Dr. Tony Grift

Professor

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Biography

Tony E. Grift is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His research primarily focuses on advanced machinery biosystems applications, agricultural robotics, and biosystems automation engineering solutions. Dr. Grift is dedicated to developing robotics sensing technologies to enhance agriculture's efficiency, helping to address grand challenges in sustainability and renewable resource utilization. He holds a Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of Arkansas and has received various accolades for his teaching excellence and research contributions. His honors include the ASABE Fellow designation and multiple superior paper awards from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. With years of experience in academic positions ranging from Graduate Research Assistant to Professor, Dr. Grift is committed to advancing the field of agricultural engineering through innovative research and education.

Research Interests

Experience

Professor

2019-08-01 — Present

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign • Urbana, IL

Teaching and research in Agricultural Engineering.

Associate Professor

2008-08-01 — 2019-08-01

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign • Urbana, IL

Advanced research in Agricultural Engineering.

Assistant Professor

2002-08-01 — 2008-08-01

University of Illinois • Urbana, IL

Focused on biosystems engineering education and research.

Assistant Professor

1998-08-01 — 2002-08-01

Auburn University • Auburn, AL

Research in biosystems engineering.

Graduate Research Assistant

1995-01-01 — 1998-01-01

University of Arkansas • Fayetteville, AR

Conducted research in Biological and Agricultural Engineering.

Research Engineer

1993-01-01 — 1995-01-01

Wageningen Agricultural University • Wageningen, Netherlands

Worked on agricultural engineering projects.

System Engineer

1992-01-01 — 1993-01-01

Vertis Information Technology • Veendam, Netherlands

Engineering system solutions.

Lieutenant Instructor

1987-01-01 — 1989-01-01

Royal Netherlands Airforce • Netherlands

Instructed personnel in technical fields.

Awards

#

NACTA Educator Award

2017-01-01
#

Ben & Georgeann Jones Excellence in Teaching Award

2017-01-01
#

IET Meeting Paper Award

2003-01-01
#

EurAgEng Outstanding Paper Award

2010-01-01
#

ASABE Superior Paper Award

2003-01-01
#

ASABE Fellow

2019-01-01

Requirements for University of Illinois

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
IELTS
Listening
Required:7
Reading
Required:7
Writing
Required:7
Speaking
Required:7
Overall
Required:7.5
TOEFL
Listening
Required:17
Reading
Required:19
Writing
Required:21
Speaking
Required:20
Total
Required:103
GRE General
Prerequisites
Mathematical background Linear Algebra Calculus
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Unofficial transcripts
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation
  • Academic Statement of Purpose
  • Resume/CV
Specialization Notes

GRE is optional for admission to all graduate programs in Statistics. Full status admission requires higher language scores than limited status.