I am the Director of USC’s Urban Data Lab.

Read more about our research focus and ongoing projects.

Prospective students

Interested in studying or researching with me? I am hiring master’s and PhD students to work in the lab. Read more about my background and the lab’s research to gauge the fit.

I particularly seek students with strong coding and data science skills who can hit the ground running in the lab. However these skills are not prerequisites. If you attend USC, I will teach you coding and spatial data science with Python from the ground-up primarily across two courses: PPD534 (Data, Evidence, and Communication for the Public Good) and PPDE642 (Advanced Urban Analytics).

USC’s Department of Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis features a strong faculty in urban data science, critical data studies, and transportation/housing analytics. We seek students from all backgrounds. If you’re an activist or urbanist with no tech experience, we will teach you data/tech skills to effectively apply your knowledge to serve the community. If you’re a coder or scientist interested in urbanism and planning, we will teach you how to unlock your skills for more equitable cities.

I encourage you to apply and join us in USC’s Master of Urban Planning or PhD programs. You can also contact me to discuss your fit with the department and lab: send me a succinct, specific, and personalized summary of your fit (research interests, background, relevant skills) and attach your CV.