Cities · climate · energy
Xinchang “Cathy” Li
Linus Pauling Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, USA
Incoming Assistant Professor Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Wisconsin–Madison · January 2027
Research
Human-energy-climate nexus science.
I study the local to global interactions between urban energy, climate, and humans under global change. My work develops models and data, advances understanding, and support solutions for the co-benefits of urban energy, climate, and people.
- Earth system modeling
- Building energy modeling
- Artificial intelligence & machine learning
- Remote sensing & data integration
Joining the group
PhD opportunities
Summer/Fall 2027
I am recruiting PhD students interested in urban energy and climate, Earth system model development and applications, and AI/ML for environmental research.
Selected work
Research at the urban climate–energy nexus
Elevated urban energy risks due to climate-driven biophysical feedbacks
Cover article · October 2024
Enhancing urban climate–energy modeling in the Community Earth System Model through explicit representation of urban air-conditioning adoption
Editor’s Highlight · Featured by IAUC
Recognition
Selected honors
Rising Stars in Civil and Environmental Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Engelbrecht Graduate Fellowship
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Andrew Slater Award
NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
Elsewhere