Kabita Paudel
Kabita Paudel is a Research Associate with the Center for Geospatial Intelligence and Environmental Security at Kentucky State University, where she leads and supports research at the intersection of geospatial science, environmental change, and ecosystem dynamics. She holds a Master of Science in Environmental Studies with a specialization in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing from Kentucky State University and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Agriculture and Forestry University, Nepal.
Her research expertise lies in advanced geospatial analysis- including GIS, remote sensing, machine learning and AI, and LiDAR-based approaches to study environmental change in reclaimed mine lands and coal-impacted regions of Appalachia. Kabita currently leads research on the USDA Evans-Allen project: “Studying Long-Term Agroecosystems Changes in Reclaimed Mine land Properties in Eastern Kentucky,” which investigates soil conditions, vegetation growth, water quality and microclimate properties change to better understand the productivity and sustainability of post-mining landscapes. Kabita has also contributed to other federally funded projects, including the USDA-NIFA project “Strengthening Research and Teaching Capacity of KSU by Studying Interrelationships and Disruptions in Landscape Change and Ecosystem Functions in Kentucky’s Appalachia” and the DOE-funded “Geospatial-Artificial Intelligence Enhanced Curriculum for Minority Serving Institutions (GAEC-MSI).”
In addition to research, Kabita also assists in teaching courses in GIS and Remote Sensing, where she integrates hands-on learning using GIS and remote sensing software and emerging AI-driven geospatial tools. At KSU, she has been instrumental in developing innovative curriculum and training opportunities for students, such as AFE-480: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems. She also organizes workshops, student training sessions, and events like GIS day, STEAM Day etc. fostering capacity-building in geospatial and environmental science research and education, particularly among underrepresented groups.
She has presented her work at multiple regional and national conferences and was awarded first place in the graduate student scholarship competition at the Kentucky GIS Conference (2022). Beyond research and teaching, Kabita is passionate about mentoring underrepresented students in STEM, expanding opportunities in geospatial science, and advancing community-focused environmental research.