TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Dr. Travis Loof, assistant research professor in The University of Alabama College of Communication and Information Sciences and communication and social scientist for the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology, or CIROH, has been selected for UA’s THRIVE 2.0 fellowship, an initiative that brings together faculty and researchers from across disciplines to develop solutions to complex societal challenges.
THRIVE 2.0, led by the UA Institute for Social Science Research and Integrated Venture Development, is designed to connect researchers and support the development of high-impact, team-based research proposals. Fellows participate in structured collaboration, proposal planning and facilitated workshops, with the goal of submitting a competitive proposal for large external grants through agencies such as the National Institutes of Health or U.S. Department of War.
The program focuses on three core areas: critical and emerging technologies; national security, safety and community resilience; and health and human flourishing. Loof’s work aligns with the community resilience focus area through CIROH’s work in flooding, water prediction and hazard response.
“What drew me to THRIVE was its deliberate focus on building interdisciplinary teams around major societal challenges,” said Loof. “The ‘National Security, Safety and Community Resilience’ focus area aligns directly with what we’re doing at CIROH on flooding, water prediction and community resilience, so it felt like a natural fit. The ‘Critical and Emerging Technology’ focus area is also highly relevant because it connects social science and emerging technology to challenges like flood response.”
Loof’s selection highlights CIROH’s growing role in interdisciplinary research that connects hydrology with social and behavioral science. As water challenges become more complex, efforts that integrate physical science with human dimensions are increasingly important for improving decision-making and strengthening community resilience.
Participation in THRIVE 2.0 will provide opportunities to build new collaborations across the University and develop research that supports real-world applications. Insights and partnerships developed through the fellowship are expected to contribute to CIROH’s broader mission, including advancing water prediction systems and enhancing the usability of forecasts for communities and decision-makers.
“A core piece of my role at CIROH is research-to-operations, making sure scientific advances actually reach the agencies, forecasters and communities who need them,” said Loof. “THRIVE significantly expands CIROH’s network across the university and brings new disciplinary perspectives, particularly from the social sciences, into that pipeline.”
About CIROH
The Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH) is a NOAA Cooperative Institute hosted at The University of Alabama and supported by the National Weather Service. As a unique national consortium with 28 partner institutions, CIROH unites academic, government and private sector partners to co-produce research that enhances operational water prediction capabilities and informs critical decision-making for issues like floods, droughts and water quality. Through its interdisciplinary research, educational initiatives and outreach programs, CIROH advances NOAA’s water prediction services with new techniques such as artificial intelligence and remote sensing, equips the next generation of water-resource professionals with essential skills and fosters public and stakeholder engagement to support federal agency and private sector needs. CIROH transforms scientific innovations into practical solutions and operational tools that boosts the delivery of actionable water intelligence, increases effectiveness of water resources management, promotes community resilience and informs decision-makers across the United States.