We are happy to welcome five new students to the CUNY CREST family; Shima Kamali, Richard Rivera (NOAA EPP/MSI CESSRST-II funded Cohort II Fellow), Ana M Mejia Manrique, Niloofar Nejatian, and Ali Haider.
Ana M. Mejia Manrique
Ana joined the CREST institute in Fall 2023 to pursue her doctoral degree in Civil Engineering from the City College of CUNY. She is conducting research on Inland and Coastal Flooding in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands under the mentorship of Dr. Reza Khanbilvardi. In her research, Ana will develop flooding risk maps on Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Ana looks forward to gaining research experience, insights, and guidance from CREST’s distinguished faculty and participate in academic and professional development activities.
Ali Haider
Ali joined the CREST institute in Fall 2023 to pursue his doctoral degree in Civil Engineering from the City College of CUNY. He is conducting research on AI-Enhanced Simulation and Prediction of Urban Flooding: A Case Study of Mumbai, India, with Comparisons to New York City under the mentorship of Dr. Reza khanbilvardi and Dr. Shakila Merchant. In his research, Ali aims to create a comprehensive methodology utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) for simulating and predicting urban flooding, with a primary focus on Mumbai and a comparative analysis with New York City. Further, he will develop a tool that can support urban planners, emergency responders, and policymakers in mitigating the impact of flash and urban flooding in these densely populated and economically significant cities. Ali is excited for his journey with the CREST institute. He said, “I’m thrilled about the research prospects at CREST, particularly the opportunity to delve into pioneering research in urban flood prediction for metropolitan areas. I have confidence in the guidance and mentorship I’ll receive from the seasoned faculty and researchers at CREST, which I consider instrumental for my academic and professional growth. The collaborative research environment fostered by CREST is something I eagerly anticipate, as it will provide me the opportunity to work alongside peers and faculty on research projects, network, and gain valuable learning experiences. My ultimate goal is to make a meaningful contribution to society by addressing tangible real-world issues and challenges in the realm of urban flooding.”
Niloofar joined the CREST institute in Fall 2023 to pursue her doctoral degree in Civil Engineering from the City College of CUNY. She is conducting research on The Effect of Climate Change on Water Quality on NYC Water Resources under the mentorship of Dr. Reza khanbilvardi and Allen Frei. In her research, Niloofar is investigating the impact of climate change on water resources and quality in New York. It involves the development of a predictive model to analyze future trends in water quality pollution. Niloofar aims to contribute valuable insights into sustainable water management practices for the region. At CREST, Niloofar is eager to expand her knowledge, fostering meaningful collaborations for her PhD research, engaging in large-scale real-world projects, conducting high-level research, and enhancing her skill sets. In addition to pursuing her Ph.D., Niloofar serves as an Adjunct Lecturer in CCNY. Her primary research focus encompasses climate change, water resource management, and groundwater modeling.
Shima Kamali
Shima joined the CREST institute in January 2023 to pursue her doctoral degree in Water Resource Engineering from the City College of CUNY. She is conducting research on Urban Flooding in New York City under the mentorship of Dr. Reza Khanbilvardi. In her research, Shima is focussing on developing an AI model for modeling urban flooding and predicting real-time flood depth in New York City. At CREST, Shima looks forward to enhancing her knowledge and skills in different aspects of her major, meeting outstanding people, and exploring new opportunities.
Richard Rivera
Richard has been part of the Institute since April, 2023. Ever since, Richard has made significant contributions to the Institute’s mission. Richard began his Ph.D. degree in Earth and Environmental Science from the CUNY Graduate Center in fall 2023. His research will focus on, Microclimate, Coastal Flooding and Impacts on Communities in the Floodplains. The purpose of the research is to gauge projections on coastal impacts by sea level rising and subsidence. The end result is expected to incorporate weather station information to provide microclimate information, modeling of predicted sea level rise in New York City (NYC) and also provide information to support advising low income communities about climate change impacts. After successfully participating in the 2023 CUNY CREST Summer Bridge program and serving as a graduate mentor to several UG and HIRES students, Richard began his NOAA EPP/MSI CESSRST II Fellowship in Fall 2023 under the mentorship of Dr. Reza Khanbilvardi. Further, Richard will seek guidance from CUNY CREST HIRES Director, Dr. Shakila Merchant on NYC community and stakeholder engagement to create a framework on coastal community resilience in the face of flooding due to climate change and sea level rise. During this summer, Richard served as a mentor to Eight (8) interns; Four (4) CUNY CREST HIRES Interns, Two (2) CityTech National Science Foundation (NSF) REU and Two (2) NSF IUSE Program. His team’s research project was titled, “Weather Analysis and Visualization for Everyone (WAVE), and was presented during the CUNY CREST Summer Symposium held on August 10, 2023. Read more here.
