James P. Collins

James P. Collins is a Ph.D. student in the Department of City and Regional Planning at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research focuses on climate adaptation, (non)migration, and well-being in communities facing natural hazards. He studies how governance and population changes influence responses to flooding, with a focus on chronic coastal flooding in rural North Carolina. Collins is affiliated with the UNC Flood Hydrology and Hazards Lab and the Carolinas Collaborative on Climate, Health, and Equity. His work integrates mixed methods to investigate climate impacts and adaptation strategies, particularly for vulnerable populations like farm workers and coastal residents.

He earned B.S. and B.A. degrees in environmental science and government from the University of Texas at Austin, and previously worked in municipal utility planning for the City of Austin. Collins actively engages with policy and public outreach, advocating for equitable climate resilience strategies. His current projects include examining farm worker housing vulnerability, long-term outcomes of floodplain buyouts, and sensor-based flood monitoring to improve adaptation planning.

Collins' research has been featured in Nature Communications Earth & Environment and The Washington Post, highlighting findings that coastal flooding occurs far more frequently than previously estimated. He collaborates with interdisciplinary teams and participates in initiatives such as the American Geophysical Union's Thriving Earth Exchange.