Meet this summer’s Young Scholar, Aarsheya Gunjal!
Gunjal joined Dr. Felix Santiago-Collazo’s Compound Inundation Team for Resilient Applications (CITRA) Lab this summer for the Young Scholars Program (YSP) at UGA. Gunjal has been interested in science and coding since sixth grade, and joined the team this summer to learn more about how she could shape her online interests into a future career supporting real-world resilience. Read more about her experience this summer:
What did you do this summer?
As part of the University of Georgia’s Young Scholars Program, I conducted original research focused on predicting compound flooding in Puerto Rico, a dangerous and often overlooked type of flooding that occurs when storm surge and heavy rainfall happen at the same time, overwhelming drainage systems and amplifying flood impacts.
To model this, I used Python to build a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) that could learn from simulated flood data and predict flood depth across various hurricane scenarios. My model was trained on synthetic tropical cyclone data, along with real storm surge outputs from ADCIRC+SWAN and rainfall data from PPM (Precipitation Processing Model).
To generate the freshwater flooding input, I used the GSSHA model (Gridded Surface Subsurface Hydrologic Analysis), which allowed me to simulate rainfall-runoff behavior and create depth maps of inland flooding. The final result was a tool that can produce fast, low-cost compound flood maps, designed to help emergency managers, planners, and underserved coastal communities better prepare for future hurricane impacts.
What were you hoping to take away from this experience when you applied?
When I applied, I honestly didn’t expect to be placed in the College of Engineering. I was mainly hoping to learn more about environmental science and gain exposure to how climate issues are studied and addressed in research. I never imagined I’d be doing everything I ended up doing, from building machine learning models, to working with advanced hydrologic simulations.
I came in just hoping to observe and learn, but this experience pushed me far beyond what I thought I was capable of. It showed me that even as a high school student, I could contribute meaningfully to important research, and it opened my eyes to new paths I hadn’t considered before, especially within engineering and technology.
What are you taking away now that you’re almost done with the program?
I’m walking away with a much deeper understanding of how powerful interdisciplinary work can be. This project brought together hydrology, coastal engineering, machine learning, and environmental justice in a way I had never experienced before. It taught me that solving complex problems often requires pulling knowledge from multiple fields and thinking beyond traditional boundaries.
More than anything, I gained confidence in my ability to work with large, technical systems and translate complicated concepts into tools that can make a real difference. I also developed a stronger sense of purpose in my work; realizing that meaningful innovation is not just about what you build, but who it serves. This experience didn’t just make me a better coder or researcher, it helped me grow into someone who wants to build with intention and impact.
Is there anyone who made an especially big impact on you this summer?
Yes, I was deeply impacted by the people who supported and guided me every step of the way. Dr. Santiago-Collazo, Orlando Viloria, and Amber Lopez truly made me feel like I belonged.
Orlando was always available to answer my questions with so much patience and kindness (And I definitely had a lot of questions) His positive energy and encouragement helped me feel capable, even during the toughest coding moments. He always had a smile on his face, and was willing to go the extra mile to make sure I had a concept down pat.
Dr. Santiago was more than a mentor, he was a teacher and a motivator. He met with
us weekly, explained concepts with clarity, and offered thoughtful feedback that helped me grow as a researcher and as a person. His belief in me pushed me to aim higher and take pride in my work. He incredibly explained tough concepts that would have taken me longer than the span of time I had during this internship to understand, with easy-to-understand diagrams. He was the best mentor I could’ve asked for.
Amber, a fellow student researcher at UGA, brought joy and humor into every day. She was just starting out like me, which made our bond even more special. Whenever I felt stuck or frustrated, she’d lift my spirits with her contagious laughter, comforting words, or a story about her adorable dog Romeo. I’m so grateful to have had people around me who not only made me better at what I do but made the journey so much more fulfilling and fun. They didn’t just support my research, they supported me, and that made all the difference.
What was the biggest challenge?
Understanding how storm surge and rainfall physically interact to cause compound flooding was definitely a challenge at first. There are so many nonlinear dynamics involved, like backflow, blocked drainage, and surge-tide interference, and it took a lot of research, modeling, and testing to get a grasp on how to represent that through data. But once I broke it down through flood maps and simulations, it started to make sense, and I was able to build a model that reflected those complexities.
Is there anything you really enjoyed?
Absolutely. I genuinely loved translating complex science into something usable. From designing the flood prediction tool to thinking about how it could help real people, I enjoyed every part of making this project both powerful and approachable. I also really appreciated being part of a research community where I could ask questions and explore ideas freely.
On a more personal level, I’ve been passionate about coding since sixth grade. I’m entirely self-taught, and there’s something magical to me about watching lines of code transform into real, functioning tools. Seeing the commands I write come together to model something as complex as compound flooding reminded me why I fell in love with programming in the first place. It’s like building something out of thin air – and every time it works, it feels like a small miracle.
What are you hoping to do in the future, and did this program inform your goals?
In the future, I hope to pursue a career in aerospace engineering with a focus on using technology to make systems safer, smarter, and more resilient, especially in the face of climate change. This program showed me how important it is to build tools that not only work but serve a purpose beyond the lab. Studying compound flooding required me to think about how environmental systems interact with the built world, including infrastructure, aircraft operations, and emergency response logistics. These are all areas that closely connect with aerospace systems in coastal or disaster-prone regions. It also deepened my understanding of how data and modeling can be used to solve real-world problems. Whether it’s designing aircraft systems that can operate safely during extreme weather or developing new technologies to support climate resilience from the skies, I now see aerospace engineering as a powerful way to combine my love for innovation, coding, and impact. This program helped me realize that I can bring all of that together.
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