Erik Nielsen

Erik Nielsen is an Instructional Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University's Department of Atmospheric Science. His research focuses on operational forecasting, extreme rainfall processes, and social aspects of weather warnings. He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Atmospheric Science from Colorado State University and a B.S. in Meteorology from Texas A&M University.

Key research interests include mesoscale convective systems, concurrent hazards (e.g., tornado-flash flood overlaps), and improving forecast communication. Notable awards include the NSF GRFP Fellowship (2014-2018) and American Meteorological Society Graduate Fellowship (2013-2014).

His recent work emphasizes understanding the dynamics of extreme precipitation events, such as the Houston Tax Day Flood (2016), and leveraging social science to enhance disaster response. Publications span journals like Weather and Forecasting, Monthly Weather Review, and Human-Computer Interaction.

• Education:
  • Ph.D., Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University
  • M.S., Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University
  • B.S., Meteorology, Texas A&M University
• Awards:
  • 2020 Bulletin of the AMS “Paper of Note”
  • 2013 Thomas S. Gathright Academic Excellence Award

Grants and collaborations include NSF-funded research on compound hazards and field campaigns like PECAN. He actively engages in public outreach through social media analysis of disaster communication patterns.