Curriculum Vitae

Fadji Zaouna Maina, Ph.D.

Research Scientist · NASA GSFC & UMBC

Download Full CV (PDF)
Current Position

Research Scientist

Current

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) & University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)

Greenbelt, Maryland, USA

Applies advanced hydrological models enhanced with satellite-derived datasets to assess impacts of climate variability and human activities on water systems. Research covers water availability and climate extremes (droughts, floods) across the United States, Europe, High Mountain Asia, South America, and the Sahel.

Education

Ph.D. in Hydrology

2016

University of Strasbourg

Strasbourg, France

Dissertation on groundwater flow modeling, inverse methods, and uncertainty quantification. Recipient of the Kepler Award "Chapitre Saint Thomas" for the best Ph.D. thesis in Science and Engineering at the University of Strasbourg.

M.S. in Environmental Engineering

2012–2013

University of Strasbourg

Strasbourg, France

Recipient of the French Government Excellence Scholarship.

B.S. in Geological Engineering

2008–2011

University of Fes

Fes, Morocco

Recipient of the Moroccan Government Excellence Scholarship.

Research Expertise

Modeling & Simulation

  • Integrated hydrologic modeling
  • Land surface modeling
  • Data assimilation
  • Variably saturated subsurface flow
  • Precipitation modeling

Earth Observations

  • Satellite-derived precipitation
  • Multivariate and multisensor analysis
  • GRACE and GRACE-FO data
  • MODIS datasets

Research Themes

  • Climate variability & change
  • Droughts & floods
  • Rain-on-snow dynamics
  • Irrigation & human impacts
  • Water resource management

Geographic Focus

  • The Sahel / West Africa
  • High Mountain Asia
  • North America
  • South America (Andes)
  • Europe
Selected Awards
2026

Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Resident

The Rockefeller Foundation

2025

NASA GSFC Center Director Award for Scientific Excellence

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

2025

Atlantic Council Millennium Fellow

Atlantic Council

2025

Led one of the top NASA Earth Science Discoveries of 2024

NASA Earth Science

2021
2023
2025

NASA GSFC Hydrosphere, Biosphere, Geophysics Peer Award for Scientific Achievement

Three-time recipient · NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

2022

25 Outstanding African Women Scientists

United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

2020

Forbes 30 Under 30

Forbes Magazine · Class of 2020

2020

100 Most Influential Africans

New African Magazine · Pathfinders category

2019

Rising Star in Civil and Environmental Engineering

MIT

2017

Kepler Award: Best Ph.D. Thesis in Science & Engineering

University of Strasbourg · "Chapitre Saint Thomas"

By the Numbers
34
Peer-reviewed publications
60+
Conference talks
18
Awards & honors
46
Mentees (4 cohorts)

For the complete list of publications, talks, collaborators, and service activities, download the full PDF CV.

Download full CV PDF · February 2026