RIT Student's Quest in Remote Sensing: Bridging Academics and Industry
A Ph.D. student from Bangladesh, Mohammad Saif, has been making waves in the remote sensing community with his work at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). After completing his bachelor's degree in electrical and electronic engineering in his home country, Mohammad pursued his academic career in imaging science here.
As a research enthusiast since the start of his undergraduate studies, Mohammad drew inspiration from a project on detecting anemia using human eye images. The collaboration with a friend who was then pursuing his Ph.D. at RIT made him even more interested in applying to this esteemed institution.
Currently, Mohammad is delving deep into remote sensing, an area that focuses on analyzing satellite/airborne images and their applications in real-world issues like food security and sustainability. His group, led by Dr. Jan van Aardt, has been working on using drones to predict crop conditions, which sparked his interest.
Specifically, Mohammad is capturing drone images of table beets using hyperspectral, multispectral, and LiDAR imaging techniques. By analyzing these data, the team can predict end-of-season harvest yields and assess disease severity in table beets.
To improve crop management strategies, Mohammad also evaluates each imaging system's performance, balancing cost with optimal results, his findings so far have contributed significantly to this goal.
As a Ph.D student, Mohammad has participated in various events such as the Three Minute Thesis competition and Industrial Associates Symposium. These events played a pivotal role in him developing his communication skills, reigniting his motivation, and gaining industry insights into potential career paths.
Mohammad expresses gratitude towards RIT for offering opportunities like these which not only challenge him but also allow him to grow both intellectually and professionally. As he continues on this academic journey, Muhammad's work is set to contribute meaningfully in advancing our understanding of remote sensing techniques.
Sources:
- Interviews with Mohammad Saif.
- Office of Graduate Studies and Research at RIT