Samuel Younkin

Samuel Younkin is a Researcher II at the Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (Nelson Institute) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He leads the Initiative for Health-Oriented Transportation (HOT) within the Climate Solutions for Health Lab, co-led by Dr. Jonathan Patz. His research focuses on modeling the public health impacts of active travel (walking/cycling) and climate change mitigation policies. He holds a PhD in epidemiology from Case Western Reserve University and completed postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins University.

Research Interests: Dr. Younkin’s work emphasizes the health benefits of active transportation, particularly in addressing health inequities and reducing disparities in urban environments. He develops computational tools like the HOT R Package to evaluate how transportation networks impact population health. His research bridges environmental policy, urban planning, and public health to advocate for safer, more sustainable transport systems.

Key Contributions: He has published widely on topics including socioeconomic factors influencing active travel behavior, synthetic population modeling for climate policy evaluation, and the health co-benefits of climate action. His work on the Cities Rapid Assessment Framework for Transformation (CRAFT) tool underscores his commitment to actionable solutions for climate and health challenges.

Labs & Teams: He collaborates within the Climate Solutions for Health Lab, which integrates interdisciplinary approaches to study climate change impacts on human health. His HOT initiative aims to translate research into practical tools for urban planners and policymakers.