rachael lau, phd

welcome

Welcome, and thanks for visiting. First and foremost, my work is about people. I am a disaster engineer and applied AI researcher who works at the intersection of resilience, human security, and technology. My focus is on understanding hazards and vulnerabilities, whether from earthquakes, climate change, or emerging technologies, and developing ways to protect people, infrastructure, and critical systems.

My career has taken me across research institutions, government agencies, and international organizations, where I have advised on infrastructure projects, built tools for risk assessment and early warning, and led collaborations that bring science and policy together. Across all of this work, my aim is the same: to make complex challenges clear and to turn research into solutions that matter for communities on the ground.

I am especially interested in how climate security, disaster preparedness, and new technologies like AI can be harnessed responsibly to reduce risks and strengthen resilience. At the center of it all is a commitment to human security and the belief that innovation should serve people first.

about me

Background

I am a Civil and Environmental Engineer working at the intersection of emerging technology and disaster resilience. Currently, I serve as a Science & Technology Policy Fellow in Artificial Intelligence within the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC).

My career is driven by a commitment to preserving human dignity during crises. While my technical roots are in engineering and remote sensing, my current work focuses on the governance of AI and its critical role in our national infrastructure. Whether I am analyzing landslide risks via satellite in Nepal or advising on AI policy in Washington, D.C., my mission remains the same: ensuring that our most advanced systems are resilient, ethical, and centered on human safety.

I earned my PhD, M.Eng., and B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Duke University. My doctoral research focused on fusing data-driven models with physical engineering principles to solve real-world hazard problems. Outside of the office, I am a former Division 1 athlete, a martial artist, and a dedicated mentor for the next generation of public-interest engineers.

Areas of Impact

AI Policy & National Security: Currently advising on legislative frameworks for artificial intelligence within the U.S. Senate, focusing on risk management, governmental oversight, and the responsible deployment of emerging tech.
Geospatial Intelligence: Expert in using InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) and physics-informed machine learning to predict and mitigate geohazards like landslides and earthquakes.
Global Disaster Resilience: Founder of the Kathmandu Geo Lab and a Fulbright Scholar, I have led international initiatives to implement earthquake early warning systems and safety education in Nepal and Kazakhstan.
Advocacy & Mentorship: A vocal advocate for neurodiversity in STEM, I use my platform to champion mental health awareness and the power of diverse perspectives in high-pressure technical fields.

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