Esther MullensView profile
Assistant Professor
Esther Mullens is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Florida, affiliated with the School of Natural Resources and the Environment. She holds a PhD in Meteorology from the University of Oklahoma (2014) and a B.Sc. in Meteorology from the University of Reading (2007). Her research focuses on precipitation variability, climate dynamics, and climate adaptation, particularly in extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and freezing rain regimes. She co-authored the Southern Great Plains Chapter of the National Climate Assessment (NCA4) and leads the Mullens Lab, collaborating on projects like PRES2iP to improve sub-seasonal precipitation predictions. Key affiliations include the UF Water Institute, the University of Oklahoma South Central Climate Adaptation Center, and the School of National Resources and the Environment. Recent funded projects include an NSF-AGS grant (2021–2024) totaling $294,440 for studying thermodynamic modifications of winter storms. Her educational contributions include expanding meteorological teaching at UF and developing curricula for atmospheric dynamics courses. Research interests emphasize stakeholder science, particularly assisting with climate data interpretation for adaptation planning. Notable contributions include analyzing precipitation whiplash events, atmospheric river severity, and the impacts of climate change on transportation infrastructure in Oklahoma. She actively engages in interdisciplinary workshops to bridge science and decision-making, such as the subseasonal-to-seasonal extreme precipitation forecasting initiative. Her advising record includes current graduate students Agatha Anokwu and Austin Britton, with alumni such as Dr. Hongsheng Wang and Meirah Williamson. She leads the Mullens Lab, advancing research on climate extremes and co-producing knowledge with stakeholders through collaborative frameworks.
