Debra Laefer

Last updated

Debra F. Laefer
Alma mater
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (MS, PhD)
  • NYU (MEng)
  • Columbia University (BS, BA)
Scientific career
Institutions
  • Tandon School of Engineering
  • University College Dublin
Thesis Prediction and Assessment of Ground Movement and Building Damage Induced by Adjacent Excavation  (2001)

Debra Laefer is the Director of Citizen Science program within NYU's Center for Urban Science + Progress and Associate Professor of NYU's Tandon School of Engineering. Previously a professor at University College, Dublin, her research in geotechnical and structural engineering focuses on ways to preserve architecturally significant buildings from sub-surface construction. [1] [2]

Laefer leads the Urban Modelling Group which released the densest LiDAR dataset to date in order to facilitate urban development. [3] She was also featured in a showcase of eight leading female scientists of Ireland in an exhibition in 2016. [4]

Laefer earned her PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Geotechnical Civil Engineering. She holds a B.A. in Art History and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Columbia University. [1] She is a fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and a Fulbright fellow. [5]

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References

  1. 1 2 Kroll, David (23 July 2015). "Focus On Dr. Debra Laefer, The Art Historian-Turned-Civil Engineer". Forbes.
  2. "Debra Laefer". Google Scholar.
  3. Etherington, Darrell (13 July 2017). "NYU releases the densest LiDAR dataset ever to help urban development". Techcrunch.
  4. Boland, Rosita (25 June 2016). "Fresh impressions: female portraits on walls". Irish Times.
  5. "25 of Ireland's phenomenal women of engineering". Silicon Republic. 8 March 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2018.