Ruijia Hu

I am a PhD candidate in Geography whose dissertation applies spatial modelling techniques and ecological knowledge to examine the relationship between bird habitat and urbanization. My research focuses on the habitat requirements of a keystone bird species, the pileated woodpecker, and addresses critical gaps by developing practical tools to support decision-making in urban habitat planning and management. Key themes of my work include quantifying habitat selection, assessing habitat connectivity, and evaluating future habitat quality and availability under different land-use change scenarios.

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)

08-2022 -04-2023 Adjunct Instructor, Taught GEOG 2100: Physical Geography (in-person), Wright State University, Dayton, OH, USA

08-2022 -To Present Adjunct Instructor, Teach GEOG 1001: Introduction of Physical Geography (online) Teach GEOG 2003: Cincinnati Regional Geography (online), University of Cincinnati Clermont College, Clermont, OH, USA

06-2023 -To Present Adjunct Instructor, Teach 5173C/6073C Fundamentals of GIS Programming - online Teach 5181C/6081C Intermediate GIS - summer online, University of Cincinnati , Cincinnati, OH, USA

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, , 521 , More 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, , 176 , More Information

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

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

Urban ecology; Landscape ecology; Conservation planning; Species distribution modeling; Habitat connectivity modeling; Land use and land cover modeling