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Professor Markku Kulmala, currently at the University of Helsinki's Division of Atmospheric Sciences, leads the Finnish Centre of Excellence in Atmospheric Composition and Climate Change. His research unit comprises 150 scientists, including 5 foreign professors, and he has coordinated major projects like EUCAARI and iLEAPS. Academy Professor (2004-2009, 2011) King Carl XVI Gustaf Visiting Professor (2009-2010) His research focuses on biosphere-aerosol-cloud-climate interactions, atmospheric nucleation mechanisms, and climate-air quality relationships. He has authored over 600 publications with 15,000+ citations and an H-index of 61. Awarded extensively including: Fuchs Memorial Award (2010) Wilhelm Bjerkenes Medal (2007) ERC Advanced Grant (2009-2013) Honorary Doctorates from Stockholm and Tartu Universities He has supervised 48 PhDs, 9 of whom are now professors. His research group offers 60+ ECTS of postgraduate courses in collaboration with international institutions.

• Atmospheric sciences
• Physics
• Chemistry
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Christiane Helling is Full Professor in Weltraumwissenschaften (Space Sciences) at Graz University of Technology and Director of the Institute for Space Research Graz (IWF) at the Austrian Academy of Sciences. She previously held leadership roles at the University of St Andrews, including Director of the Centre for Exoplanet Science, and has been a Senior Scientist at the Netherlands Institute for Space Research. Habilitation in Astrophysics (TU Berlin) PhD in Astrophysics (TU Berlin, with distinction) Diploma in Physics (TU Berlin) Her research focuses on exoplanet and brown dwarf atmospheres, cloud microphysics, charge processes, and atmospheric chemistry. She integrates hydrodynamic simulations with space observations from missions like CHEOPS, JWST, and PLATO to map cloud distributions and study planetary climate. Her recent publications emphasize time-dependent cloud formation, thermodynamic disequilibrium in planetary disks, and exoplanet atmospheric characterization using space telescopes. Key collaborations include the CHAMELEON project (virtual laboratories for exoplanet atmospheres) and the MSG model for cloudy sub-stellar atmospheres. ERC Starting Grant (LEAP Project: Lightning, Electrical and Atmospheric Processes on exoplanets) Marie-Curie Innovative Training Network (CHAMELEON)

• Astrophysics
• Exoplanet Atmospheres
• Cloud Formation
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Univ.-Prof. Dr. Bernadett Weinzierl is a Professor in the Department of Aerosol Physics and Environmental Physics at the Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna. She leads the Aerosol Physics and Environmental Physics research group, focusing on aerosol dynamics, atmospheric processes, and their impacts on climate and air transport systems. Her research interests include airborne aerosol measurements, long-range aerosol transport, and the optical/microphysical properties of mineral dust, black carbon, and volcanic ash. She investigates aerosol effects on atmospheric radiation, clouds, and climate dynamics, as well as their implications for aviation safety and emissions. Key Projects: Coordinator of ACTRIS National Facility (2020–ongoing), AEROMMA (NOAA 2023), A-LIFE (2015–2021), and SABRE (NASA/NOAA 2022–2025). Publications: Over 86 peer-reviewed articles, with recent works addressing aerosol classification using Raman lidar, microplastic detection via machine learning, and dust-pollution interactions in the Eastern Mediterranean. Grants/Advising: Active in interdisciplinary collaborations, including the European Aerosol Conference and NASA-funded initiatives. Her research group operates advanced instrumentation for in-situ aerosol measurements and contributes to global atmospheric monitoring networks like ACTRIS.

• Airborne aerosol measurements
• Aerosol long-range transport
• Microphysical and optical properties of mineral dust
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Colin O'Dowd is a Personal Professor in the Department of Physics at the National University of Ireland Galway since 2009. He was elected to the Royal Irish Academy (2010) and holds a DSc from the University of Manchester (2007). His research spans atmospheric composition, aerosol dynamics, and climate interactions, with a focus on marine environments. Atmospheric composition Air-sea exchange Biogeochemical cycling Air pollution Atmospheric aerosols Climate change O'Dowd's publications include 6 Nature papers as senior author and 1 Science paper, with an h-index of 71 (Google Scholar). His work has secured €24M in competitive funding over 22 years, including leadership in EU projects like EUCAARI and QUEST. NUI Galway President's award for research excellence (2018) Mason Medal, Royal Meteorological Society (2016) Royal Irish Academy Gold Medal in Geosciences (2013) Appleton Award & Medal, Institute of Physics (2012) German Aerosol Society Smoluchowski Award (2004) Fellow, Royal Meteorological Society (2003) Fellow, Institute of Physics (2002) He has mentored 19 PhD/MSc graduates, 5 current students, and supervised 47 postdocs. His editorial roles include Journal of Geophysical Research – Atmospheres Joint Editor-in-Chief (2000-2008) and contributions to Nature journals. Media engagement includes over 90 interviews and documentaries like 'C-CAPS Short Film' (2015).

• Atmospheric composition
• Air-sea exchange
• Biogeochemical cycling
• +3 more

Athanasios Nenes is Professor of Atmospheric Processes at École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) since 2018, where he leads the Laboratory of Atmospheric Processes and Insights (LAPI). He maintains significant academic affiliations as Adjunct Professor at Georgia Institute of Technology (2018-present) and Affiliated Scientist at Foundation for Research and Technology in Greece (2008-present). His research spans air quality, aerosol-cloud-climate interactions, and atmospheric instrumentation. Nenes has pioneered theoretical frameworks and measurement techniques that transformed how we understand cloud formation and aerosol impacts on climate. His work on aerosol acidity and biogeochemical cycling has established fundamental relationships now used in global climate models. He has developed open-source codes widely adopted for regulatory purposes and climate modeling worldwide. Nenes' publication portfolio includes over 315 papers with more than 26,700 citations (h-index 89), featuring numerous high-impact articles in journals like PNAS and Nature Geoscience. His research demonstrates consistent innovation across atmospheric chemistry, climate modeling, and instrumentation development, with several publications ranking among the top 5% most cited in their field. 2020 American Geophysical Union Fellow 2020 Web of Science Highly Cited Researcher 2016 European Research Council Consolidator Grant Multiple NASA Group Achievement Awards (2009, 2010, 2019) 2014 Vaughan Lectureship at Caltech 2012 AGU Atmospheric Sciences Section Ascent Award Nenes has mentored 20 PhD students and 20 postdoctoral researchers, with graduates securing faculty positions across multiple countries and prestigious awards including the US Presidential Early Career Award. He has served in significant leadership roles including editor of Atmospheric Chemistry & Physics for 15 years, President of the EGU Atmospheric Sciences Division, and member of the US National Academy's Committee on Atmospheric Chemistry Research.

• Atmospheric Processes
• Air Quality
• Aerosol-Cloud-Climate Interactions
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Blaž Gasparini is an Assistant Professor (Universitätsassistent) at the University of Vienna , Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy, based in the Department of Meteorology and Geophysics and affiliated with the Environment and Climate Research Hub . He leads an active research programme on cloud-climate interactions and teaches four courses each academic year. Education & early career: MSc ETH (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) – atmospheric / climate science PhD studies (University of Vienna) focusing on cirrus-cloud geo-engineering with global climate-model simulations Post-doc/assistant professor appointment at University of Vienna since 2020 Research interests sit at the intersection of cloud microphysics and climate dynamics . Using high-resolution models, satellite observations and theory he investigates how high clouds (especially tropical anvil and cirrus) form, evolve and interact with radiation, and how these processes may change as the planet warms. A second strand explores deliberate climate intervention (cirrus thinning, stratospheric aerosols) and associated physical and ethical uncertainties. His recent publications (2024-2025) reveal three dominant themes: (i) lifecycle and radiative impacts of tropical anvil clouds, (ii) turbulence and microphysical controls on cirrus ice formation, and (iii) critical evaluation of geo-engineering proposals. Collectively the work advances understanding of cloud-radiative feedbacks that govern climate sensitivity and the hydrological cycle. Teaching & outreach: Each semester Dr Gasparini coordinates 2–3 courses including Modelling and Data Analysis , Thermodynamics of the Atmosphere and the Paper Club seminar. He frequently appears on Austrian/Slovenian radio and podcasts explaining climate science and geo-engineering, co-authored the youth brochure "WTF is Climate Change?!" (EN/SL/HU), and maintains an educational blog on high-performance computing for climate modelling. Grants & projects: He is principal investigator on Austrian Science Fund (FWF) and EU-funded projects examining cloud-radiative heating, cirrus microphysics and aerosol-cloud interactions, and participates in international model inter-comparison activities (RCEMIP, CMIP6 analyses). No doctoral students or major scientific prizes are listed in the supplied material.

• Cloud-climate interactions
• High-cloud (cirrus) microphysics
• Tropical anvil cloud lifecycle
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Dr. Maximilian Dollner is a researcher at the University of Vienna's Faculty of Physics, affiliated with the Department of Aerosol Physics and Environmental Physics. His work focuses on airborne measurements of aerosol and cloud particles, aerosol-cloud interaction processes, microphysical and optical properties of aerosols and clouds, and the impact of air masses on cloud particle properties. He leads or contributes to major international projects such as SABRE (2022-2025), ACCLIP (2022), ACACIA (2019-2024), and FIREX-AQ (2019), collaborating with NASA and NOAA. His research integrates field experiments, in situ measurements, and advanced instrumentation to advance understanding of aerosol dynamics and climate interactions. Publications highlight contributions to aerosol type classification, biomass burning plume analysis, and stratospheric aerosol chemistry. Education: MSc and Dr. (PhD) in Physics, specialized in environmental and atmospheric sciences. Research interests emphasize global-scale aerosol processes, with a focus on mineral dust, pyrocumulonimbus impacts, and anthropogenic influences. Recent studies include the A-LIFE campaign's aerosol inlet analysis and pollution effects on Mediterranean dust properties. His work bridges observational data with climate modeling, addressing pressing questions in atmospheric science and environmental physics. Publications span aerosol optical properties, cloud-aerosol interactions, and instrument validation, reflecting interdisciplinary approaches to environmental challenges. Collaborations with global institutions and NASA missions underscore his role in advancing atmospheric research.

• Aerosol Physics
• Cloud Dynamics
• Atmospheric Science
• +3 more

Dr. Agnieszka Straus (Kupc) is a researcher at the University of Vienna , affiliated with the Faculty of Physics and Aerosol Physics and Environmental Physics department. Her work focuses on New particle formation and growth , Microphysical and chemical properties of atmospheric aerosol , and Airborne aerosol measurements . Projects : FWF Erwin-Schrödinger-Fellowship (2016-2019), ATom (NASA), A-LIFE (University of Vienna), AEROMMA (NOAA) Expertise : New particle formation, aerosol optical properties, stratospheric aerosol dynamics Publications highlight her contributions to understanding global-scale aerosol processes, including stratospheric air intrusions, biomass burning impacts, and mineral dust's role in cloud formation. She frequently collaborates on studies involving aircraft-based in situ measurements. Awards : FWF Erwin-Schrödinger-Fellowship (2016-2019) Collaborations include work with NASA's Atmospheric Tomography Mission (ATom) and NOAA's AEROMMA project. Her research informs climate models and atmospheric chemistry assessments using field data and simulations.

• New particle formation and growth
• Microphysical and chemical properties of atmospheric aerosol
• Airborne aerosol measurements
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Bernadette Rosati serves as Assistant Professor and Deputy Head of the Institute of Meteorology and Climatology at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), with her office located at Gregor-Mendel-Straße 33/II in Vienna. Her institutional affiliation falls under the Department of Water, Atmosphere and Environment though the specific faculty name is not explicitly stated in source materials. Dr. Rosati's research centers on atmospheric particle dynamics with particular expertise in bioaerosols and ice-nucleating particles. She investigates microbial aerosolization mechanisms (especially Pseudomonas syringae and freshwater microalgae), sea ice-derived particle impacts on Arctic clouds, and health consequences of indoor ultrafine particles from combustion sources. Her methodology integrates laboratory measurements of hygroscopicity using TDMA systems, controlled human exposure trials, and field studies of marine and freshwater aerosol emissions. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals three dominant research thrusts: (1) atmospheric behavior of biological ice nucleators including gene expression during dispersal and water uptake dynamics; (2) partitioning processes of sea ice-associated particles affecting polar cloud formation; and (3) health impacts of indoor ultrafine particles through rigorous randomized controlled trials. Her work consistently bridges microbial ecology, aerosol physics, and public health with strong emphasis on climate-relevant particle properties. No scientific awards were documented in the provided source materials. Information regarding research advising, grant funding, laboratory facilities, or collaborative teams was not specified in available texts.

• Atmospheric Science
• Aerosol Physics
• Cloud Microphysics
• +3 more

Yang Zhang is a Professor and Distinguished Fellow at Northeastern University's College of Engineering, USA, with over 30 years of experience in atmospheric and environmental research. He previously held faculty positions at North Carolina State University (2003–2019) and has worked in governmental laboratories like NOAA and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Education : Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering (University of Iowa, USA), B.S. in Environmental Engineering (Tsinghua University, China) Research Interests include: Air pollution and air quality Atmospheric chemistry, physics, and transport Chemistry-aerosol-cloud-climate interactions Multiscale atmospheric modeling Health impact assessment Scientific Awards include the U.S. NSF Career Award, Stanford University's Top 2% Scientist recognition, and multiple international fellowships from RTI, FAPESP, and French institutions. He has led development of major 3-D global-to-local atmospheric models and advised 18 postdocs, 13 PhD students, 15 MS students, and 14 undergraduates. He serves on the WMO's Global Air Quality Forecasting and Information System (GAFIS) Steering Committee and UNC-Chapel Hill's External Advisory Committee for the Community Modeling and Analysis System Center.

• Air pollution and air quality
• Atmospheric chemistry
• Aerosol microphysics
• +4 more

Martin Weißmann is a Professor for Theoretical Meteorology at the University of Vienna's Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy, where he has served since 2020. Previously, he headed the Department of Meteorology and Geophysics (2020-2022) and the Data Assimilation Branch at the Hans-Ertel Centre for Weather Research. His research focuses on numerical weather prediction, atmospheric data assimilation, ensemble forecasting, error modeling, and applications of wind lidar and satellite data. Education includes an MSc in Meteorology from the University of Innsbruck (1996-2003) and a PhD from DLR Oberpfaffenhofen in cooperation with University of Innsbruck (2003-2006). His scientific commitments include membership in the ESA Aeolus Science and data quality Advisory Group and coordination of the project Experimental Validation and Assimilation of Aeolus Observations. Research interests center on: Advanced data assimilation techniques for numerical weather prediction Ensemble methods for probabilistic forecasting and error quantification Integration of novel observation systems like Doppler wind lidars Validation and application of Aeolus satellite wind data Convective-scale modeling and high-resolution forecasting His publication record demonstrates consistent focus on improving weather prediction systems through innovative assimilation methods, with recent work emphasizing machine learning applications, convective-scale data assimilation, and satellite data validation. Teaching responsibilities include courses in dynamic meteorology, numerical weather prediction, and scientific communication.

• Numerical weather prediction
• Atmospheric data assimilation
• Ensemble forecasting
• +4 more