Yekang Ko’s research focuses on renewable energy landscapes, urban forest performance and equity, and climate action planning. She has served as PI or co-PI on 14 different projects, the most recent being grants from the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy. Her teaching and project-based research are rooted in community service-learning and outreach, in collaboration with governments, non-profits, professionals, and educators both locally and internationally.

At SEAS, she serves as Faculty Director for Asian Engagement and co-directs the Sustainable Cities and Landscapes Hub of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU). Contributing her expertise in renewable energy landscapes, she also held a joint appointment as a Senior Scientist at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (2022-2025). She is the co-founder of the Landscape for Humanity (L4H) Lab, which advances social and environmental justice through design research and education. Her contributions to research and engaged teaching have been recognized by the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).