
Digestion on KBS Pasture-based Dairy.
Engineering Internship, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Set 2011 – Dec 2011
 Evaluation of erosion control techniques for assessment and implementation in agricultural
land conditions in Costa Rica.
 Evaluation of retaining wall system to prevent soil loss under simulated rainfall.
 Managing and alleviating compaction in agricultural soils.
 Effects of root growth of a cereal rye cover crop in alleviating soil compaction.
Engineering Consulting, DESA CAFÉ, Costa Rica
Jan. 2009 – Jan. 2010
 Developed an operational manual for a Grain Processing Modular Equipment.
Engineering Consulting, Fundevi, University of Costa Rica
 Design of a geodesic dome for seed plants in the open sea.
Jan. 2008 – March. 2008
Community Work, Simon Bolivar Zoo, Conservation Center, Santa Ana, Costa Rica Jan-Dec 2006
 Promote responsible agricultural management strategies and practices.
 Manual for preparing orchards in the Historical Agricultural Museum of Santa Ana
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Conferences
 ASABE First Climate Change Symposium: Adaptation and Mitigation. Chicago, Illinois, May 35, 2015.
 Fate of the Earth Symposium. Environmental Science and Policy Program, Michigan State
University, April 1st, 2015.

ESPP Research Symposium: Environmental Risk and Decision Making. Michigan State
University, October 10, 2014.
 Fate of the Earth Symposium. Environmental Science and Policy Program, Michigan State
University, April 3rd, 2014.
 XVIII Conference of sugar ATACORI. Organized by Association of Sugar Technicians in Costa
Rica, September 7-8, 2011.
 V Latin American Congress of Soil and Sediment Control Panama 2010. International
Erosion Control Association, October 13-15, 2010.
st
 ASABE The 21 Century Watershed Technology: Improving Water Quality and the
Environment Conference. Earth University, Costa Rica. February 21-24, 2010.
 XVII Conference of sugar ATACORI. Organized by Association of Sugar Technicians in Costa
Rica, September 11-12, 2009.
 II National Congress of Agricultural Engineering. UCR, TEC, ACIA, ALIA. May 7-8, 2009.
Courses/Training
 European Space Agency (ESA) online course. Monitoring Climate from Space. 5 weeks training.
June 8th – July 10th. Certificate provided.
 NASA webinar. Introduction to Remote Sensing for Conservation Management. 5 weeks training.
May 5th – June 2nd. Certificate provided.
 NASA webinar. Introduction to Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Data and Applications.
3 weeks training. March 17th – March 31st. Certificate provided.
th
nd
 Graduate Student Leadership Academy. Michigan State University. February 19 – April 2
2015.
 Programming for everybody (Python). Coursera online course. October-December 2014.
rd
 NASA webinar. NASA remote sensing for land management. 4 weeks training. November 3 –
st
December 1 2014. Certificate provided.
 NASA webinar. Water quality monitoring using remote sensing measurements. 2 weeks training.
November 18th – December 2nd 2014. Certificate provided.
 NASA webinar. NASA Earth Science Data Products, Portals, and Tools. 5 weeks training.
September 16th – October 14th 2014.
 At Michigan State University: Completed all requirements for TSM 343 (3 cr., 2-2), Principles of
Precision Agriculture, BE 820 (1 cr.), Research Methods in Biosystems Engineering. December,
2011.
 Watershed Modeling Using SWAT 2007 Workshop. ASABE. 9 hours training. February, 2010.
 Application of Integrated Environment and Economic Simulation Models Using CEEOT-SWAPP
to Evaluate BMPs at the Field and Watershed Levels Workshop. ASABE. 9 hours training.
February, 2010.
 GLOBAL GAP Protocol for Best Agricultural Practices with Emphasis on Fruits and Vegetables
Workshop. University of Costa Rica, Department of Agricultural Engineering. 24 hours training.
December 2009.
 Quality Management Systems ISO 9001:2008, providing basic techniques for the effective
implementation of management systems of Good Agricultural Practices. July 2009.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Engineering Research Committee
Michigan State University
 Graduate representative
Committee member of All-University Awards
Michigan State University, Office of the Provost
 Select the Excellence-in-Teaching Citations
January 2015 - Present
September 2014- November 2014
Chairperson, BE Graduate Student Advisory Group (GSAG).
 Represent Biosystems Engineering (BE) graduate students.
 Coordinate social and academic activities and provide professional
development opportunities for the BE graduate student body.
Aug. 2014 – Present
Representative of the College of Engineering Hearing Board
Aug 2012- Aug 2013
Michigan State University
 Requires to meet during a hearing case when a student felt they were inappropriately dismissed, or
possibly something related to academic related integrity and actions surrounding such, or some other
form of grievance, etc.
Vice President
May.2009–May.2010
Agricultural Engineering Latin American Student Association
 Coordinate academic and social events for Agricultural Engineering students.
 Represent Agricultural Engineering students at the university level in Latin America.
 Coordinate congress events for Agricultural Engineering students.
Chairperson, Agricultural Engineering Student Association
Jan. 2010 – Dec. 2010
 Coordinate academic and social events for Agricultural Engineering students
 Represent Agricultural Engineering students at the university level
RELEVANT SKILLS
Geographic Information Systems
 Proficient in ArcGIS, Esri.
 Proficient in BASINS, Better Assessment Science Integrating point & Non-point Sources
from U.S. EPA.
Programming software
 Python
Integrated Farm System Software
 FarmWorks
 IFSM (Integrated Farm System Model)
Erosion Software
 RUSLE2 (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation)
 SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool)
Statistical Software
 Proficient in R statistical software
 Proficient in SAS statistical software
RELEVANT COURSEWORK
Graduate
 Engineering: Sustainable Bioenergy Systems, Biosystems Engineering Instrumentation,
Analysis of Biological Systems, Water Resources System Analysis, Ecohydrology
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Environmental Science and Policy Program: Introduction to Environmental Science and
Policy, Human Systems and Environment, Dynamics of Environmental Systems.
Geography: Remote Sensing of Environment, Advanced Remote Sensing, Remote Sensing
of Agriculture.
Statistics: Statistics for Biologists, Spatial Data Analysis.
Ecology: Field Ecology and Evolution, Stream Ecology.
Undergraduate
 Engineering: Engineering Design Fundamentals, Hydraulic Infrastructure, Heat and Mass
Transfer, Environmental Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Agricultural Infrastructure,
Agricultural Power Systems, Agricultural Project Assessment, and Postharvest
Engineering.
FELLOWSHIP / SCHOLARSHIP
Bill and Rita Stout Scholarship ($1,000)
Merle and Catherine Esmay Scholarship ($1,000)
Environmental Science Policy Program Doctoral Recruiting Fellowship ($35,000)
LINGUISTIC
Spanish
 Native
English
 Proficient
 Second Language
2014
2013
2013