Jane Southworth

Jane Southworth is a Full Professor and current Department Chair in the Department of Geography at the University of Florida. She holds a BSc in Geography from Leicester University, an MSc in Geography (Meteorology & Climatology) from Indiana University, and a PhD in Environmental Science from Indiana University. Her research focuses on social-ecological systems within Land Change Science, emphasizing remote sensing of vegetation dynamics, AI-driven analyses, land change modeling, and climate change impacts on human-environment systems.

Since 2002, Dr. Southworth has secured over $18 million in interdisciplinary research funding, published 2 books, and over 95 peer-reviewed articles. She has advised 23 PhD and 8 Master’s students, with 7 current graduate students. Her work spans global projects, including studies in Africa, South America, and South Asia, with a focus on protected areas, climate variability, and geospatial technologies.

Her lab, the NASA Lab, explores AI applications in remote sensing, particularly through the 'AI Across the Curriculum' initiative. Key research themes include vegetation dynamics, land-cover modeling, and socio-ecological linkages in savanna and tropical ecosystems. Her grants and collaborations emphasize interdisciplinary approaches to environmental challenges.

Dr. Southworth’s advising portfolio includes notable alumni such as Dr. Erin Bunting (Michigan State), Dr. Joel Hartter (University of Colorado), and Dr. Hannah Herrero (University of Tennessee). Current students include Torit Chakraborty and Md Muyeed Hasan. She has pioneered research in Ethiopia, Bangladesh, and sub-Saharan Africa, addressing issues like refugee-driven deforestation and climate resilience.