Assaad is a researcher focusing on the role of droughts and wildfires on Earth, especially vegetation. He completed his PhD at Duke University in 2020 after earning his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the American University of Beirut. His published work spans multiple topics like the microscopic movements of water in water-stressed plants, the prediction of groundwater-based agriculture in the USA, and the investigation of the origins of power-law plant mass-density relations of trees as a result of competition. He is fascinated by the complexity of the natural world and is looking to use insight on fundamental processes to inform real-world issues.