Dr. Daniela Giardina, former doctoral student at the Appropriate Methodologies and Techniques for International Development Co-Operation program at the University of Brescia, has been appointed Executive Director of the Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab (J-WAFS) research center at MIT, effective from the start of the fall semester. She takes over from founding director Renee J. Robins, who is stepping down after leading the program since its inception in 2014. The Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab (J-WAFS), founded at MIT in 2014 with the support of the Jameel family, has a mission to develop innovative and interdisciplinary solutions to global challenges related to water and food, resources that are increasingly critical due to climate change, population growth, and pressure on natural ecosystems. The center funds and promotes research projects in various fields, from engineering to social sciences, also encouraging the creation of startups capable of transforming scientific results into concrete applications for greater environmental and social sustainability.
Dr. Giardina's appointment represents international recognition of her academic and professional career, which is deeply rooted in Italy but has developed on a global scale. In her nearly 20-year career, Dr. Giardina has collaborated with non-governmental organizations and research institutions on crucial issues such as water and food security, working in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia. Before joining MIT, she held senior positions at Oxfam America, where she directed programs dedicated to disaster risk reduction and climate resilience, coordinating international teams and managing complex financial portfolios. She has also collaborated with MIT in the past, particularly through the D-Lab for an innovation workshop in El Salvador, integrating the academic dimension with the practical application of sustainable solutions. In addition to her professional commitments, Dr. Giardina is currently vice chair of the Boston Network for International Development, an organization that promotes networking among actors engaged in global development. In her new role at J-WAFS, she will work closely with scientific director Rohit Karnik to define the center's strategies, manage funding practices, supervise staff, and plan interdisciplinary research initiatives. Since its founding, the institute has awarded approximately $26 million in fellowships and grants and supported over 300 researchers. It aims to further strengthen its real-world impact by translating scientific discoveries into practical and sustainable solutions.
Read the article: https://news.mit.edu/2025/j-wafs-welcomes-daniela-giardina-executive-director-0904