Daniela Giardina Takes Helm as Executive Director of J-WAFS

The Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab (J-WAFS) has appointed Daniela Giardina as its new executive director, effective at the beginning of the fall semester. Giardina succeeds Renee J. Robins, who is retiring after leading the program since its inception in 2014. Robins emphasized Giardina’s extensive background in water and food security, stating, “I am so happy to know that I will be leaving J-WAFS in her experienced and capable hands.”

Significance of J-WAFS

Established to address critical global challenges in water and food systems, J-WAFS focuses on ensuring safe and resilient supplies of these essential resources. The lab supports research across various MIT departments, allowing investigators from fields such as engineering, science, and economics to tackle pressing issues. Since its launch, J-WAFS has allocated nearly $26 million in grants and awards to the MIT community, benefiting approximately 10 percent of the faculty and around 300 students and research staff.

The urgency of J-WAFS’ mission has never been more apparent given the ongoing global crises related to water, food, and climate change. The lab facilitates projects that range from early-stage research to international collaborations, striving for impactful solutions that contribute to the well-being of communities worldwide.

Giardina’s Background and Vision

Giardina brings nearly two decades of experience in humanitarian and development projects across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia. Prior to joining MIT, she served as a director at Oxfam America, overseeing initiatives focused on disaster risk reduction and climate resilience. Her role involved managing multimillion-dollar projects and leading international teams, which honed her ability to connect research with practical community solutions.

She expressed enthusiasm for her new role, saying, “What particularly excites me about J-WAFS is its interdisciplinary approach in facilitating meaningful partnerships to solve many of these problems through research and innovation.” Giardina aims to enhance J-WAFS’ impact by strengthening existing programs, creating new initiatives, and fostering essential partnerships that translate MIT’s research into actionable solutions.

Giardina holds a PhD in sustainable development from the University of Brescia in Italy and a master’s degree in environmental engineering from the Politecnico of Milan. She also serves as vice chair of the Boston Network for International Development, a nonprofit connecting Boston’s global development community.

As she steps into this leadership role, Giardina will report to Rohit Karnik, the Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Water and Food in the MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering. Karnik, appointed as director of J-WAFS in January, expressed confidence in Giardina’s ability to uphold the lab’s legacy of excellence.

Giardina’s predecessor, Robins, has been instrumental in building J-WAFS from the ground up and cultivating a vibrant community of researchers dedicated to addressing water and food challenges. Her departure marks the end of a significant chapter for J-WAFS, during which she has inspired collaboration among faculty and students alike.

In reflecting on her tenure, Robins noted, “It’s been particularly rewarding to see the growth of an MIT network of water and food researchers that J-WAFS has nurtured.”

As J-WAFS embarks on its second decade, Giardina’s leadership promises to further advance the lab’s mission of addressing global water and food security challenges through innovative research and collaboration.