Dr. Heng Cai, an assistant professor in the Department of Geography at Texas A&M University, has been named a 2024-2026 Early-Career Research Fellow by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Gulf Research Program.
Cai is among a dozen fellows selected overall and one of seven within the Human Health and Community Resilience track. Her research focuses on the social and geographic determinants that influence disaster vulnerability and health risks.
“I am very excited about this opportunity to continue my research in leveraging geospatial data science to enhance community resilience,” said Cai, who joined the Texas A&M faculty in 2019 after earning her Ph.D. from Louisiana State University in 2017. “This early-career fellowship will strengthen my current research program and allow me to collaborate with a diverse group of scholars and professionals focused on human health and resilience. I look forward to translating my research findings into practical strategies, engaging directly with communities, and learning from my peers and mentors to make a lasting, positive impact on the health and resilience of Gulf communities.”
As the leader of the GIScience for Resilience Research Group at Texas A&M, Cai applies geospatial data science — the study of data that is tied to specific locations on Earth — to determine how people’s interactions with their environments shape vulnerability and resilience to extreme disasters and climate changes, particularly in Gulf of Mexico communities. Her work aims to deepen understanding of resilience-based interventions that address the root causes of climate, disaster and health disparities in these regions.
“Having lived in the Gulf of Mexico area, I have experienced firsthand how coastal hazards can disrupt and reshape the lives of its residents,” Cai said. “These experiences have ignited my passion for helping vulnerable coastal communities build resilience. The Gulf’s beautiful yet fragile landscapes have not only inspired my work in community resilience but also instilled in me a deep sense of responsibility to protect both the region and the people who rely on it.”
During her fellowship, Cai will collaborate with six other early-career researchers to develop solutions for health and community resilience. Together, they will work to address disparities associated with disaster and climate vulnerability, aiming to enhance the well-being of communities throughout the Gulf Coast.
"Dr. Cai is an emerging leader in geography," said Dr. David Cairns, professor and head of Texas A&M Geography. "Her work is expanding our understanding of disaster resilience and making a real difference for vulnerable Gulf communities."
Founded in 2013, the Gulf Research Program is dedicated to enhancing offshore energy safety, environmental protection and stewardship, and human health and community resilience in the Gulf of Mexico and other U.S. coastal regions.