Dr. Baptiste François

I am Research Assistant Professor in the Hydro-systems Group in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Massachusetts. I received a Ph.D. in geosciences from the University of Grenoble-Alpes (France) and have six years of post-doctoral work experience with private and academic research institutes in France, Italy, Norway and the United States. My research interests focus on the interactions between climate, water, energy and society. To analyze these interactions, I have developed expertise in multiple disciplines, including hydrology, climate science, and planning and management of water and energy infrastructure (including hydropower and other renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and biomass). My research builds on state-of-the-art methods and models for advancing understanding of i) the effects of climate change on the vulnerability and resilience of water and energy infrastructure; ii) the effects of increasing renewable power capacity on water and energy infrastructure; and iii) the effects of hydro-meteorological extremes on these systems. I have worked on projects around the world in this regard, including high-income countries (United States, Italy, Norway and France) and developing countries (Tunisia, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Tanzania and Malawi) and has participated in and/or led climate change risk assessments for several water and energy projects.