Morgan (she/her) is a doctoral student in Urban Planning, a graduate student researcher at the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation (LCI), and a National Science Foundation Research Trainee (NSF NRT). She uses remote sensing, GIS, spatial statistics, and 3D modeling methods to study urban environments with the goal of translating this research into actionable insights for environmental planning. At LCI, Morgan applies 3D modeling, shaped by community feedback, to explore and propose effective, low-cost outdoor cooling interventions for communities most impacted by extreme heat. She was recently awarded funding from the Graduate Research Mentorship program to expand her 3D modeling work to evaluate cool design interventions for Southern California Schoolyards.

As a NSF NRT fellow, a program that funds and facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration, Morgan is working with ecologists in Berlin’s CityScapeLabs on developing 3D models with the goal of improving our understanding of urban ecological connectivity. In her doctoral research, she is using remote sensing to develop 3D metrics for urban environments, aiming to deepen the understanding of urban biodiversity patterns within cities to support conservation efforts.

She received a master’s degree in Urban and Regional planning from University of California, Los Angeles and a bachelor’s degree in Comparative Literature from University of California, Santa Barbara. When away from her research, Morgan enjoys rock climbing, hiking, or unwinding with a good book.