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 Dr. Tarek Kandkji

  • Quantitative methods expert in the use of remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) at the Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuESt) at Baylor College of Medicine, affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Houston, Texas.
  • Former Director of the Yale Center for Earth Observation and a remote sensing researcher and specialist at the Yale School of the Environment.
  • Former consultant at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).
  • Holds a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from Texas Tech University, funded jointly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
  • Holds a Master’s degree in Plant and Soil Sciences from Texas Tech University and a postgraduate diploma in GIS and Information Technology.
  • Holds a Master’s degree in Land, Water, and Environment from the University of Jordan.
  • Nominated for full membership in Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Honor Society, since 2019 as a principal investigator.
  • Has worked on multiple international projects, including a NATO-funded project between the University of Jordan and the University of Guelph in Canada, focused on studying desertification using remote sensing and field measurements.
  • Principal investigator and co-principal investigator on numerous projects funded by U.S. government agencies and universities.
  • Published several peer-reviewed papers covering topics such as:
    • Spatiotemporal analysis of air quality using remote sensing and GIS
    • Use of machine learning and time-series analysis of satellite imagery for environmental research
    • Studying the impact of human activity on water and soil quality
  • Participated as a researcher in many international and local conferences.
  • Listed among Yale University’s Diverse Environmental Professionals, which highlights distinguished researchers and practitioners in the fields of environment, sustainability, and environmental justice. This list features professionals contributing to areas such as environmental health and climate justice.

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