Jean Claude Iradukunda (he/him) is a Data Scientist and Associate Project Manager for UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation (LCI). In this role, he develops, manages, and executes LCI’s Urban Heat Research projects, integrating policy, planning, and actionable data to help communities across the nation build resilience to the impacts of rising temperatures.

Dr. Iradukunda earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Science from UC Riverside, where his research combined remote sensing, modeling, and field measurements to analyze the tradeoffs between water conservation and ecosystem services in urban green spaces. Passionate about science that informs policy, he was an active member of UC Riverside’s Science to Policy program. He holds a B.S. in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 

Beyond research, Jean Claude enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, exploring new cuisines, and traveling.