Zofia Bednarowska-Michaiel

I am a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at UCSD, working across two interdisciplinary research hubs: the Design Lab and the Homelessness Hub. My research focuses on spatial equity, particularly in understanding what drives regional inequalities in mobility and active transportation, housing, access to amenities, and environmental justice, as well as the role racial and ethnic disparities play in these issues. My work sits at the intersection of regional science, urban planning, and sociology, with a strong emphasis on spatial statistical methods. For my doctoral thesis, I collected data during research stays at the University at Buffalo, NY, and Lancaster University, UK, and applied spatial econometric methods to analyse and explain the phenomena of dead malls and retail deserts. I hold two master's degrees: one in Political Science and another in Sociology with a specialization in Social Research and Data Analysis. Before joining UCSD, I held a postdoctoral position as a Teaching Fellow (equivalent to a Visiting Assistant Professor in the US) at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies at the University of Warwick, UK. There, I taught data science, programming, and urban science for graduate students, and completed a research grant on ethnic inequalities in cycling. My background includes a unique blend of applied research, having completed over 100 projects in collaboration with local communities and through consulting in multinational projects, while working at a major tech company and a research agency.