Florida International University · Social ScienceChronic Disease and Energy Resilience Lab
Nelson Varas-Diaz · Miami, Florida
Research Focus
Dr. Nelson Varas-Diaz's lab focuses on understanding how aging Puerto Ricans manage chronic diseases in the context of frequent power outages caused by natural disasters. The lab explores how access to solar energy can improve health outcomes for this vulnerable population by investigating community characteristics, barriers, and resilience factors. Through detailed fieldwork and interviews, the lab aims to inform policy and support for energy independence in health management.
chronic disease managementaging populationssolar energyPuerto Riconatural disasterscommunity engagementhealth disparitiesethnographyresilience factorsenergy independence
Research Aims
3AIM 01Explore the experiences of aging individuals with chronic diseases adapting to energy independence in their communities.
AIM 02Document barriers and facilitators for adopting solar energy strategies among aging populations.
AIM 03Investigate individual and community resilience factors that support effective chronic disease management in the context of energy challenges.
Skills the Lab Values
ethnographic researchcommunity-based surveysin-depth interviewsqualitative analysisdata mappingpolicy analysisstatistical analysismultilevel analysisgroup facilitationprogram evaluation
Output against the department
Publications267top 22% of dept.17th of 77
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations1.9kbottom 39% of dept.47th of 77
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.