1. Tell us about yourself
My name is Neda Safari, and I am a PhD student in watershed science. I grew up in Ardabil, a mountainous city in northern Iran, where we speak Azeri (Turki), and being bilingual sparked a passion to learn more languages that has stayed with me ever since. Two years ago, I moved to Fort Collins, and Colorado has become my second home. Being surrounded by mountains and so close to the National Parks feels like a dream I get to live every day.

2. When did you know that you wanted to become a scientist?
I can remember the exact moment I knew I wanted to be a scientist. As a young kid, books and magazines were our only hobbies, and I spent countless hours reading about the Persian scientists who shaped history, scientists like Khayyam, Avicenna, Kharazmi, and Razi. I never had a real-life role model, nor did I know the major I wanted to pursue, but something in their stories made me want to follow in their footsteps and become a scientist. As I went through school and kept being drawn to scientific topics, that early fascination turned into a clear path. I’m still at the beginning of my journey, but I keep those early inspirations with me.

3. How would you explain your research to someone who is not a scientist?
Groundwater levels are declining because of drought and climate change. This increases the demand for water from communities and farmers who depend on water to survive. As surface water becomes scarcer, people turn to groundwater to fill the gap, and that depletion can reach a tipping point with serious consequences for livelihoods. In my research, I investigate how water loss affects people’s livelihoods and how policies and conservation methods can help farmers and communities adapt so they can continue farming as the water landscape changes.

4. What are your hobbies and preferred activities when you are not doing science?
I love spending time outdoors, hiking, camping, and visiting National Parks. I am lucky to have someone in my life who is very supportive and loves going on new adventures with me. I also love to read and spend time in libraries and bookstores, where I lose track of time. I love solving puzzles, and the kind of deep curiosity that drew me to science in the first place. If you want to win my heart right away, simply show me a duck. I love animals and have a special place in my heart for ducks.

5. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in your research?
Finding stable funding has been the greatest challenge in my studies. For any PhD student, time and focus are precious resources, and the ongoing search for funding takes a lot from both. Beyond logistics, my research depends on building trust with the people I work with, which requires patience, presence, and energy. Carrying the weight of financial uncertainty alongside that relational work is not easy, but it has taught me resilience and sharpened my appreciation for every opportunity to do my research.

6. What are some of the challenges you face as an international scholar/student?
For any international student, the greatest difficulty is being far from family, in an unfamiliar culture, with no established community to rely on. I was lucky that within my first few weeks in the States, I found friends who quickly became like family, and that made everything else easier to deal with. I think this is the greatest challenge for every international student out there, and building a good community is very important. The other big challenge was making English my first language in every sense: reading, writing, speaking, and thinking in it all day long. The first few months were hard, but I now believe that giving yourself time and space is the best way to adapt and enjoy the experience of living in a new country.

7. Can you describe a city or place in your country that everyone should visit, and what would you recommend doing there?
Iran is one of the world’s oldest civilizations, and choosing just one place feels almost impossible, but if I had to, I would say Shiraz. Shiraz city is the heart of Persian history and culture. It is home to Persepolis, where Cyrus the Great ruled the Persian empire, whose ruins still stand after 2,500 years. If you love history, art, and poetry, Shiraz is the place you are meant to visit. Shiraz has so much to offer, Naqshe Rostam, Pasargad, Eram Garden, Vakil Bazar, Pink Mosque, Tomb of Hafez, and much more.

To know more about Neda’s experience, you can go here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nedasafari/