Javier
Plaza Martín

PhD in Agricultural Engineering since May 2022, specializing in the application of new technologies to precision agriculture and precision livestock farming (PLF) across diverse crop and animal management systems. My doctoral research, titled "New Strategies Based on Geotechnologies Applied to Precision Agriculture and Precision Livestock Farming," earned an Outstanding Cum Laude mention. This work enabled me to focus on utilizing cutting-edge sensors and methodologies for monitoring crops and livestock, along with in-depth expertise in processing statistical data and statistical-mathematical predictive modelling, acquired through the Official Master in Advanced Multivariate Data Analysis and Big Data. Currently, I am a member of the Consolidated Research Unit "Food: Production, Elaboration, and Characterization" at the University of Salamanca. Post-PhD, I directed my research towards PLF, specifically exploring the use of various sensors to study physiological variables such as heart rate, body temperature, and locomotor activity. To further enhance my expertise, I embarked on a one-month postdoctoral stay at Wageningen University & Research's Department of Animal Health and Welfare, working under the supervision of Dr. Wijbrand Ouweltjes and Dr. Kees Lokhorst. This experience significantly expanded my knowledge of PLF and facilitated the establishment of an international network for collaborative research in PLF. During my stay, I collaborated with Dr. Ouweltjes on a research project focused on early detection of lameness in dairy cows using video cameras and accelerometers, with ongoing results. Since commencing my research journey, I have actively participated in eight research projects and three research contracts with companies. Currently, I serve as the Principal Investigator for a research project titled "Use of Precision Livestock Farming Tools to Evaluate Basal Temperature as a Physiological Parameter Indicative of Different Reproductive States in Sheep," funded by the "Fundación Memoria de D. Samuel Solórzano Barruso" at the University of Salamanca. Moreover, I hold the position of Director and Coordinator for the course "Precision Livestock Farming: Strategies and Tools," part of the Special Program for the digitization of farms funded by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Livestock. As a part of mentoring young researchers, I am presently co-directing a Ph.D. thesis with Dr. Carlos Palacios Riocerezo, titled "Study of Behaviour and Reproductive Physiology in Sheep through Non-invasive Sensing." To date, I have authored 23 papers in JCR international journals, with 12 in journals within the first quartile (Q1) of the JCR index. Additionally, I have three publications in international peer-reviewed indexed journals and have contributed to four books. I have presented over 40 communications at national and international conferences. According to Google Scholar data, I have a total of 37 scientific publications with 118 citations, resulting in an H-Index of 8. In the Web of Science Core Collection, 22 articles are cited 67 times, with an average number of citations per article of 3.19 and an average number of citations per year of 16.75, yielding an H-Index of 6. Many of these publications and scientific communications are the result of successful collaborations with international researchers and scientists, such as Dr. Manuel González Ronquillo from the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico (UAEM), and Dr. Matthieu Keller and Dr. Philippe Chemineau from the French National Centre for Scientific Research, among others.