NDSU SOIL SCIENCE

Education

Experience

Activities

Research

Publications

photo of Radu Carcoana

Education:
North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota University Studies BS
Technical School of Mining, Bucharest, Romania Surveying/Geodesy BS

Professional Experience:

2000 – Present Research Specialist – NDAWN Center – Operation Manager.
1995 – 2000 Research Specialist II – NDAWN – Operation Manager.
1990 – 1995 Research Specialist I – Soil Management Laboratory Supervisor.
1967 – 1982 Land Surveyor, Cartographer – Bucharest, Romania.

Professional Activities:

  1. Network Operation Manager - North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network, NDSU.
  2. Research Specialist - Soil Management Laboratory Supervisor, NDSU.
  3. Campbell Scientific – Proprietary Computer Programming Certification – 1997 (PC208, Loggernet).
  4. Licensed Commercial Pesticide Applicator 1991 – 2001
  5. Regional Manager - Institute for Research and Design for Extraction of Oil and Gas – Bucharest.
  6. Land Surveyor - Crew chief - Institute of Mineral Explorations – Bucharest.


In these over 15 years, here at North Dakota State University in the position of Research Specialist in Soil Science Department – I conducted over 20 research projects for three Principal Investigators in areas related to environmental sciences (soil management, water/snow/environment quality, meteorology, etc.
My assets are: an outstanding strong organizational and problem solving skill combined with the capacity of coordinating the logistics of simultaneous, multi-tasks projects. These are proven by my life experience of conducting and coordinating the research projects in surveying for geological and geophysical prospect ions, in soil management and in meteorology/climatology automatic networks.

From 1995 to 2006 managing the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network – NDAWN (expansion, quality measurements, proprietary programming, marketing, public relations) I worked with Dr. John W. Enz, the North Dakota State Climatologist in running the NDAWN. My position required broad responsibilities that covered all aspects of the network performance. Please check the web site www.ndawn.ndsu.nodak.edu.
Currently I am working with Dr. Adnan Akyüz, the new ND State Climatologist and NDAWN Director:

  1. to oversee the daily performance and functional integrity of the network: decisions, plan of action;
  2. to monitor the sensors performance and evaluate the quality of the data recorded laying out the most efficient logical steps for troubleshooting the problems as soon as they appear. This requires strong contacts with several manufacturing suppliers, communication with over 20 telephone companies;
  3. to manage the NDAWN calibration laboratory for refurbishing the wind sensors and calibrating the temperature and relative humidity sensors. It is worth to mention that I implemented an original method for accurately assessing monitoring and documenting the calibration process for the Temperature and Relative Humidity sensors.
  4. to customize the proprietary Campbell program used by all NDAWN stations – 68, to enhance the wealth and quality of weather information available on the phone in almost “real time” and on the web on the next day.
  5. to market and promote the NDAWN benefits to the general and special interest public by actively participate to trade shows, designing the displays, brochures and other promotional materials.
  6. web page designing group member (see www.ndawn.ndsu.nodak.edu - under constant construction).
  7. to publish an average of one paper per year.

Others find me as a comfortable team partner, energetic that meets challenges head-on, with a high standard of professional ethics and dedicated personality. I always bring with me a motivating initiative and a fresh perspective to any issue that comes across and need to be solved.

Research and Other Professional Activities (see also Publications and Conferences ):

2000 to 2006: Participated at the Western Snow Conference – President’s Professional Development Award.
2001: Manufacturer denied modem communication problems. I replicate in lab; obtained free, new computer chip with voice synthesizer software customized specific to NDAWN/NDSU/North Dakota script.
2000: Attended Automated Weather Station Workshop at Nebraska Center for Continuing Education held at High Plains Climate Center in conjunction with SNRS, UNL, USDA, NOAA, WMO on March 6-10, 2000.
2000: Electronic Snow Measurement techniques (see publications) proposed modifications accepted by manufacturer.
1999 to present: Provided Calibration services for Iowa State University Weather Network.
1996 to present: Provided electronic weather monitoring equipment and assistance to other NDSU departments:
Plant Pathology, Horticulture, Plant Science, etc. other public and/or private organizations.
1996 to present: Participated at over 50 trade shows (ex. Marketplace of Ideas) to promote NDAWN and enhance NDSU image in our community and state. I repeatedly met with our State and Federal Congressional delegation to keep them informed of our progress and needs.
1993: Initiated and facilitated $10,750 donation in surveying software from WILD LEITZ USA, Inc. to three departments: Soil Science, Ag. Engineering and Civil Engineering (It’s Happening, 3/17/1993, page 10).
1993: Submitted to NDSU President a Grant Proposal for PPRC Implementation of Strategic Themes V “Enhancing the Institutional Environment” of NDSU Century II: Update 92 Strategic Plan(a campus wideinitiative) -Soil Science Department Computer Networking Plan.
1991 to 1993: Editor and Photographer for “Solum” the Department quarterly newsletter.

Publications and Conferences:

1. Attended 74th Annual Western Snow Conference, , May 20-23, 2006, Professional Development Award

2. Attended 73rd Annual Western Snow Conference, Great Falls, MT- Apr. 11-14, 2005, Professional Development Award

3. Attended 72nd Annual Western Snow Conference, Richmond, BS- Apr 19-22, 2004, Professional Development Award

4. Attended 70th Annual Western Snow Conference, Granby, CO, May 20-23, 2002, Professional Development Award

5. Attended 69th Annual Western Snow Conference, Sun Valley, ID, April 16-18, 200, Professional Development Award

6. Carcoana, Radu, J. W. Enz. 2000. Enhanced Technique For A More Reliable Daily Snow Measurements With An Antifreeze-Based Tipping Bucket Gauge. 68th Annual Western Snow Conference, Port Angeles, WA, April 18-20, 2000, Professional Development Award

7. Attended the First Automated Weather Station Workshop at Nebraska Center for Continuing Education held at High Plains Climate Center in conjunction with SNRS, UNL, USDA, NOAA, WMO on March 6-10, 2000.

8. Enz, John W., R. Carcoana. 1998. Growing Season Summary for the 1998 Season. Oct. 1998.

9. Carcoana, Radu. 1998. North Dakota Agriculture Weather Network. An environmentally sound electronic monitoring system. The Campbell Update, July 1998. Vol. 9 (2):3,5.

10. Enz, John W., P.C. Brenk, R. Carcoana. 1996. Humidity and Temperature Measurement in the Sugar beet Canopy. North Dakota State Climatologist Report. Oct. 1996.

11. Carcoana, Radu, L. Cihacek, H. Weiser. 1994. Effect of wind erosion sediments on Nitrogen levels of the Sheyene River near Kindred, ND. pp. 196-203. In Proc. North Dakota Water Quality Symposium, March 30-31, 1994. NDSU Ext. Serv.

12. Cihacek, Larry, R. Carcoana, J. Arndt. 1994. Relationship to water quality of the spatial variability in organic carbon, total Nitrogen and NO3--N in wind erosion sediments deposited in a wetland margin. pp. 208-215. In Proc. North Dakota Water Symposium, March 30-31, 1994. NDSU Ext. Serv..

13. Cihacek, Larry, R. Carcoana, B. Schatz and K Jacobson. 1993. N, P, and K Uptake and Accumulation and Dry Matter Production by Crambe. Agron. Abs. pp. 269. ASA, Madison, WI..

14. Cihacek, Larry, R. Carcoana, and K. Jacobson. 1993. Phosphorus and Zinc Fertilization Effects on Dry Matter Yield and Phosphorus and Zinc Uptake by Crambe. J. Plant Nutr. 16(9):1829-1836..

15. Cihacek, L.J., D.A. Lizotte, and R. Carcoana. 1991. Phosphorus placement for soybean production in reduced tillage systems. North Dakota Farm Res. 49(1):22-25.

16. Seelig, Bruce, R. Carcoana and A. Maianu. 1988. Identification of critical depth and critical salinity of the ground water on North Dakota high water table cropland Research project completion report.

17. Maianu, Alex, R. Carcoana. 1987. Presented study activities about Critical depth and critical salinity of ground water in North Dakota. 4th Annual Water Management Workshop, Mandan, ND.

18. Carcoana, Radu. 1972. Method to enhance field measurements efficiency in setting a 50 sq. meters grid in mountain area for geophysical research. Institute of Research and Explorations for Minerals, Bucharest, Romania.