Heal the Bay Science & Policy

Onja Davidson Raoelison

Associate Research Specialist - Wildfire Fellow

Onja Davidson Raoelison is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Stanford King Center on Global Development. She earned her PhD in Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles, and holds a joint MSc in Environmental Engineering from UCLA and Civil Engineering from ESTP Paris. Her research focuses on the connection between wildfires, the environment, and human health, with the goal of building wildfire-resilient communities. Previously, her PhD research at UCLA investigated the impacts of wildfires on water quality and developed green infrastructure to mitigate these effects. At the Stanford School of Medicine, her current work aims to understand the health impacts of environmental exposures from wildfires. With 7 years of wildfire research experience, Onja frequently serves as a peer reviewer for wildfire-related publications and grants. Her work has been recognized by prestigious organizations such as the American Water Works Association and the American Society of Civil Engineers, featured in local news, and recently honored with the 2024 Women in Science Incentive Prize.