Tarendra Lakhankar

Dr. Tarendra Lakhankar is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the City College of New York (CUNY) and a Research Scientist at NOAA-CESSRST. His research focuses on remote sensing applications for environmental monitoring, urban hydrology, and climate science. He has led major field campaigns including the NYC-Urban HydroMet Testbed, installing 21 weather stations across NYC, and the CREST-SAFE snow study in Maine. His work integrates satellite data with ground measurements to improve weather forecasting and disaster preparedness.

Notable achievements include receipt of the 2024 Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award and 2022 S.T.A.R. Award for educational leadership. He pioneered initiatives like the HIRES program, fostering STEM education through GIS and remote sensing workshops. His research spans snow hydrology, soil moisture dynamics, and urban climate resilience, with publications in top-tier journals. Dr. Lakhankar also leads international collaborations, including climate change studies in Nepal and biodiversity conservation projects in Himalayan regions.

His teaching portfolio includes courses on geospatial technologies, environmental systems, and data science. He actively mentors students through research projects and advises NOAA-funded initiatives. Dr. Lakhankar’s outreach efforts include community-based weather station networks and post-disaster relief work in Nepal, demonstrating commitment to applied environmental science and global impact.