Erin Coughlan de Perez is the Dignitas Associate Professor at Tufts University, at the Feinstein International Center of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Erin bridges science, policy, and practice in her research on climate risk management around the world. She focuses on extreme events, exploring how droughts, floods, heatwaves, and other climate shocks can be anticipated before they happen. This includes the use of short-term weather forecasts for anticipatory action, and Erin works with humanitarian teams on the development of early action protocols to avoid disaster impacts. In terms of long-term climate change, Erin studies unprecedented extremes and the adoption and effectiveness of climate change adaptation measures.

Erin comes to the Feinstein Center from the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, where she built a global climate science team and led the first Forecast-based Financing pilots in the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement. Erin retains a technical advisor position at the Climate Centre, to maintain links to humanitarian operations around the world.  

Erin is also a Lead Author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 6th Assessment Report. Her chapter is Decision-Making Options for Managing Risk, as part of the Working Group II on Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability.