Team | Humanitarian Frontiers Lab

Lab Leadership

Dr Aaron Opdyke

Senior Lecturer in Humanitarian Engineering

Dr Aaron Opdyke is currently a Lecturer in Humanitarian Engineering in the School of Civil Engineering at the University of Sydney. He has worked closely with governments and organisations across the Asia-Pacific region on resilient and sustainable infrastructure to address global development challenges. He holds a PhD (2017) and MS (2015) in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder and a BS (2013) in Civil Engineering from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obsipo. Dr Opdyke was recognised as one of ten New Faces of Civil Engineering (2021) by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). His research focuses on the interface of infrastructure and social systems, examining this nexus in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation of the built environment.

PhD and MPhil Students

Emily Nabong

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Emily's research focuses on strategies for alleviating the impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations. Her past research and experience in the Philippines has led to an interest in improving resiliency through sustainable community-based approaches and bridging the gaps between decision makers and communities.

Arvin Hadlos

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Arvin's research is looking at Indigenous and local knowledge in disaster risk reduction. His work focuses on post-earthquake housing reconstruction in Ivatan communities in the Philippines.

Isaac Besarra

Master of Philosophy (MPhil)

Isaac's research is developing flood vulnerability curves for residential structures in the Philippines and assessing how climate change is impacting flood risk in communities.