Agroecosystem Modeling Lab

Yongfa You

Yongfa is an Assistant Professor in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech. His research examines how agricultural management practices interact with environmental change to shape the productivity, resilience, and sustainability of agroecosystems. Using an integrated systems modeling approach that combines process-based models, remote sensing, machine learning, and field observations, his work informs science-based management and decision-support tools that enhance productivity while reducing environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions, soil degradation, and water pollution. Prior to joining Virginia Tech in August 2025, he conducted postdoctoral research at Boston College (2024–2025) and completed his doctoral training in Earth System Sciences at Auburn University (2019–2023).

Research Interests: Terrestrial biosphere modeling; Carbon and nutrient cycling; Sustainable agricultural management; Geospatial Data Science

Email: yongfayou@vt.edu

Office: Saunders Hall, Room 306A

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Hua Yan

Hua is a postdoctoral researcher and recipient of the Virginia Tech Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship. He received his Ph.D. in Earth System Science from Auburn University. His research expertise lies in eco-hydrology modeling, biogeochemical cycling, and machine learning with a particular focus on carbon–water–nitrogen interactions in agricultural and managed ecosystems. His long-term research goal is to develop data-driven and process-informed frameworks that integrate observations, models, and advanced analytics to support sustainable land and water management under global environmental change.

Research Interests: Hydrological and ecosystem modeling; Machine learning; Ecohydrology

Email: hizzy123@vt.edu

Office: Saunders Hall, Room 404

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Yikun Zhang

Ye (Yikun) is a Ph.D. student in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech. He earned his Master’s degree in Human Geography from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2025. With a transdisciplinary foundation in Geography, Economics, and Ecology, Ye focuses on optimizing integrated crop-livestock systems through a hybrid approach of process-based modeling and AI-driven insights. He identifies as an "Academic Amphibian", dedicated to translating delicate ecosystem feedbacks into tangible human welfare and sustainable behavioral shifts.

Research Interests: Agroecosystem modeling; Integrated crop-livestock system

Email: yikunz@vt.edu

Office: Saunders Hall, Room 404

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Rose Cook

Rose is an undergraduate student in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech. She earned her associate’s degree in science from New River Community College in May 2025 and is currently working toward her bachelor’s degree in environmental science. Rose is interested in studying complex systems, computational modeling, sustainable agricultural solutions and soils. She is also passionate about engaging in interdisciplinary work, as well as communication across scientific and non-scientific communities.

Email: rosencook@vt.edu

Office: Saunders Hall, Room 404