- Aviation: Currently pursuing Private Pilot's License
- Off-Roading/Overlanding: Enthusiastic about trail nav and vehicle maintenance (2004 Jeep Wrangler TJ 40L)
- Sports: Actively involved in local slow-pitch softball league, and play about 12-24 rounds of golf per year
Ian McDonald
Davis
Summary
I am a graduate student at UC Davis in the Horticulture & Agronomy program with strong field experience in environmental monitoring, soil and microclimate research, and stakeholder communication. I come from a background of agricultural research in a wide variety of California crops but especially almonds.
I will be graduating with my Master’s of Science degree in December 2025 and I am looking to use my skills and experience to pursue a career in golf course management.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Graduate Student Researcher
Biometeorology Group, Land, Air and Water Resource
09.2023 - 12.2025
- Research based thesis for completion of Master's Degree in Horticulture and Agronomy
- Installed and maintained evapotranspiration weather stations in various Central Valley crops
- Designed and deployed research studies to analyze orchard microclimates during extreme frost events
- Installed and maintained network of evapotranspiration weather stations in 6 almond orchards across the Central Valley
- Presented findings to academic audiences and agricultural stakeholders at various field days and conferences
Junior Specialist
Biometeorology Group, Land, Air and Water Resource
10.2022 - 09.2023
- Installed and maintained evapotranspiration weather stations in various Central Valley crops
- Managed lab operations including inventory, field and safety training, and staff onboarding
Student Research Intern
Biometeorology Group, Land, Air and Water Resource
02.2021 - 10.2022
Collaborated on agricultural research studies measuring gas, water, and heat fluxes in various cropping systems.
Education
Master of Science - Horticulture & Agronomy
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA12-2025
Bachelor of Science - Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA06-2022
Skills
- Software: RStudio, GIS & Remote Sensing platforms
- Field & Technical: Weather station design, sensor deployment, instrumentation troubleshooting
- Measurement Systems: Campbell Scientific loggers, eddy covariance systems, weather stations
- Soft Skills: Team leader, collaboration, science communication, stakeholder outreach
Publications
- McDonald, I. F., Ware, E. C., Battany, M., Suvocarev, K., Paw U, K. T., & Pyles, D. (2023, December). Frost Risk in Cover-Cropped Almond Orchards: Insights from Near-Canopy Air Temperature. In AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts (Vol. 2023, No. 2551, pp. B41H-2551).
- Flynn, M. T., Guerrero-Medina, O. G. M., McDonald, I. F., Anika, J. T., Ware, E. C., Paw U, K. T., & Suvočarev, K. (2025). A case study of evapotranspiration at five almond orchards on a spectrum of conventional to regenerative management. California Agriculture.
- Suvocarev, K., Roby, M., Freer-Smith, P., Bailey-Bale, J., Ware, E. C., McDonald, I. F., & Taylor, G. (2022, December). Landscape measurements of evapotranspiration and CO₂ fluxes of bioenergy poplar under different irrigation treatments. In AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts (Vol. 2022, pp. B12E-1124).
- Anika, J. T., Marino, G., Shackel, K., McDonald, I. F., Bustamante, L. F., & Suvocarev, K. (2023, December). Integrating orchard-level and plant-level measurements in mature cherry orchards to inform sustainable water management strategies in California, USA. In AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts (Vol. 2023, No. 2552, pp. B41H-2552).
- Suvocarev, K., Flynn, M., Anika, J. T., McDonald, I. F., Ware, E. C., Guerrero Medina, O., & Paw U, K. T. (2023, December). Water Fluxes of Different Orchard Crops across California's Central Valley. In AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts (Vol. 2023, pp. B43C-06).
Interests
Timeline
Graduate Student Researcher
Biometeorology Group, Land, Air and Water Resource
09.2023 - 12.2025
Junior Specialist
Biometeorology Group, Land, Air and Water Resource
10.2022 - 09.2023
Student Research Intern
Biometeorology Group, Land, Air and Water Resource
02.2021 - 10.2022
Master of Science - Horticulture & Agronomy
University of California, Davis
Bachelor of Science - Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
University of California, Davis
Similar Profiles
Erin HalfnightsErin Halfnights
A/ Director, Finance - FSB WLRS at Ministry of Water, Land and Resource StewardshipA/ Director, Finance - FSB WLRS at Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
Rakkel Loise NkoshiRakkel Loise Nkoshi
Project Administrative Officer at Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform - Programme for Communal Land Development (PCLD)Project Administrative Officer at Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform - Programme for Communal Land Development (PCLD)
Margaret NkhosiMargaret Nkhosi
Project Officer at Tetra Tech ARD - USAID - Integrated Land and Resource Governance ProgramProject Officer at Tetra Tech ARD - USAID - Integrated Land and Resource Governance Program
Tracy MichelsTracy Michels
RN Volunteer at Red CrossRN Volunteer at Red Cross
Ines FehimovicInes Fehimovic
Lifeguard at Six Flags Hurricane HarborLifeguard at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor