Ray Huffaker
/Ray Huffaker
Visiting Researcher
University of Florida
Ray Huffaker is an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at the University of Florida, where he previously worked in the ecosystems complexity group (https://abe.ufl.edu/people/faculty/ray-huffaker/). His research applies empirical nonlinear dynamics to reconstruct the nonlinear spatial and temporal dynamics of real-world and experimental environmental and food systems from observational data. This allows him to map out and measure causal interactions in real-world networks, as well as construct data-driven biophysical models of real-world system dynamics using recurrent neural network AI modeling, particularly echo state neural networks. Huffaker's research has investigated a variety of complex environmental systems, including hydrological resilience to climatic extremes, soil moisture dynamics, spatial dynamics of hillside soil erosion, water treatment in manmade wetlands and bioreactors, dynamics of red-algae blooms, renewable energy production, and salt-water intrusion. He has taught doctoral courses in nonlinear data diagnostics and biosystems modeling, conducted workshops on empirical nonlinear dynamics worldwide, and co-authored a book on the topic.
