Alia Khan

Alia Khan serves as an Associate Professor in the Aerospace Department at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she conducts groundbreaking research in optical remote sensing of Earth's surface using uncrewed aerial systems and satellite-based sensors. Her work bridges aerospace engineering with environmental science, focusing on critical climate-related phenomena in polar and mountainous regions.

Dr. Khan earned her PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2016, following an MS in Environmental Studies from the same institution in 2012, and a BSPH with Honors in Environmental Science and Engineering from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in 2009.

Her research interests center on autonomous system development for environmental monitoring, with particular expertise in aquatic biogeochemistry, aerosols, and cryosphere studies including glacial and snow hydrology. She has pioneered methods using UAV technology to study snow algae, glacier ablation, and black carbon impacts on ice sheets. Her work spans from Antarctic ecosystems to Andean snowpacks and Arctic oceans, addressing critical climate change indicators through innovative remote sensing approaches.

Analysis of Dr. Khan's recent publications reveals a strong focus on polar and cryospheric research, with particular attention to black carbon impacts on ice sheets, snow algae monitoring, and the application of UAV technology for environmental observation. Her interdisciplinary work connects atmospheric science, glaciology, and remote sensing to address pressing climate change questions, with increasing emphasis on human impacts in polar regions and the development of cost-effective monitoring technologies.

• National Science Foundation - CAREER Grant Awardee (2022)
• US Fulbright Scholar to the Chilean Antarctic Program (2019)
• Antarctic Service Medal, National Science Foundation (2012)
• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (2010)

Dr. Khan has successfully mentored students including Colby F. Rand and S. Healy, who appear as first authors on multiple publications. Her research has been supported by significant grants including the NSF CAREER award and Fulbright Scholarship, enabling extensive field work in Antarctica, the Arctic, and mountainous regions worldwide. She teaches GEEN 1400 First Year Engineering Projects and Drone Remote Sensing, integrating her research expertise into undergraduate education.

Her work involves extensive collaboration with international research teams across polar regions, including participation in Antarctic research programs and Arctic monitoring initiatives. Dr. Khan's laboratory focuses on developing and deploying UAV-based remote sensing systems for environmental monitoring, with particular emphasis on cryospheric applications and the development of cost-effective monitoring solutions for challenging environments.