Rachel L. Pearson
Research Assistant Professor
Rachel L. Pearson
Blacksburg, VA, USA 24061
Mail Code: (0105)
Program Area : Bowman Sustainable Land Development
Program Area : Construction Engineering and Management
Biography
Dr. Rachel Pearson is an Assistant Research Professor in the Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech. Dr. Pearson’s research focuses on sustainable infrastructure systems, using a sociotechnical systems approach to address the intersection of water and energy systems and their interactions with organizational and community stakeholders. Committed to advancing equitable and climate-adaptive infrastructure solutions, she employs interdisciplinary research methods, combining qualitative and quantitative techniques to analyze the technical, operational, and community dimensions of these systems. Her work aims to develop innovative, inclusive solutions that enhance the sustainability and resilience of infrastructure systems in the face of a changing climate.
Areas of Interest
Sustainable Infrastructure Systems
Water-Energy Nexus
Infrastructure Stakeholder Decision Making
Environmental Justice
- B.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Virginia, 2019
- M.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Washington, 2023
- Ph.D. Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Washington, 2024
- Research Assistant Professor, Virginia Tech (2025-present)
- Research Assistant and Teachers Assistant, University of Washington (2021-2024)
- Civil Design Engineer, Bohler Engineering (2019-2021)
- Virginia Tech Future Faculty Diversity Program Fellow, 2023
- Engineering Project Organization Conference Compass Award, 2023
- Clean Energy Institute Graduate Fellowship, 2022
- Valle Scholarship and Scandinavian Exchange Program, 2022
- Charles V. “Tom” and Jean C. Gibbs Endowed Presidential Fellowship, 2021