Sustainability Undergraduate Research Fellow Profiles
Pronouns: he/him
Year: 2027
Major: Environmental Studies; Political Science | Minors: Sustainability
What is your project about? My project will explore the best heat resilience strategies for the City of Santa Clara, and how they can be equitably implemented in planning and development standards. Climate change greatly increases extreme heat risks, and communities with limited shade, green spaces, and cooling infrastructure will be the first to feel it, with fewer resources to adapt. There is ample existing work identifying climate vulnerabilities and the need for more green spaces in Santa Clara, which my project will use to identify practical next steps for the City. Through an assessment of planning tools, site conditions, and feasible interventions like shade structures, street trees, cool surfaces, parking lot heat mitigation, and other design standards adapted to climate change, I aim to identify ways the City can prioritize cooling investments more equitably, as well as implement heat resilience strategies where they are needed the most in communities.
How will this fellowship support you in your future scholarship/career goals? After graduating from SCU next year, I will pursue an early career in environmental policy or research. Through this fellowship, I hope to further expand my knowledge in a subject of great interest to me, as well as increase my experience in policy analysis and ground level research. This is a particularly unique opportunity in a city that I have greatly come to care for, and I’m excited to contribute to new equitable, climate focused research for my local government.
What extra/co-curricular activities are you involved in on campus? I am an Urban Heat Research Assistant in the Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences, and a member of the professional service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega.
Other passions, hobbies, fun facts, or anything else you want to share: I love spending time outdoors, cooking, and traveling!