Assistant Professor, Systems Design Engineering
Rodrigo Costa is an Assistant Professor in Systems Design Engineering at the University of Waterloo, whose research employs computational simulations to investigate how communities’ physical, economic, and social systems interact and exacerbate disaster risk and inequalities. He uses agent-based simulations to help decision-makers better understand and address post-disaster unmet needs. Costa’s work has been recognized with the 2021 Best Graduate Paper Award by the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute for his paper titled ‘Agent-based Model for Post-earthquake Housing Recovery’ and is a co-PI in the Center of Excellence for Equitable and Climate Resilient Housing funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.