Graduate student Jevan Yu was among those selected from a competitive pool of applicants to receive the 3-year Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) Fellowship to support his research in civil and environmental engineering.

Yu is pursuing his doctorate degree in civil and environmental engineering with faculty advisors César Terrer and Charles Harvey. He attended Stanford University for his undergraduate studies, receiving bachelor’s degrees in mathematical and computational science as well as history. His research at MIT focuses on the global carbon and water cycles, with an emphasis on wetlands.

The 3-year, $150,000 grant will fund Yu’s research on wildfires in peatlands. Peatlands are dense stocks of wetland carbon primarily found in areas of Southeast Asia, Siberia, and Canada. Peat fires emit enormous amounts of carbon dioxide, in some cases as much as 5-10% of global annual fossil fuel emissions, making them a significant contributor to global climate change. His research will develop mathematical models guided by satellite remote sensing data to better understand how these fires start and spread. In addition, Yu seeks to improve estimates of carbon emissions from peat fires through this research.

“I am thrilled that the NASA FINESST program recognizes Jevan Yu with this prestigious award to support his research,” says Assistant Professor César Terrer. “This achievement is a testament to his exceptional research which promises significant contributions to the field of environmental engineering. This work will lead to valuable insights and advance our understanding of the impact of peat fires on carbon emissions and climate change.”

The NASA FINESST award provides grants for graduate student designed and performed research projects that contribute to the Science Mission Directorate’s science, technology, and exploration goals.