Jeffrey R. French

Dr. Jeffrey R. French is the Department Head and Associate Professor in the Department of Atmospheric Science at the University of Wyoming. He leads research focused on cloud physics and precipitation processes, with particular expertise in airborne measurements of atmospheric phenomena. Dr. French manages the University of Wyoming King Air (UWKA) research aircraft facility, which serves as a national resource for atmospheric research through a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation.

Dr. French's educational background includes:

• BS in Physics from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (1992)
• MS in Meteorology from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (1994)
• PhD in Atmospheric Science from University of Wyoming (1998)

Dr. French's research primarily focuses on microphysical processes in clouds that lead to precipitation formation. He utilizes airborne observations from research aircraft to characterize thermodynamic, dynamic, and microphysical properties of clouds. A significant portion of his work involves instrument calibration and characterization to ensure accurate measurements from aircraft platforms. His research has important applications in understanding orographic cloud seeding, wintertime precipitation processes, and convective cloud systems.

Dr. French's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on orographic cloud systems, particularly through the SNOWIE (Seeded and Natural Orographic Wintertime clouds: the Idaho Experiment) project. His work combines detailed airborne measurements with numerical modeling to understand precipitation formation processes. A notable trend in his recent work is the application of advanced data analysis techniques, including machine learning approaches, to better interpret complex atmospheric measurements.

Dr. French has received funding for several significant research projects:

• SNOWIE: Seeded and Natural Orographic Wintertime clouds: the Idaho Experiment (NSF)
• Improving Cloud Characterization from Instrumented Aircraft (NSF)
• University of Wyoming King Air (UWKA) as a National Facility (NSF)
• Convective Precipitation Experiment: Microphysics and Entrainment Dependencies (COPE-MED) (NSF)

Dr. French actively mentors graduate students, with several currently working on MS and PhD research projects related to cloud physics and airborne measurements. He teaches graduate courses including ATSC 5880 (Aircraft Instrumentation for Atmospheric Measurements), ATSC 5010 (Physical Meteorology I), and ATSC 5018 (Ethics and Research Methods). His teaching philosophy emphasizes engagement through dialogue, hands-on mathematical derivations, and connecting physical concepts to real-world atmospheric problems.

Dr. French leads the cloud physics laboratory at the University of Wyoming, which focuses on improving in-situ measurements from the UWKA research aircraft. His laboratory develops tools and techniques to quantify errors and uncertainties associated with cloud droplet measurements and processes data from aircraft-based cloud imaging probes.