Mostafa Javadian

BIOGRAPHY

I am a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Environmental Studies Department at the College of the Holy Cross. My research program integrates multi-scale thermal remote sensing—from satellites and drones to towers—to investigate ecohydrological processes and ecosystem resilience to climate change. I focus on quantifying vegetation water stress and its impact on carbon and water cycles, particularly in vulnerable, water-limited environments. My work has pioneered methods to estimate transpiration at the individual tree level using thermal cameras, revealing critical inter-species differences in drought vulnerability. I have also demonstrated that high-frequency thermography can capture the differential sensitivity of plant functional types to shifts in rainfall timing and magnitude. At a global scale, my analysis of satellite data identified that increasing trends in evapotranspiration are dominated by large cropland regions, highlighting sustainability challenges in global food production. My ultimate goal is to develop a predictive framework for forecasting ecosystem responses to hydroclimatic extremes, thereby informing more effective land and water management strategies.  

My interdisciplinary training provides a unique foundation for my research. I began with a B.S. in Civil Engineering, where an environmental course ignited my interest in applying quantitative skills to ecological challenges. I pursued this passion with an M.S. in Water Resources Management and Engineering from Sharif University of Technology, where my thesis focused on estimating agricultural water consumption using satellite remote sensing. In 2019, I moved to the United States and earned a Ph.D. in Hydrology with a minor in Remote Sensing from the University of Arizona. My dissertation developed novel thermal remote sensing techniques to improve drought assessment by investigating vegetation water stress in drylands, establishing the core of my current research program. Prior to joining the College of the Holy Cross, I served as a postdoctoral scientist at the University of Arizona’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment, and as a postdoctoral research associate in the Center for Ecosystem Science and Society at Northern Arizona University, investigating plant responses to climate change.