Dr. B.R. Balachandran works at the intersection of urban planning, disasters, sustainability, and equity. He is the Executive Director of the Sustainable Solutions Lab (SSL) at UMass Boston, a collaborative research institute focused on climate change resilience for historically excluded communities. 

Bala is a certified urban planner (AICP) and international development consultant with over 30 years of experience. He engages in research that informs policy frameworks promoting just, equitable, and sustainable adaptation to the impacts of climate change. He also consults with international and national organizations to formulate and operationalize policies for risk-informed urban planning. He has provided advisory services to organizations such as the World Bank and UNDP and served as Director and a member of the Governing Board for several organizations, including American Society for Adaptation Professionals, CEPT University and Environmental Planning Collaborative in Ahmedabad, India, and CDD Society and Alchemy Urban Systems Pvt. Ltd. in Bangalore, India. 

His recent research includes examining risk tradeoffs in disaster-induced displacement and relocation in coastal Louisiana and wildfire resilience research in California. In addition to post-disaster recovery, resilience, and adaptation, Bala’s professional expertise extends to land use planning, urban land management, and affordable housing policy.