Meet our Solutions Scholars

I am a PhD Candidate in the Vancouver School of Economics at the University of British Columbia. I have obtained my MA and BA degrees in Economics at the Fundação Getulio Vargas’ Brazilian School of Economics and Finance (FGV EPGE). My research interests lie at the intersection of Environmental Economics, Development Economics, Health Economics and Political Economy.

I'm a PhD candidate in atmospheric science supervised by Prof. Rachel White at Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences. In the past three years I've been focusing on the mechanism of quasi-stationary Rossby waves, and how they may drive the persistent extreme weather events in the midlatitudes. While my thesis centers on these phenomena, I am enthusiastic about broadening my scope to encompass the broader dynamics of atmosphere and ocean circulation. I got my Bachelor's degree from Sun Yat-Sen University in atmospheric science with a minor in history (2020).

Kaushal Gnyawali is a Geotechnical engineer. His Ph.D. focuses on mitigating post-wildfire debris flow hazards on fans of small watersheds with deflection berms and ditches. He is partnering with the BC Ministry of Forests, several First Nations in south-central BC, and industry for this research. Kaushal earned his master's degree in Civil Engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. He has industry experience in landslide hazard assessment, earthquake- and multi-hazards chain, and disaster risk management in the central Himalayas, where he was born and raised.

I'm a second-year PhD student working with Dr. Danielle Ignace in Forest and Conservation Sciences. I am originally from the Seattle area and completed an undergraduate degree in Environmental Science, with a minor in Philosophy, at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta. Afterwards I attended UBC and completed a Master of International Forestry with a focus on community and Indigenous-led forestry and conservation. I also have experience working for environmental consulting and forestry companies.

Amir Hassanpour is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Civil Engineering at UBC. His primary research interest is the emerging transportation technology and policies to create an equitable and sustainable transportation system. He strongly believes that a multimodal street is a livable street and creates opportunities for all and hopes that his research makes a positive impact on all people and the communities they live in. 

Kylie Clark is a second-year Master’s of Community and Regional Planning student focusing on urban resiliency to climate change. With an undergraduate and professional background in architecture, Kylie approaches the challenge of climate change adaptation with a human-centered, nature-based design lens.

Daniel is a PhD student researching at the intersection of urban forestry and environmental justice. Following an undergraduate degree in Sociology and some time working as an arborist and horticulturist, Daniel joined the Urban Natures Lab hoping to learn more about the relationships between greening, urban planning, and development. His Master's research investigated green gentrification in Vancouver and the shifting role of urban agriculture within large-scale redevelopment.

I am in the first year of my MSc in Biology at UBC Okanagan under the supervision of Dr. Karen Hodges. My master’s research aims to uncover if and how owls in the Okanagan Valley use burned forests of varying post-fire ages. I'm passionate about wildlife conservation, especially concerning biodiversity loss caused by climate change. I aim to produce research that uncovers practical solutions to maintain biodiversity, bridging the gap between conservation science, land management, and policy.

I am a dedicated professional with a strong academic foundation and passion for environmental and civil engineering. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, Hydrotechnical Engineering specialization, at University of British Columbia under the guidance of Prof. Barbara Lence. My research focuses on using machine learning and artificial intelligence to improve the management and resilience of water distribution systems. With over six years of professional experience in India's National Clean Air Program and water utilities modeling, I am committed to sustainability.

I am a PhD student in the School of Population and Public Health, supervised by Dr. Michael Brauer. My thesis project aims to explore the role of the built environment and housing characteristics, on both indoor heat exposure and social isolation, to better understand vulnerability to adverse heat-related health outcomes in older adults. Project Title: Built environment factors and barriers in adaptation to extreme heat experienced by older adults in Metro Vancouver