Rafael Lembi, PhD
Rafael Lembi, PhD
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Transdisciplinary sustainability scholar
Energy justice researcher
Systems thinker
School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, University of Waterloo, Canada
School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, University of Waterloo, Canada
My goal as a scholar is to co-create research that contributes to advancing our collective understanding on how sustainability transformations happen or could happen, while also contributing to community-led change processes.
My goal as a scholar is to co-create research that contributes to advancing our collective understanding on how sustainability transformations happen or could happen, while also contributing to community-led change processes.
My work spans three main areas:
My work spans three main areas:
(1) Energy justice, focusing on the uptake of solar systems for energy access in Indigenous and traditional Amazonian communities;
(1) Energy justice, focusing on the uptake of solar systems for energy access in Indigenous and traditional Amazonian communities;
(2) Futures research, focusing on participatory scenario planning to envision positive futures and actionable transformation pathways;
(2) Futures research, focusing on participatory scenario planning to envision positive futures and actionable transformation pathways;
(3) Transdisciplinary research, specializing in the design, facilitation, and evaluation of participatory processes of knowledge co-production.
(3) Transdisciplinary research, specializing in the design, facilitation, and evaluation of participatory processes of knowledge co-production.
My research agenda is grounded on a reflexive research practice and is particularly attentive to justice and equity dimensions of sustainability transformations. Due to my interdisciplinary training in the natural and social sciences, I am able to engage in productive dialogues across diverse epistesmologies and disciplinary frameworks. My lived experiences and fieldwork also taught me the value and relevance of engaging with diverse knowledge systems.
My research agenda is grounded on a reflexive research practice and is particularly attentive to justice and equity dimensions of sustainability transformations. Due to my interdisciplinary training in the natural and social sciences, I am able to engage in productive dialogues across diverse epistesmologies and disciplinary frameworks. My lived experiences and fieldwork also taught me the value and relevance of engaging with diverse knowledge systems.
Methodologically, I am an experienced process facilitator and qualitative researcher. Case studies, place-based research and literature reviews are common approaches in my work. I am also an active member with the Society for Social-Ecological Systems and the Resilience Alliance.
Methodologically, I am an experienced process facilitator and qualitative researcher. Case studies, place-based research and literature reviews are common approaches in my work. I am also an active member with the Society for Social-Ecological Systems and the Resilience Alliance.
After completing my PhD in Community Sustainability at Michigan State University, I began a Postdoctoral Scholar position in October 2026 at the University of Waterloo’s School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, supported by SSHRC’s Canada Impact+ Research Training Award (CIRTA).
After completing my PhD in Community Sustainability at Michigan State University, I began a Postdoctoral Scholar position in October 2026 at the University of Waterloo’s School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, supported by SSHRC’s Canada Impact+ Research Training Award (CIRTA).
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