Our Team > Trailokaya Raj Bajgain

Trailokya Raj Bajgain (Raj) is a PhD student in Professor Mike Bergin’s lab, specializing in air quality modeling using low-cost sensor networks. His research focuses on developing and deploying these networks across ten countries in South and Central Asia, with a goal of optimizing their use for ambient air quality monitoring while maintaining data fidelity. Raj is also exploring the integration of microsatellite imagery with existing ground-based networks to enhance satellite-based air quality monitoring capabilities, a particularly valuable approach in regions with limited ground-based infrastructure.

Raj’s affiliation with Planet Lab began during his undergraduate exchange at Duke University in 2022 and continues through his current role as a graduate researcher. At Planet Lab, he leverages his strong background in data science, machine learning, and geospatial data analytics to address pressing environmental challenges, particularly in air pollution and air quality modeling. In collaboration with Professor Brian McAdoo, Raj is working to integrate air quality considerations into a comprehensive planetary health framework, with a specific focus on South Asia. This region faces significant air pollution challenges, which have far-reaching consequences for both human and ecological health.

Raj is deeply invested in this interdisciplinary field and aspires to build upon his expertise in environmental data science, while simultaneously developing frameworks that address issues of environmental and planetary health and justice. His work seeks to provide data-driven solutions to critical environmental challenges, ultimately contributing to a healthier and more just world. In his free time, Raj enjoys cooking and writing poetry.