“Vinay pairs innovation with responsibility. His research aligns squarely with the University of Iowa’s strengths in water research and the public mission of IIHR.” – Yusuf Sermet

Hometown: Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India

Faculty mentors/advisors: Yusuf Sermet, PhD, associate research professor, Tulane University; Ibrahim Demir, PhD, Michael A. Fitts Presidential Chair in Environmental Informatics and Artificial Intelligence, Tulane University.

Degree program and anticipated graduation date: PhD in informatics, Spring 2027

Vinay Pursnani designs artificial intelligence systems to help communities make better decisions about water and flood risk, while keeping humans actively involved in the process. His work bridges computer science and hydrology to create tools that interpret Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood maps, answer regulatory questions, and accelerate research workflows—all while maintaining transparency and expert oversight.

“Research gave me a ‘translation’ mindset,” says Pursnani. “Working with hydrologists and emergency managers taught me how to turn complex ideas into usable tools and plain language.”

His innovations include conversational assistants for floodplain managers, AI-powered study platforms for professional flood manager certification, and open-source systems that make hydrologic research faster and more reproducible. Funded by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Science Foundation (NSF), Pursnani’s work is shaping the future of trustworthy AI for environmental resilience.

After graduation, he plans to lead research and product teams focused on responsible AI for environmental decision support, partnering with agencies to translate science into field-tested solutions.