People
Principal Investigator
Jen Burney
Professor, Global Environmental Policy and Earth System Science
Deputy Director, Center on Food Security and the Environment
Loves science ⚛️, exploring our amazing planet 🌍, and the beautiful game ⚽. Proud parent to the two greatest kids of all time.
Jen is a member of the Standing Panel on Impact Assessment (SPIA) of the CGIAR system, the Food Security Leadership Council (FSLC), and the Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA), where she is co-chair of the Digital Agricultural Innovations & Services Initiative (DAISI). Before joining the Doerr School in 2025, she spent 12 years on the faculty at UC San Diego's School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS) and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), and has been a member of the National Geographic Explorers (NGS) family since 2011.
Education: BA, Harvard College (History & Science), 1999; PhD Stanford University (Physics), 2007
Contact: burney@stanford.edu | Stanford Profile
Postdoctoral Scholars
Pascal Polonik
Postdoctoral Scholar
Pascal is a postdoc working to develop and apply statistical and numerical models to study the climate and social impacts of greenhouse gases and particulate matter. His research explores human-atmosphere interactions and tries to uncover how human decisions may alter climate and equity outcomes. In his free time he likes to hike with his wife and dog, run, bike, travel, eat, and take pictures.
Education: BS, Environmental Sciences, BA, Atmospheric Sciences, minor in Energy and Resources, UC Berkeley (2015); MS, Meteorology, LMU Munich (2017); PhD, Climate Science, Scripps Institution of Oceanography (2023)
Contact: ppolonik@stanford.edu | Personal Website | Stanford Profile
Yan Jiang (蒋颜)
Visiting Postdoctoral Scholar
Yan Jiang is a Hydroclimate Scientist who uses satellite remote sensing, climate/physical models, and advanced statistical/AI techniques to quantify agricultural vulnerability and improve the resilience of global water systems. She is currently a Postdoctoral Scholar at UC San Diego (School of Global Policy and Strategy & Scripps Institution of Oceanography). She completed her degrees in Atmospheric Science from UAlbany, SUNY (Ph.D.) and Sun Yat-Sen University (B.S.). When she's not tracking rainfall, you might find her chasing her doggie, Lily, "swagging" in a bubble tea store or Trader Joe's, or struggling to find her way down a hiking or ski trail.
Education: BS, Atmospheric Science, Sun Yat-Sen University, China; PhD, Atmospheric Science, SUNY-Albany
Contact: yaj007@ucsd.edu | Personal Website | LinkedIn | Google Scholar
PhD Students
Aarabhi Achanta
PhD Student (Earth System Science)
Aarabhi Achanta is a researcher with a commitment to addressing critical challenges in climate science and food security. She holds triple bachelor's degrees in Physics, Astrophysics, and Applied Mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley, where she cultivated a comprehensive analytical background and honed expertise in quantitative research, machine learning, and large-scale physical systems. Her background working as an aerospace engineer and developing AI systems for natural disaster detection has equipped her with a unique, applied perspective to experimental and manufacturing systems. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, backpacking, and art!
Education: BS, Physics + Astrophysics + Applied Math, UC Berkeley
Contact: aarabhi@stanford.edu | LinkedIn | Personal Portfolio
Masters Students
Amelia Hawkins
Masters Student (Civil & Environmental Engineering)
Amelia is an M.S. candidate in the Civil & Environmental Engineering department with a concentration in Atmosphere & Energy, having just completed her B.S. in Earth Systems. She is particularly interested in the use of remote sensing and geospatial science in data analysis, especially when it comes to topics like climate change and disaster relief, and is excited to be working with the FSE. In her free time, she enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, making maps, and exploring the outdoors.
Education: BS, Earth Systems, Stanford (2025)
Contact: ahawk@stanford.edu | LinkedIn
Undergraduate Students
Leo Abramsky-Sze
King Center Undergraduate Researcher
Leo Abramsky-Sze is an undergraduate and prospective international relations and history major. He is especially interested in international law, humanitarian relief, and the politics of historical memory. In his free time, he is an avid tennis player and backpacker.
Contact: leoasze@stanford.edu | Stanford Profile