Hunka, Neha

Bio

I am an Assistant Research Professor at the University of Maryland (UMD), College Park, with a PhD from the University of Copenhagen in 2016 on the mapping of tropical forest loss and its spatio-temporal dynamics using radar satellites. At UMD, I lead efforts towards the harmonization of space-based forest biomass maps.  A core goal of this research is to facilitate the understanding and uptake of such maps by countries for policy reporting within frameworks of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). I have also previously been a scientific investigator for European Space Agency (ESA) projects; a few examples include the Sen4CAP project for monitoring and reporting agricultural cycles under Europe’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and the S14Amazonas project, aimed specifically at capturing deforestation and forest degradation in the moist tropical forests. Overall, my research drives me to the practical applications of the newest satellite data for the betterment of the world’s environment. Outside work, I am an enthusiastic cyclist and swimmer, who loves traveling.