Melanie Dickson

Melanie Dickson is a PhD student in civil engineering with a specialization in geotechnical earthquake engineering at North Carolina State University. She is dedicated to understanding the interconnection between seismic hazards, exposure, and vulnerability within communities. Going beyond traditional engineering approaches, her focus includes the multifaceted nature of vulnerability (physical, social, and economic) to enhance community resilience against natural disasters.

In the Geohazards and Earthquake Engineering Research Laboratory, Dickson applies data-driven and machine learning approaches to integrate social, environmental, and physical indicators into earthquake impact and recovery prediction frameworks. Her work builds upon ground motion-based metrics and site response parameters to develop more comprehensive, human-centered seismic hazard characterizations.

Originally from the Dominican Republic, Dickson earned her bachelor's degree in civil engineering at the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, where she supported the civil engineering department as a teaching assistant, contributed to seismic microzonation projects in the Bávaro-Punta Cana region, and volunteered in efforts to identify multihazard risks in schools across the Dominican Republic.

As a William Averette Anderson Fund Fellow, Dickson is part of a network committed to expanding the participation of underrepresented minorities in hazards research and reducing harm in communities disproportionately affected by disasters.