Introduction

My name is Dr. Brianna B. Posadas and I am an Assistant Professor at the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech where I am the PI of the Posadas Lab . I am also a fellow with the Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation and affiliated with the Center for Advanced Innovation in Agriculture. My research is focused on the intersection of agriculture, technology, and user-centered design.

When I completed my PhD at the University of Florida, I was the first Latina to earn a doctorate from the department of Computer and Information Science and Engineering. I received my master of science in agricultural and biological engineering also at UF and my bachelor of science in engineering from Harvey Mudd College.

Research

I work with the AgrAbility and HARVEST programs at Virginia Tech continuing my research in user-centered design in agriculture that I started at the University of Florida. In addition to addressing usability and accessibility of precision agriculture technologies, I am studying how to best utilize big data in agriculture while also protecting the privacy and security rights of the growers.

My previous work in agriculture includes using hyperspectral imaging techniques to detect AMB in Fuji apples in Korea and creating a crowdsourcing platform to collect ground truth data on lambsquarters in Washington D.C. My work in agriculture was also featured in an episode of LabDaze .

My technology policy work as a Media Democracy Fund (MDF) PhDX fellows included studying predicitive policing, pre-trial risk assessments, and how social media affects communities of color. This research resulted in numerous writings which can be found on Medium. Find my recent work in the link below.

Other Things I Do

At the University of Florida, I founded the Latino/Hispanic Organization of Graduate Students, volunteered at Farm to School Alachua, spoke with elementary classrooms through Skype a Scientist, served as the graduate ambassador for the UF chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and wrote letters to aspiring scientists through Letters to a Pre-Scientist. I am currently a mentor through VineCorps where I advise high school students on their college applications. I also coordinate the yearly Hispanics in Computing meeting at the Tapia conference.

Teaching

  • Virginia Tech, ALS 5814: Smart Farms: Topics in Agricultural Leadership & Community Education, Department of Agricultural Leadership and Community Education, graduate seminar course, Spring 2022
  • Virginia Tech, Data Science for the Public Good Summer Scholars Program, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Virginia Tech, summer research experience for undergraduates, Summer 2021, 2022
  • Virginia Tech, ALS 5334: Professional Communication in Ag & Life Sciences, Department of Agricultural Leadership and Community Education, graduate course, Spring 2021
  • Washington English Center, ESOL level 2B, Washington D.C., adult education, Spring 2020

News

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

Contact

email: bposadas 'at' vt 'dot' edu
Curriculum Vitae