Daniela Giardina is the new executive director of the Abdul Latif Water and Food Systems Lab (J-WAFS) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
J-WAFS facilitates research, innovation, and collaboration to solve global water and food systems challenges. All researchers across every MIT department, lab, and center have access to funding opportunities, research projects, and mentorship through J-WAFS. Through its interdisciplinary initiatives, the lab aims to ensure safe and resilient supplies of water and food to meet the local and global needs of a growing population on a rapidly changing planet.
With over two decades of research and development experience, Dr. Giardina has traveled to Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Central and Southeast Asia to conduct water and food security projects. Most recently, she directed disaster risk reduction and climate resilience initiatives for Oxfam America.
“I have seen first-hand how climate change, misuse of resources, and inequality are undermining water and food security around the globe,” said Dr. Giardina. “What particularly excites me about J-WAFS is its interdisciplinary approach in facilitating meaningful partnerships to solve many of these problems through research and innovation. I am eager to help expand J-WAFS’ impact by strengthening existing programs, developing new initiatives, and building strategic partnerships that translate MIT’s groundbreaking research into real-world solutions.”
Dr. Giardina holds a master’s degree in environmental engineering from the Politecnico of Milan in Italy and a Ph.D. in sustainable development from the University of Brescia in Italy.