Jia Hu

Former SW CASC Host Institution Director (2022-2025)
The University of Arizona

Dr. Jia Hu was the Director of the Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center, an Affiliate Faculty with the Laboratory of Tree Ring Research, and served as principal investigator for the Hu lab (thehulab.com).  Prior to working with the University of Arizona, Hu held positions at Montana State University, the University of Sydney, the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and Colorado State University.  She earned her BA in Integrative Biology from the University of California, Berkeley, and her Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Colorado.  

Hu led the competitive process that secured the University of Arizona as the SW CASC’s host institution for another five years, and resulted in a $7.4 million award from the U.S. Geological Survey. The award funds practical solutions across consortium, Tribal and non-governmental organizations, and enables the SW CASC to continue its work on high-priority climate adaptation needs in the Southwest region. 

Hu joined Oregon State University in July 2025 as Associate Dean for Academics in the College of Agricultural Sciences.