Goshtasb Shahriari Mehr

g.shahriarimehr@ufl.edu

I hold a Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Florida, where my dissertation used a spatially explicit agent-based model to evaluate food access interventions in Jacksonville. I also hold an M.Sc. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from UF and an M.Sc. in Geographic Information Science from the University of Tehran. My research interests include geospatial analysis, discrete choice modeling, agent-based simulation, and the application of AI to urban planning.

Christopher Williams

williams.ch@ufl.edu

As a hazards geography Ph.D. candidate, I study disaster risk in the context of weather, climate, and society. Something I especially appreciate about the DTSC Lab is how we encourage and elevate storytelling and community engagement while building transformative relationships. I am also excited to work with the DTSC Lab and partners on a dissertation photovoice project about urban farming and community resilience in Jacksonville, Florida.

Ava Bender

avabender@ufl.edu

Hi, I’m Ava, a graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in Architectural Studies. Decisions and responses about disasters are cultural, and the stories we tell matter. With a background in Anthropology and Art History, I’m passionate about the roles of creativity, storytelling, and collective action in shaping our lived experiences with disasters. I’m excited to collaborate with the DTSC Lab to put research into action.

Richard Fagan

richard.fagan@ufl.edu

Bio to come.

Tiffany Steinke

tsteinke@ufl.edu

Hello, my name is Tiffany Steinke, and I’m a first-year Master’s student in Construction Management at the University of Florida. I’m particularly interested in innovation, sustainability, and resilient infrastructure within the built environment. I’m excited to work with communities, learn from their experiences, and explore innovative approaches to creating safer, more sustainable, and resilient communities.

Lorena Delgado

lorena.delgado@ufl.edu

Lorena Delgado is a Graduate Research Assistant at the Shimberg Center for Housing Studies and a master’s student in Architecture at the University of Florida’s School of Architecture. Before beginning her graduate studies, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Architecture at the University of Cuenca. Her professional background includes experience in the development of public infrastructure and private sectors, focusing on sustainability, context-responsive design, and urban planning. Currently, at the Shimberg Center, Lorena supports community engagement, communications, and project diffusion. Her interests center on high-performance buildings, user well-being, ethics, and bioclimatic architecture, aiming to contribute to socially impactful and environmentally responsible built environments in diverse global contexts. Since 2023, she has been an official member of Young Ecosystems Latin America (JE-Latinoamérica), an interventionist and community-based NGO centered in vulnerable areas of society, with a strong focus on public health.

Jiayi Zhu

zhujiayi@ufl.edu

Hi! My name is Jiayi Zhu. I’m a senior student majoring in Data Science and Economics at UF. I have huge interest in applying data science into interdisciplinary fields and building reliable models to support research. Currently, I’m working on a research project on testing association between community vulnerability and increase in coastal construction-debris after hurricane. It’s honor for me to serve DTSC lab and participate in each research projects to develop my research methodology and data analysis skills.

Lucas Evans

lucasevans@ufl.edu

Hello, my name is Lucas Evans, and I am a sophomore civil engineering major. I am very passionate about infrastructure and the built environment, specifically traffic engineering and urban planning. I want to use my technical knowledge and time to serve my community. I have enjoyed engaging with community groups where our new technology will be installed, creating data visualizations, and drafting summaries of events we have been involved in.

Madison Decker

decker.madison@ufl.edu

Hello, my name is Madison Decker, and I’m a freshman double-majoring in Urban & Regional Planning and Marketing. I’m interested in developing and retrofitting communities geared towards a better quality of life by improving accessibility, equity, and resiliency through innovative, sustainable, and locally inspired design. I’m excited to engage with the community and learn more about what really makes resiliency possible.

Ashley Weber

a.weber@ufl.edu

Hi, I’m Ashley Weber, a first-year student majoring in Sustainability Studies and minoring in International Development and Humanitarian Assistance in addition to Sustainability in the Built Environment. I’m particularly interested in equipping communities with accessible technocentric solutions to increase their resilience to climate change whilst also bolstering their food, water, and energy security. Overall, I’m incredibly excited to work with community members and empower them through increased disaster resilience.

Gaudel Saint Hilaire

Hello, my name is Gaudel Saint Hilaire. I’m a Sophomore majoring in Sustainability and the Built environment, interested in the further development and adaptation of renewable energies across the globe. I’m keen to expand the usage of hydrogen as a fuel for jet aircraft to eliminate air emissions in the coming decades. Despite this, my interest in the field of sustainability is broad, and I would love to work with communities on resilient planning.

Makana Salim-Uesi

makana.salimuesi@ufl.edu

Aloha! My name is Makana Salim-Uesi, and I am pursuing a Bachelor of Urban Science and Planning and a minor in Sustainability and the Built Environment. As a future urban planner, I aspire to apply Indigenous approaches to city/regional planning, community revitalization, historic preservation, and environmental stewardship. My commitment to addressing environmental injustice and advocating for marginalized populations drives my interest in community engagement, disaster studies, and social justice. I am honored to serve as a member of the DTSC Lab and grateful for the opportunity to transform my passion, research, and collaborative efforts into meaningful, real-world impacts.