Elisabetta Pietrostefani

Elisabetta Pietrostefani is a Lecturer in Geographic Data Science in the Department of Geography and Planning and Deputy Lead of the Geographic Data Science Lab at the University of Liverpool. Her work focuses on cities, inequalities, and the use of emerging data sources to improve knowledge in data-poor contexts. She combines digital trace data—such as satellite and street-level imagery—with traditional surveys to study vulnerability in urban areas, particularly in disaster settings involving conflict or natural hazards. Her recent projects have examined the impacts of the Beirut Blast, the wars in Palestine and Ukraine, and floods in Pakistan.

Elisabetta holds a PhD in Planning Policy and Urban Economics from the London School of Economics, where she is also a Visiting Research Fellow. Before joining Liverpool, she was a Fellow in Geographic Data Science at LSE and a Research Fellow at University College London’s Institute for Global Prosperity, focusing on well-being and inequality in contexts of mass displacement.

She is Deputy Director of Imago, the UK Data Service for Imagery, which makes satellite imagery accessible and actionable across the social sciences, health, and policy. She also serves on Snowflake’s End Data Disparity expert panel. Her work has informed organisations including IOM-UN Migration, OECD, UN-Habitat, and UNHCR.