Nathan Lenssen

Dr. Nathan Lenssen is a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics at the Colorado School of Mines, as well as a Project Scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). His academic background includes a B.A. in Mathematics and Physics from Claremont McKenna College, an M.A. in Statistics, and a Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences from Columbia University.

Research Focus: Lenssen's work centers on understanding climate system variability, predictability, and change. He develops statistical and dynamical models to analyze large-scale datasets, addressing challenges like climate model biases and observational uncertainties. Key areas include ENSO predictability, climate impact projections, and spatial statistics for geoscience applications.

Teaching & Curriculum: He designs data science and climate science courses emphasizing project-based learning. Current courses include Math 324 (Statistical Modeling), Math 334 (Introduction to Probability), and Math 335 (Introduction to Mathematical Statistics). His pedagogical approach integrates statistical methods with real-world environmental questions.

Publications: Lenssen's research spans topics like Arctic warming amplification, ENSO forecast skill, and uncertainty quantification in climate models. His work bridges computational methods, large-scale climate dynamics, and interdisciplinary applications.

Professional Engagement: His dual role at Mines and NCAR reflects a commitment to both education and cutting-edge climate science. He collaborates on projects like crop yield forecasting and NASA's GISTEMP uncertainty modeling, highlighting the societal relevance of his work.