Global urban environmental and socioeconomic sustainability (GUESS) Lab
Opportunity: I am recruiting two postdoctoral research associates. See details here. I am interested in working with UEP and other Tufts students to conduct some very exciting research related to environmental changes, urbanization, and health justice in Southeast Asia and Peru with me (quantitative modeling, remote sensing, and spatial analysis are required qualifications). Tips for students: please come prepared, with a page of ideas, your CV, and past publications/written examples.
Please note that I am not recruiting Ph.D. students for the academic year 2024-25.
I lead the Global Urban Environmental and Socioeconomic Sustainability (GUESS) Lab at Tufts and MSU University. I am grateful to having worked with some of the best students and research associates. Here are some that I served as the advisor and still keep in regular contacts.
Past Research Associates and Students
Zutao Ouyang (2015-2019), Postdoctoral Fellow at MSU, worked on the NASA-funded project "Urbanization and sustainability under global change and transitional economies: Synthesis from Southeast, East, and North Asia (SENA)". Zutao is currently a tenure-track assistant professor at Auburn University, after working as a research scientist in Stanford University (2019-2023). Zutao's home page at Auburn University.
Zihan (Linda) Lin (2021-22), Postdoc research associate at MSU, interested in remote sensing, human-natural interaction, machine learning for urban environment and health. Linda is currently a tenure-track assistant professor at Cleveland State University. Linda's homepage at Linkedin.
Hogeun Park (2014-2018), Ph.D. student at MSU, Dissertation "Urban transformation in transitional economies: Lessons from the Mongolian plateau", Ph.D. awarded in June 2018. 2017 ACSP Gill Chin Lim Travel Award, 2016 National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) Fellow, 2015 Asian Development Fellowship. Currently working as an Urban Specialist in the World Bank. Hogeun's personal website & his website at the World Bank.
Tanni Sarker (2020-23), Ph.D. Student at MSU, interested in remote sensing, urbanization & sustainability. MSU ESPP Doctoral Recruitment Fellowship (2020). Dissertation title "Urban Environmental Changes in Southeast Asia: Spatial Ppaterns, Driving Factors, and Policy Implications". Ph.D. awarded in December 2023. Currently working as a Research Associate in Tufts University.
Bo (Dylan) Zhu (2006-2009), Master Student at MSU, interested in economic development and social equity of urbanization. Thesis "Government Intervention in the Evolution of a FInancial Cluster: An Empirical Study of Financial Centers in Beijing and Shanghai" as the result of a field trip to East Asia in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and HongKong covering researches and interviews with industry experts and academic scholars. Winner of the "Best Graduate Student Paper for Shaochang Lee Competition" in 2009. Outstanding Graduate Student Award. Currently working at a Fortune 500 multinational company as Finance Manager in Troy, Michigan.
Sarah Murray (2013-15), Master Student at MSU, Thesis "Planning for Food Security as Impacted by Urbanization and Gender: A case Study of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania". Outstanding Planning Student Award, American Institute of Certified Planners, 2015, US. Dept. of Education, Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships for Summer 2013 and AY 2014-2015 (Swahili). Currently Sara works as Planning Program Manager at the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands, Indiana University.
Current Research Associate & Students
Tanni Sarker (2024- ) Research Associate at the Urban Sustainability Lab, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning at Tufts University;
Tanni is interested in understanding coupled human-environment interactions in natural and urban ecosystems using remote sensing, GIS, and quantitative analysis. Tanni was a Ph.D. student at the Urban Sustainability Lab at MSU from 2020-2023, advised by Dr. Fan. Check Tanni's Website.
Abhinav Kapoor (2019-24), Ph.D. Student at MSU, MSU ESPP Doctoral Recruitment Fellowship (2019) & MSU College of Social Science Dean’s Assistantship (2020), ESPP Summer Research Fellow (2021).
Abhinav is a doctoral candidate at the School of Planning Design and Construction, with a concentration in Urban and Regional Planning and has a doctoral fellowship at the Environmental Science and Policy Program at MSU. His research explores how urbanization affects the socio-economic conditions in the peri-urban areas of South and Southeast Asia. By making use of spatial and quantitative socioeconomic data, his research takes a critical look at the present trends of urbanization and explores how we can move towards a more sustainable urban policy with the interests of all stakeholders in mind—especially the more vulnerable groups living within and around the expanding cities. Before coming to MSU, Abhinav had been part of several research projects which study the changing agrarian livelihoods in India. His research focused on collecting and analyzing village level socio-economic data to understand the contemporary rural economy. On days when academic work seems overwhelming, Abhinav likes to drift into cooking elaborate meals for himself. Apart from that, he also likes to go on long runs and taking care of his plants at home.
Nurul Wajah Mujahid (2022 - 2026), Ph.D. Student at MSU, interested in urbanization and social inclusion, urban regeneration, affordable housing program, and real estate. Graduated from Faculty of Civil Engineering and Planning-Bandung Institute of Technology (2001) and School of Public and Environmental Affairs-Indiana University Bloomington (2011). Currently working at Ministry of National Development Planning of Indonesia. A scholarship awardee of Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP).
Khacyi Bryant (2022 - 2024), Master Student at MSU, Earned B.S in Geography from Grand Valley State University, interested in urban sustainability and affordable housing.