NPCC Fellows

Nirajan Adhikari is a Ph.D. candidate in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Drexel University, researching urban flooding, hydrologic & hydraulic (H&H) modeling, and precipitation analysis at the Sustainable Water Resources Engineering (SWRE) Laboratory. He specializes in HEC-RAS 2D and PCSWMM modeling, using large-scale datasets to assess flood risks and evaluate the effectiveness of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI), grey, and hybrid solutions in urban environments. With nearly three years of industry experience as a Project Engineer at Powers Engineering Inc., Nirajan has worked on stormwater and wastewater infrastructure projects, applying advanced modeling and data-driven approaches. He is also one of the developers of Cleanlet, a stormwater management app integrating real-time weather data and automation to optimize inlet cleaning and flood prevention. His work bridges research and real-world applications, aiming to enhance urban flood resilience through innovative modeling, GSI strategies, and data-driven solutions. 

Mobin Rahimi-Golkhandan is a Ph.D. candidate in Environmental Engineering at Drexel University, specializing in sustainability, water resources management, and data science. Under the mentorship of Dr. Franco Montalto, Mobin contributes to the SWRE Laboratory. His research includes co-authoring studies on extreme climate events and historical precipitation.

Seonho Kim is a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Civil Engineering at City College of the City University of New York. He holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Sejong University, South Korea. His research primarily focuses on understanding hydroclimatological processes and their impacts on water-related risks.

Alexandra Olivia Rapp is a Master’s Candidate at Columbia Climate School, having previously studied at Fordham University with degrees in International Studies and History. Her research interests are in environmental justice law and policy, particularly at the intersection of human rights and environmental litigation. She’s a huge fan of the outdoors and loves engaging with her community in the Bronx and Manhattan, particularly through the NY Catholic Worker.