Student Spotlight: Joseph Karanja — Tackling Heat Vulnerability Through Research

Meet Joseph Karanja, a fourth-year PhD candidate at ASU's School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning. Focused on addressing heat vulnerability among at-risk populations — including those experiencing homelessness, living in mobile homes, or working outdoors — Joseph is a dedicated researcher driven to make a difference.

Reflecting on his recent experience at the Bill Anderson Fund’s 2024 fall workshop, which trains disaster science scholars and professionals. Joseph highlighted the power of community-focused science, “The session on community engagement offered practical examples of how we can operationalize science to those who need it the most: the communities,” Karanja shared. His vision is to become a tenure-track professor specializing in the social and environmental determinants of hazards.

Discover more about Joseph’s impactful work and how the Bill Anderson Fund fosters a supportive, collaborative community of future leaders in disaster research here.