Doctoral Student Ari Lerner Named Yale Planetary Solutions Doctoral Fellow
The inaugural cohort includes 12 graduate students from across the university.
Ari Lerner, a doctoral student in operations, has been selected for the Stella M. Hammond Planetary Solutions Doctoral Fellowship.
Established by Yale Planetary Solutions (YPS) in partnership with the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, the fellowship aims to develop interdisciplinary leaders addressing global challenges. Over two years, YPS doctoral fellows receive financial support, opportunities for professional development, and mentorship from leading researchers and practitioners. Lerner is one of 12 scholars researching urgent social, environmental, and economic questions of the current moment.
A third-year PhD student, Lerner explores how mathematical modeling can support a healthier planet, with a focus on biodiversity, sustainability, and conservation planning. His current research uses optimization models to design protected areas that balance biodiversity conservation priorities with spatial, budgetary, and community considerations. Lerner is also interested in applications of surplus food redistribution and developing optimization approaches to better match food donations with community needs.
