Professional Summary
Ruijia Hu is a geographer and GIScientist whose work focuses on urban ecology, landscape connectivity, land-use change modeling, and conservation planning in human-modified landscapes. Her research integrates remote sensing, species distribution modeling, graph-theoretical connectivity analysis, and scenario-based urban growth simulation to evaluate how urban development affects wildlife habitat availability and connectivity. Using the Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) in Hamilton County, Ohio, as a case study, her research develops decision-relevant spatial modeling frameworks to identify habitat priorities, assess future development impacts, and inform urban planning strategies that balance growth, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience.
Education
Bachelor: Southwest University (西南大学), Chongqing, China, 2014 (Urban Planning)
Master: University of Cincinnati, College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, Cincinnati, 2018 (Community Planning)
PhD: University of Cincinnati 2026 (Geography and GIS)
Positions and Work Experience
2022 -2023 Adjunct Instructor, Taught GEOG 2100: Physical Geography (in-person), Wright State University, Dayton, OH, USA
2022 -To Present Adjunct Instructor, Teach 5173C/6073C Fundamentals of GIS Programming (online) Teach 5181C/6081C Intermediate GIS -(online) , University of Cincinnati , Cincinnati, OH, USA
2017 -2019 GIS Specialist, Cincinnati Parks, Division of Natural Resources, City of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
2019 -2022 Teaching Assistant, Taught lab section of GEOG 6081: Intermediate GIS. Taught lab section of GEOG 6091: Advanced GIS., Department of Geography and GIS, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
Publications
Peer Reviewed Publications
Hu, R., & Tong, S. T. Y. (2022).The use of remotely sensed data to model habitat selections of pileated woodpeckers (Dryocopus pileatus) in fragmented landscapes. Forest Ecology and Management, 521More Information
Hu, R & Tong S. T. Y. (2025).Habitat connectivity modeling for urban conservation planning: A case study of pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) in Hamilton County, Ohio, USA. Ecological Indicators, 176More Information
Other Publications
Hu, R., & Tong, S. T. Y. (In preparation). Compact or sprawl? Simulating urban growth scenarios to inform avian habitat connectivity.
Book Chapter
Hu, R., & Tong, S. T. Y. (in press). Conserving wildlife biodiversity in urban ecosystems.. In In M. H. Wong, X. W. Chen & M. Ushio (Eds.),Handbook of Sustainable Biodiversity Management: Strategies for a Thriving Planet. CRC Press
Presentations
Invited Presentations
Ruijia Hu (12-16-2024. ) The use of remotely sensed data to model habitat selections of pileated woodpeckers (Dryocopus pileatus) in fragmented landscapes .The 10th International Conference on Water Resource and Environment (WRE 2025), Hong Kong, China. Conference. . Level:International
Paper Presentations
Ruijia Hu (10-2022. ) “The use of remotely sensed data to model optimal habitat selections of pileated woodpeckers Dryocopus pileatus) in fragmented landscapes” .Muskegon, MI. Conference. Level:Regional
Ruijia Hu (03-2023. ) “An Evaluation of Habitat Fragmentation for Pileated Woodpeckers Based on Ecological Network Analysis” .Denver, CO. Conference. Level:National
Honors and Awards
2017 -2018 Graduate Assistant Scholarship School of Planning, College of DAAP, University of Cincinnati Status:Recipient Level:College
08-2019 -04-2022 Graduate Assistant Scholarship Department of Geography, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Cincinnati Status:Recipient Level:College
01-2023 Advancement of Diversity/Interdisciplinary Research Award University of Cincinnati, Graduate Student Government. Status:Recipient Level:University Type:Fellowship
10-2022 Best Graduate Student Paper - the American Association of Geographers (AAG) Council Award for Best Graduate and Undergraduate Student Paper at the East Lakes Regional Division Meeting, MI, USA Status:Recipient Level:Regional
10-2022 1st Place Student Award Student Paper Presentation Competition of the 2022 Annual Meeting of the East Lakes Division of the American Association of Geographers, Muskegon, MI, USA. Status:Recipient Level:Regional
08-2023 Graduate College Scholarship University of Cincinnati Status:Recipient Level:College
03-2024 Cincinnatus Prize in Urban Geography The Cincinnatus Prize, sponsored by the Cincinnatus Association of Cincinnati, is awarded to the most outstanding graduating geography senior. Selection for the Cincinnatus Award is by faculty nomination. Department of Geography, University of Cincinnati Status:Recipient Level:Department Type:Monetary
12-2024 Best Oral Presentations The 11th International Conference on Water Resource and Environment (WRE 2025) Status:Recipient Level:International Type:Non-Monetary
Keywords
Urban ecology; Landscape ecology; Conservation planning; Species distribution modeling; Habitat connectivity modeling; Land use and land cover modeling
Courses Taught
-GEOG-1001 INTRO PHYS GEOG Level:Undergraduate
GEOG 5181C/6081C Intermediate GIS Level:Both
GEOG 5173C/6073C Fundamentals of GIS Programming Level:Both
GEOG 2003 Cincinnati Regional Geography