People
OUR TEAM
Thomas Azwell Ph.D
Director
Dr. Azwell is the founder and director of the Disaster Lab. He brings a wealth of experience in environmental science, corporate sustainability, technology innovation, applied research, and entrepreneurship. His broad range of experience across sectors inform the design and execution of each project.
Joshua Dimon Ph.D
Chief Scientist
Joshua leads research and experiment planning for the Disaster Lab. His global experience, in working wtih communities to document and address the crises caused by climate change and unfettered energy and infrastructure developents, inform our equity-centered, sustainable approach to projects and partnerships.
FELLOWS
Dr. Niokhor Dione, DVM, MSc, PhD,
Visiting Scholar
Niokhor is a microbiologist with deep expertise in microbiome research, microbial discovery, and infectious diseases. He leads work at the intersection of microbiology, public health, and environmental health, developing units that address biological threats in disasters—from climate change to pandemics. His work supports the Disaster Lab’s mission to advance resilience and sustainable health in vulnerable communities.
KATHLEEN CUTTER
Senior Wildfire Mitigation Specialist
Kathleen Cutter is a Wildfire Mitigation Specialist with the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority. She leads California’s largest Defensible Space Inspection program, completing over 50,000 home inspections annually to reduce wildfire risk. She has a background in archaeology and wildland firefighting. Kathleen works with the Disaster Lab to analyze and develop novel wildfire risk and mitigation models.
RESEARCHERS
KAAVYA KOCHAR
Kaavya studies Physics at UC Berkeley and works as a Research Manager at the Disaster Lab. She develops data-driven solutions for disaster preparedness and climate resilience, working with technology, policy, and communities to improve emergency response and risk mitigation.
LILA COHEN
Lila studies Conservation and Resource Studies at UC Berkeley and works as a Research Assistant at the Disaster Lab. She supports data collection and analysis on wildfire resilience, contributing to research on fire prevention strategies. Her work bridges field-based testing with community-centered approaches to disaster preparedness and ecological restoration.
Indri Adisoemarta
Indri is a Master of Information and Data Science student at UC Berkeley with prior experience as a data scientist in industry. As a researcher with the Disaster Lab, her work leverages AI, machine learning, and statistical modeling to improve disaster risk models and advance climate resilience.
GARIMA UPADHYAY
Garima studies Data Science at UC Berkeley. She is working as a Researcher at the Disaster Lab, focusing on analyzing thermal imaging and emissions data from large-scale burn tests to evaluate the effectiveness of fire-resistant materials. Her work supports innovative fire safety strategies by assessing human exposure to hazardous fumes and understanding how coatings impact fire dynamics.
FIRE Foundry Advanced Interns
SARAH LAFAZIA
JOCELYN ALCOCER
MEILY jIMENEZ
BERLYNN VARGAS
AFFILIATES
aLICE AGOGINO PH.D
PROFESSOR OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AT CAL
Alice is the founder of Squishy Robotics, a sensor robot that can be air-deployed into hazardous areas to provide real-time data to emergency responders.
Cruz Carlos
PROFESSOR IN THE CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AT UC BERKELEY
Cruz Carlos is a Research & Development Engineer with expertise in concrete durability, construction materials, and nondestructive testing methods. He has contributed to research on assessing concrete damage from freezing temperatures and evaluating the corrosion resistance of steel dowels in concrete pavements.
Alasdair Cohen Ph.D
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY AT VIRGINIA TECH
Alasdair advises on global health projects and serves as Research Director for the Berkeley/China/Virginia Tech Program for Water & Health.
jeffrey kane
PROFESSOR OF FIRE ECOLOGY AND FUELS MANAGEMENT AT CAL POLY HUMBOLDT
Jeffrey Kane leads research at the Humboldt Wildland Fire Lab and Fire Resilience Institute, focusing on fire’s role in forest ecosystems, fuel dynamics, and climate change impacts. His work emphasizes student involvement and applied, field-based science to inform forest restoration and resilience