Anuj Tiwari, Ph.D., (he/him) is a Senior Research Associate at the Discovery Partners Institute. His research spans Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, Machine and Deep Learning, Public Health, and Epidemiology.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he led the development of a geospatially equitable and epidemiologically accurate vulnerability modeling framework for wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE), contributing to Illinois' statewide surveillance system-one of the largest WBE programs in the United States.
Through various grant-funded initiatives, Anuj investigates the influence of environmental indicators such as air pollution, land surface temperature, and green space access, and locational factors including neighborhood-level socio-demographics, health infrastructure, and urban form on health-specific decision-making. His work focuses particularly on chronic disease patterns and community-level risk communication. He also contributes to the standardization and integration of AI/ML and geospatial workflows, helping to ensure data quality and interoperability in research applications across public health, infrastructure, and environmental domains.
Dr. Tiwari has been collaborating with IHSI Research Scientist Brandi Barnes to develop research proposals focusing on the intersection of climate change, health, and mental health. These collaborations have involved developing interdisciplinary research proposals that integrate geospatial analytics, machine learning, and public health methodologies to assess and mitigate climate-related health risks.
Can you describe a goal you are currently pursuing?
Right now, I’m deeply focused on connecting the dots between our environment, our health, and the invisible risks that lie in between. One of my core goals is to advance a One Health approach, an integrated perspective on human, animal, and environmental health, by applying the combined power of geospatial science and artificial intelligence (AI).
I’m focusing on building approaches that integrate satellite data, environmental sensors, AI models, and public health information to tackle urgent questions: Where are heat risks intensifying the most? Which communities are most vulnerable to climate-sensitive diseases like West Nile or respiratory illness? How can we identify ecological and land-use signals that might forecast the next zoonotic threat, like H5N1 avian influenza, before it crosses into human populations?
What drives this work is the belief that health is interconnected, and that by seeing these patterns more clearly through AI-enhanced geospatial modeling, we can empower public health systems, veterinarians, and environmental planners to act sooner, more precisely, and more equitably.
How has the focus of your research changed or evolved since you first started in the field?
When I first began, my research centered on using geospatial science and AI to model natural hazards, like predicting forest fire zones, avalanche risks, and groundwater potential. It was very much about understanding the landscape and helping inform environmental decision-making at broad scales.
COVID-19 completely shifted the direction of my work. I joined the team that built Illinois’ wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) program, one of the largest in the country. We used geospatial tools and predictive models to guide where and how SARS-CoV-2 should be monitored in wastewater systems, a true blend of public health, epidemiology, and spatial intelligence.
Since then, my focus has expanded to developing holistic health models that combine satellite data, climate trends, and social indicators to understand where and why diseases, like asthma, mental health conditions, urban heat stress, and even H5N1 avian influenza, emerge or intensify. I’m especially excited about the shift toward individual-level tools, translating spatial data into personalized decision-support systems that make geospatial science feel tangible and useful in everyday health contexts.
What inspires or motivates your work on a daily basis?
What motivates me most is the idea that science can be personal—that data, maps, and models aren’t just abstract outputs, but tools that can change someone’s life. Whether it’s helping a community respond to rising heat, guiding where we monitor wastewater for early signs of outbreaks, or designing AI tools that help healthcare workers anticipate risk, I’m driven by the opportunity to turn knowledge into action.
I also find inspiration in the messy, complex intersections, where public health meets climate, where disease risk is shaped by geography, policy, and behavior. Those are the spaces where One Health thrives, and where I believe the most innovative, impactful science happens.
What is something you want your colleagues to know about you or your research?
I want my colleagues to know that my work is driven by a deep belief that place matters, that where we live, work, and exist plays a profound role in shaping our health. My research brings together geospatial science, AI, and public health to uncover how environmental exposures, social conditions, and climate risks vary across space, and how that knowledge can lead to smarter, more equitable interventions.
I'm especially passionate about turning complex data into tools that are useful beyond academia, like helping city planners prioritize cooling strategies, or building digital platforms that support frontline health workers. At its core, my work is rooted in a One Health mindset, recognizing the deep interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health. It's about connecting science to action in ways that are spatially grounded, socially meaningful, and scalable.
What would you like to know about other researchers?
I’m always curious about the creative ways researchers are connecting dots across disciplines, and I’d love to hear how others are using technology, storytelling, or community partnerships to bring their work to life. How are you translating your insights into tools or actions that actually reach people? What surprises you most in your data, or in how people respond to it?
I’m especially eager to connect with those working at the intersections of environment and health, or who share an interest in One Health thinking. If you're exploring topics that touch both people and places, whether it's urban heat, zoonotic disease, or digital health, I’d love to learn more about your approach. Please reach out, these conversations often spark the most exciting collaborations.
You can connect with Dr. Tiwari on LinkedIn or via email (anujt@uillinois.edu).
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