People

Keunhyun Park, Ph.D. (He/Him)

Assistant Professor, Department of Forest Resources Management

Dr. Keunhyun (Keun) Park holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in landscape architecture from Seoul National University and a Ph.D. in urban planning and design from the University of Utah. Before joining UBC, he was an assistant professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning at Utah State University. 

With an interdisciplinary background in urban planning and design and landscape architecture, Keun conducts behavioural research in urban nature through spatial data analytics and digital technologies. His work focuses on understanding how to design healthy, just, and resilient cities through urban nature. He spends much of his leisure time with his family, enjoying running, hiking, camping, and playing board games and video games.

Website | CV (updated May 2025) | Google Scholar | keun.park@ubc.ca |

Everly Jazi (She/Her)

Ph.D. Candidate in Forestry

Everly holds an M.S. in Environmental Social Science and a B.A. in Psychology. She is interested in the intersection between disparities in use and access to natural spaces and disparities in health, particularly mental health. She has developed a framework and novel method for use in experimental and quasi-experimental research designs, and continues to learn alongside experts in the nature and health realm as part of various professional organizations. She is the founder and convener of the International Association of People-Environment Studies (IAPS) Early Career Researchers Network. 

ejazi@student.ubc.ca

Asim Khanal (He/Him)

Ph.D. Candidate in Forestry

Asim Khanal is an urban planner and researcher interested in understanding how diverse user groups experience urban blue-green spaces. He intends to push the theoretical interpretation and practical implementation of ‘access’ by integrating the dimensions of vision and touch. In his doctoral dissertation, he also uses third-party big data to estimate spatiotemporal use dynamics of urban blue-green spaces or public spaces along shorelines.

Asim completed his Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, India and an M.Sc. in Sustainable Critical Infrastructure from the Masdar Institute in Abu Dhabi, which was opened in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He has worked as an Urban Planner, a freelance consultant, and a volunteer for federal, provincial, and local governments in multiple countries, including Nepal, India, and the United Arab Emirates.

In his leisure time, he likes camping, swimming in freshwater lakes, and composing music. He has also written a handful of newspaper articles and blogs on Medium and used to run a political satire page.

Google Scholar | akhanal7@ubc.ca | |

Mingze Chen (He/Him)

Ph.D. Candidate in Forestry

Mingze is a Ph.D. student at UBC. He completed a master’s degree in urban design at University College London, UK. He has also worked as a researcher at UCL and as a landscape architect in Shanghai for the past three years. His research focuses on data-driven landscape and urban analytics, computational design and data visualization, and environment-human interaction in natural areas. Mingze enjoys working with academics and urban enthusiasts from diverse backgrounds. 

Outside work, Mingze is an avid fan of travelling, poems, exhibitions, symphony concerts, and photography. 

Personal Website | Google Scholar | Research Gate | mingzec@student.ubc.ca | |

Yiyang Wang (She/Her)

Ph.D. Student in Forestry | Master of Science in Forestry (2022-2024)

Yiyang has completed her Master of Science (MSc) at UBC with a thesis titled “Promoting sustainable and equitable access to parks: a study of transit-to-parks initiatives and user perceptions.” She holds a Bachelor of Urban Forestry and is deeply passionate about urban planning, spatial analysis, and environmental justice. In 2023, Yiyang worked as a UBC Sustainability Scholar for Metro Vancouver, the regional government authority.

In addition to her academic achievements, Yiyang is an accomplished landscape and portrait photographer. She enjoys travelling, going to concerts and movies, and maintaining an active lifestyle through gymming and yoga.

Google Scholar | yiyang.wang@ubc.ca |

Sasha Rodriguez (She/Her)

Master of Science in Forestry

Sasha Rodriguez has a background in urban forestry and transportation, with a strong focus on making cities more inclusive—especially for older adults. She’s led a number of initiatives to improve transportation accessibility, helping seniors stay connected to their communities while pushing for broader systemic change. Her work is driven by a deep interest in how access to nature supports both physical and mental well-being, and the need for inclusive, integrated urban spaces.

For her master’s, Sasha is exploring transportation accessibility through an innovative photovoice methodology, examining the barriers and facilitators that affect older adults’ access to urban parks.

In her free time, Sasha loves being outdoors—whether at the beach or in the forest—making pottery, or walking her dog.

sarod@student.ubc.ca |

Avery Chan (He/Him)

Work Learn Project Assistant (2024-2025)

Avery is a first-year Master of Community and Regional Planning (MCRP) student, having previously completed a BSc in Environmental Sciences at UBC. Coming from a background in local government and ecological research, he is broadly interested in planning for more sustainable cities through effective land use planning and green space management. In his free time, Avery enjoys hiking, playing board games, and trying out hole-in-the-wall restaurants across the city.

Annmarie Thomson

Work Learn Project Assistant (2025)

Annmarie is a third-year student, pursuing a BSc in Statistics + Master of Management. Her background involves statistics and data science and she strives to use her quantitative knowledge to help solve real-world challenges and make statistics accessible to everyone. In her free time, Annmarie loves skiing, hiking to lakes, and playing soccer.

Jade Chen (She/Her)

Research Assistant (2025)

Jade recently graduated with a major in Psychology and a minor in Data Science, and will soon be pursuing her Master of Data Science at UBC. Her academic interests include understanding human behaviour through data analysis, with a focus on improving mental well-being using ethical machine learning models. She is also passionate about social and emotional learning (SEL) for children and supporting underserved communities. In her free time, Jade enjoys rock climbing, beach volleyball, live music, and potlucks.

Ana Pereira (She/Her)

Work Learn Project Assistant (2025)

Ana is a 5th-year Geography: Environment & Sustainability student with a diverse background that spans wildlife research, environmental consulting, policy analysis, and community engagement. She’s excited to bring her experience to the under_lab, and use GIS to support PhD student Yiyang Wang’s research on improving green space access across Metro Vancouver. In her free time, you will find Ana hiking, bikepacking, or cooking with friends.

Fei (Sophy) Wu (She/Her)

Work Learn Project Assistant (2025)

Sophy is completing a dual degree of BSc. in Natural Resources Conservation – Science and Management major and BEd. in Secondary Education – Biological Sciences Specialization at UBC. With a passion for the environment, cultural roots and diverse educational experiences mainly from China and Canada, Sophy aspires to explore the natural and cultural wonders of the world, while educating and designing for future generations to foster lifelong reciprocal learning and growth. She is excited to join the under_lab to further develop her academic interests in the public perception, well-being, and engagement in the design and use of urban nature (blue-green space/infrastructure). In her free time, Sophy enjoys dancing with nature (improvisation outdoors)!