Bina Thapa
Postdoc (FNR)
Purdue FNR Directory Profile Page
Bina is a post-doc in both the Hardiman and Fei labs at Purdue. Her research interest is to apply remote sensing data in forestry to understand insect disturbance for better forest management. Currently, she is working on the individual- and stand-level assessment of forest structure and composition through the use of multi-sensor data.
Mary-Margaret Benware
PhD Student (FNR)
Purdue FNR Directory Profile Page
Mary-Margaret is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources and is co-advised by Dr. Brady Hardiman and Dr. Morgan Furze. Her research combines plant physiology and geospatial tools to better understand how urbanization and climate change impact tree health and phenology. Her current projects focus on the internal physiological drivers of autumn senescence and how to measure these through remote sensing technology.
Zach Dichtl
PhD Student (EEE)
Purdue College of Engineering Directory Profile Page
Zachary is a PhD student in Environmental and Ecological Engineering. His research is looking at how redlining has impacted tree canopy cover and land use change over time, a Life Cycle Assessment of carbon emissions and water usage for conventional agriculture, low tech urban agriculture, and hydroponics, and how medication in urine that is used as fertilizer impacts crop health and growth.
Kanaan Hardaway
PhD Sudent (EEE)
Purdue College of Engineering Directory Profile Page
Kanaan Hardaway is a PhD student in the Environmental and Ecological Engineering and Interdisciplinary Ecological Sciences and Engineering Programs at Purdue working with Drs. Brady Hardiman (FNR/EEE) and Roshanak Nateghi (IE). He completed his bachelor’s degree in biological and agricultural engineering at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Engaging in research at a silviculture field and on a green roof on campus during his undergraduate degree piqued his interest in coupled human-nature systems, which led him to Purdue. At Purdue he leverages machine learning techniques to understand how urban ecological systems contribute to the resilience of cities. Beyond analyzing resilience of urban ecology within the greater social-ecological-technological system of a city, quantifying the value of green infrastructure and other urban vegetation during climate transitions interests him.
Bowen Li
PhD Student (FNR)
Purdue FNR Directory Profile Page
Bowen is a PhD student in Forestry & Natural Resources. He is interested in using remote sensing data and machine learning algorithms to analyze tree canopy structure and landscape patterns. Before joining the lab, Bowen completed his master’s degree in FNR, where he used 3DEP LiDAR to estimate forest aboveground carbon stocks in Indiana state forests and compared the carbon stock difference across different harvest types. Bowen is also interested in climate change and forest ecology.
Michael Oyelakin
PhD Student (EEE)
Purdue FNR Directory Profile Page
Michael Oyelakin is a PhD student in the Environmental and Ecological Engineering and Interdisciplinary Ecological Sciences and Engineering Programs at Purdue University, advised by Dr. Brady Hardiman. Michael's research focuses on advancing urban ecosystem resilience by investigating how urban microclimates influence tree species sustainability and the provision of ecosystem services. By integrating advanced tools such as remote sensing, machine learning, and ecological modeling, his work seeks to identify sustainable strategies for managing urban vegetation in the face of climate transitions. His work also involves developing actionable insights to guide natural resource protection and enhance green infrastructure's role in supporting environmental sustainability in urban and coastal landscapes.
Troy Weber
PhD Student (EEE)
Purdue College of Engineering Directory Profile Page
Troy Weber is a PhD student in Interdisciplinary Ecological Sciences and Engineering, as well as Environmental and Ecological Engineering at Purdue. He is interested in the effects of climate change on urban forestry, habitat suitability, and biodiversity. Currently, he is working on an analysis of transitioning urban biomes in response to climate change.
Zack Horve
Masters Student
Purdue FNR Directory Profile Page
Zack is a Master's student in both the Hardiman and Fei labs at Purdue. He is interested in understanding patterns of biodiversity and forest structure using remote sensing.
Camille Shoaf
Master's Student
Camille is a Master’s student in Forestry and Natural Resources and Ecological Sciences and Engineering. She is interested in urban ecosystem resilience and best management practices. Camille received a BS in Landscape Architecture from Purdue University. She is a registered landscape architect, and currently serves as the Senior Campus Planner within the Purdue Office of Campus Planning, Architecture and Sustainability.