Jian Peng

Prof. Dr. Jian Peng is a W3 Professor for Hydrology and Remote Sensing at the University of Leipzig and Head of the Remote Sensing Department at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) since January 2020. He holds a joint appointment between these institutions and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Geoscience Data Journal for the Royal Meteorological Society. His academic career spans prestigious institutions including the University of Oxford, University of Munich, and the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology.

Education:

• Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, University of Oxford (2018-2020)
• PhD in Earth Science, Max Planck Institute for Meteorology (2010-2013)

Professor Peng's research focuses on the intersection of hydrology, remote sensing, and climate science. His work centers on the quantitative extraction of land surface parameters from remote sensing data, assimilation of this data into climate and land surface models, understanding land-atmosphere interactions, and quantifying climate change impacts on water resources. He has particular expertise in estimating high-resolution land surface water and energy fluxes from satellite observations and investigating hydrological and climatic extremes. His research employs both process-based modeling and data-driven approaches to address critical questions in Earth system science.

Professor Peng's recent publications (2021-2025) demonstrate a strong focus on soil moisture monitoring, drought assessment, climate extremes, and land-atmosphere interactions. His work increasingly integrates multi-source satellite data with advanced modeling techniques to produce high-resolution environmental datasets. A significant portion of his research addresses the impacts of climate change on water resources and agricultural systems, with particular attention to regional studies in China and global applications. His collaborative approach is evident in the extensive co-authorship networks spanning multiple continents and disciplines.

Scientific Awards and Recognition:

• 2019 Remote Sensing Young Investigator Award, MDPI
• Featured as 'promising future leader in climate science' by the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP)

Professor Peng leads an active research group within the Remote Sensing Department at UFZ, supervising PhD candidates through programs like MoDEV and mentoring early-career researchers. His team has secured funding from major organizations including the EU and the German Research Foundation (DFG). The group maintains strong international collaborations, particularly with institutions in China, the UK, and the US. Current research directions include developing high-resolution environmental monitoring systems, improving drought prediction capabilities, and understanding the complex interactions between climate change, water resources, and ecosystem functioning.

Professor Peng's research group, part of the Remote Sensing Department at UFZ, includes researchers such as Daniel Doktor, Almudena García-García, Maximilian Lange, Anne Reichmuth, Andreas Schmidt, Elisabeth Rahmsdorf, Mohammad Hajeb, and Xueying Li. The department is embedded within UFZ's broader research framework focusing on 'Smart Models / Monitoring' and contributes to multiple interdisciplinary research units including Ecosystems of the Future, Water Resources and Environment, and Compound Environmental Risks. The team operates within the Remote Sensing Center for Earth System Research (RSC4Earth), which facilitates cutting-edge Earth observation research.