Ainsley Trahan

Ainsley Trahan is a PhD researcher at the University of Cambridge's Department of Geography since 2022. Her work focuses on transboundary earthquake risk management in Eurasia, particularly in Central Asia and the South Caucasus, examining how shared Soviet history influences current infrastructural connectivity. She is supervised by Prof Amy Donovan and has received multiple awards, including the 2025 Cambridge Political Economy Society Trust and the 2023-2024 Department of Geography Fieldwork Award.

• Education: MPhil in Development Studies (University of Cambridge, 2022), BSFS in International Politics (Georgetown University, 2019).

Her research explores the intersection of historical, political, and geographical factors in cross-border disaster risk management networks. Current projects analyze the BTC pipeline (Azerbaijan-Georgia border) and the Andijan Dam (Kyrgyz-Uzbek border) as case studies.

She has supervised undergraduate modules such as Part IB: Development Theories, Policies and Practices and Part IB: Global Futures: Geographies of Development and Decolonisation. Additionally, she co-convenered the Cambridge Disaster Research Network and the Geographies of Knowledge group.

• Scientific Awards: Cambridge International Scholarship (2022-Present), Jesus College Postgraduate Research Award (2022), Worts Traveling Scholars Award (2023), and others.