Biography

Mastura Safayet's research focuses on the intersection of climate hazards, vulnerability to food insecurity, and food access. Utilizing geospatial analysis, statistical modeling, and quantitative research methods, her work investigates the impacts of flooding disruptions on household access to food and proposes spatial approaches to improve food access for socially vulnerable and food-insecure households after extreme hazard events.

Advisor: Dr. John Patrick Casellas Connors

Research Interests

  • Hazards and Vulnerability
  • Food Security
  • Food Access
  • Disaster Resilience
  • Geospatial Analysis

Educational Background

  • Ph.D. in Geography, Texas A&M University, College Station (Anticipated 2025)
  • Master of Urban and Environmental Planning, Arizona State University, Tempe (2020)
  • Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka (2016)

Industry Experience

  • Research Assistant, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Apr 2018-July 2018

    Programme Associate, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Sep 2016-Apr 2018

Certifications & Memberships

  • American Association of Geographers (AAG)
  • American Planning Association (APA)
  • Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP)

Awards & Honors

  • Dissertation Fellowship, Texas A&M Graduate and Professional School –2024-2025

  • Applied Geography Specialty Group Award, American Association of Geographers – 2024

  • Jeanne X. Kasperson Student Paper Competition Award, Hazards, Risks & Disasters Specialty Group of the American Association of Geographers – 2024

  • Graduate Research and Presentation (RAP) Travel Award, Texas A&M University – 2024

  • Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG) Travel Award, Texas A&M University – 2024, 2023, 2022

  • Geography Graduate Travel Award, Texas A&M University – 2023-24, 2022-23

  • Brian & Leah Swanton Urban Planning Scholarship, Arizona State University – 2020

  • Dan Dworkin Award, Arizona State University – 2019

Selected Publications

  • Safayet, M., Casellas Connors, J. P., Rosenheim, N., & Watson, M. (2024). Measuring Access to Food banks and Food pantries: A Scoping Review of Spatial Analysis Approaches. Health & Place

    Rosenheim, N., Watson, M., Casellas Connors, J., Safayet, M., & Peacock, W.G. (2024). Food Access after Disasters: A Multi-dimensional View of Restoration after Hurricane Harvey. Journal of American Planning Association, 90(3), 452-470

    Casellas Connors, J. P., Safayet, M., Rosenheim, N., & Watson, M. (2023). Assessing Changes in Food Pantry Access after Extreme Events. Agriculture and Human Values, 40(2), 619-634.

    Safayet, M., Arefin, M., & Hasan, M. U. (2017, December). Present Practice and Future Prospect of Rooftop Farming in Dhaka City: A Step towards Urban Sustainability. Journal of Urban Management, 6(2), 56-65

Google Scholar Profile