Jessica V. Fayne

Jessica V. Fayne is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Michigan, affiliated with the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. She holds prestigious titles including LSA Collegiate Fellow and Presidential Research Fellow. Her research focuses on leveraging satellite remote sensing technology to address critical questions about climate change impacts, hydroclimatic hazards, and climate resilience.

• Hydrology
• Land Cover Analysis
• Climate Change
• Terrestrial Water Storage
• Landslide Detection
• Wildfire Dynamics
• Ka-band Radar Applications

Her work highlights the global coverage of the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission, with a strong emphasis on water surface elevation retrieval, radar scattering sensitivity, and near-real-time flood mapping. While her lab and field work sections are under construction, her research themes indicate a multidisciplinary approach to environmental monitoring.

Scientific Awards

• LSA Collegiate Fellow
• Presidential Research Fellow

Dr. Fayne’s lab investigates radar scattering on surface water and wet vegetation, precipitation downscaling, and the interplay between climate change and natural hazards. Her focus on computational methods (80-90% of lab work) and preliminary assessments of Ka-band scattering (5-10% of lab work) reflects her commitment to advancing geospatial technologies.