Isabella “Is” Chittumuri, a PhD candidate in applied mathematics and statistics, was selected for the Fulbright National Science Foundation Arctic Research Award. She is conducting an independent research project focused on assessing climate-related hazards in the Hornafjörður region of southeast Iceland using geospatial analysis and machine learning. By modeling climate-driven risks, such as extreme weather, Chittumuri’s project aims to support the Hornafjörður region in making data-informed decisions for local infrastructure planning and risk mitigation.

 Since her arrival in Iceland in August, Chittumuri has been laying the groundwork for research through data acquisition and stakeholder engagement with researchers and practitioners from a range of institutions, including the Icelandic Meteorological Office, Vegagerðin (Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration), University of Iceland in Reykjavík, Hornafjörður Research Centre, and the municipal planning committee of Hornafjörður.

Moving forward into the second half of her grant, Chittumuri’s next phase of research will focus on developing and validating spatially explicit machine learning models that integrate climate variables, infrastructure data, and hazard histories to identify risk patterns and future vulnerability scenarios. Chittumuri has also applied for a grant through the Icelandic Road Administration’s Research Fund to extend her modeling analysis from the municipal level in Hornafjörður to a nation-wide framework, with the goal of informing broader national infrastructure planning and climate adaptation efforts across Iceland.

“My Fulbright experience has been the first taste of what I want my career to be. In my team, I’m the only statistician, working amongst geologists, volcanologists, and other scientists,” Chittumuri said. “This has been an affirming experience – I got the tools I needed from Mines to be successful, and now I have the opportunity to use them in the way I want to in my career.”

Beyond her research, Chittumuri has actively engaged in cultural and community involvement throughout her time in Iceland.

“I volunteer weekly with the Expired Foods Iceland project, helping collect surplus food from grocery stores and bakeries for redistribution to those in need,” said Chittumuri. “I also participate in local dance communities, including Zouk, Lindy Hop, and Bachata. These activities have helped me integrate into the local community, build meaningful connections, and gain a deeper cultural understanding that complements my research experience.”

This excerpt is part of a larger feature originally published by the Mines Newsroom on February 6, 2026. You can read the full article covering all three Mines Fulbright scholars using the link.