Dr. Mehla’s research interests include understanding the complex dynamics of soil-water interactions, hydrological processes, carbon cycling, and contaminant transport across various agroecosystems. Currently, he is developing, calibrating, and validating process-based modules for the SWAT+ model, employing field measurements and eddy covariance flux datasets to simulate fluxes across diverse agroecosystems. His broader expertise covers basin-scale hydrological modeling, machine learning, crop water footprint analysis, and climate-smart agriculture. Dr. Mehla received his Ph.D. from Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology in India, where he examined crop water footprints and management strategies using Aqua-Crop and SWAT. Previously, he also worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Texas Tech University, collaborating with producers through the Texas Alliance for Water Conservation (TAWC) to promote water conservation through sensor-based irrigation management in the Texas High Plains.

UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION

Bachelor’s (Agricultural Engineering), Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India (August, 2013- June, 2017)

GRADUATE EDUCATION

Master’s (Soil and Water Engineering), Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India (August, 2017- July, 2019)

Ph.D. (Soil and Water Conservation Engineering), Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, India (August, 2019- June, 2023)