Students

Current PhD and masters students I advise or co-advise, along with recent alumni.

Current

Current Advisees

Sophiya Gyanwali

Sophiya Gyanwali

PhD Student in GIS

Committee: Dr. Aaron Flores (Chair), Dr. Dylan Connor, Dr. Sara Meerow

Sophiya is a social scientist and human geographer specializing in social vulnerability, urban development, and environmental justice in the context of flooding. She holds an M.S. in Geography from Virginia Tech and a B.S. in Environmental Science from Kathmandu University in Nepal. Her doctoral research investigates development patterns within FEMA-designated and federally-overlooked flood zones over time, examining the social determinants that drive these trends and their implications for vulnerable communities.

Alamin Molla

Alamin Molla

PhD Student in GIS

Committee: Dr. David Sailor (Co-Chair), Dr. Aaron Flores (Co-Chair), Dr. Heather Baier

Alamin is an urban scientist and geospatial data expert specializing in spatial data science, urban climate, and environmental justice. He holds an M.S. in Geoinformatics & Geospatial Intelligence from George Mason University, an M.S. in Geography from Auburn University, and a B.S. in Urban and Rural Planning from Khulna University, Bangladesh. His doctoral research integrates GeoAI, UAV technology, and advanced geospatial methods to address urban challenges such as extreme heat, air quality, and climate resilience.

Ritvik Shukla

Ritvik Shukla

PhD Candidate in Environmental Social Science

Committee: Dr. Abigail York (Chair), Dr. Danae Hernandez-Cortes, Dr. Kelli Larson, Dr. Aaron Flores

Ritvik is a just transition scientist with a particular interest in mixed methods research. He holds a B.S. in Environment and Natural Resources from Ohio State and an M.S. in Earth and Environmental Resources Management from the University of South Carolina. His dissertation examines the supply, demand, and governance of public electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Maricopa County, Arizona.

Shaylynn Trego

Shaylynn Trego

PhD Candidate in Geography

Committee: Dr. Sara Meerow (Co-Chair), Dr. David Hondula (Co-Chair), Dr. Ladd Keith (U of Arizona), Dr. Aaron Flores

Shaylynn is an NSF GRFP and INTERN fellow committed to conducting socially relevant research on human-environment interactions, particularly how people can cope with increasingly extreme heat. Her work offers insights on different ways to communicate and visualize extreme heat risk, and many of her projects have been co-produced with city stakeholders.

Consolata Macharia

Consolata Macharia

PhD Student in Geography

Committee: Dr. Sara Meerow (Chair), Dr. Aaron Flores

Consolata is a human-environmental geographer whose research explores the intersections of urban climate resilience, green infrastructure planning, environmental justice, and urban climate governance. She examines how green infrastructure can serve as both a resilience strategy and a tool for advancing environmental justice.

Leonardo Prado

Leonardo Prado

PhD Student in Geography

Committee: Dr. Jose-Benito Rosales Chavez (Co-Chair), Dr. Jenni Vanos (Co-Chair), Dr. Aaron Flores

Leonardo is an environmental social scientist and geographer specializing in urban climate, human thermal comfort, and environmental justice through the lens of Critical Physical Geography. His research examines the heat exposure experienced by street vendors across Los Angeles, Mexico City, and São Paulo.

Eli Martin

Eli Martin

Masters Student in Geography (Online)

Committee: Dr. David Sailor (Chair), Dr. Aaron Flores, Dr. Ariane Middel

Eli Martin is a Field Technician with the Southwest Integrated Field Laboratory (SW-IFL), a Department of Energy funded project led by Arizona State University that focuses on urban climate research. While working on this project, he is also pursuing a Geography MA through the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning’s online program. Prior to joining the SW-IFL project at ASU, Eli worked as a field geologist for an environmental consulting firm in New Mexico after earning an Earth Science BS from the University of Maine in 2018. His research interests include urban climate, extreme heat, and climate resilience.

Mahin Rahman

Mahin Rahman

Masters Student in Urban & Environmental Planning

Committee: Dr. Sara Meerow (Co-Chair), Dr. Aaron Flores (Co-Chair), Dr. Daoqin Tong

Mahin is an urban planner and spatial data analyst focused on climate resilience, heat vulnerability, and environmental justice. His thesis explores how different environmental and social indicators influence spatial priorities for green infrastructure in Phoenix.

Alumni

Alumni