Minghui Diao

Dr. Minghui Diao is Associate Professor in the Department of Meteorology and Climate Science at San José State University. She holds a Ph.D. from Princeton University and B.S. from Peking University. Her research focuses on cloud-aerosol interactions through aircraft observations, remote sensing, and climate modeling.

Research investigates cirrus cloud evolution, aerosol indirect effects, Southern Ocean mixed-phase clouds, and satellite validation methods. Field campaigns include NSF SOCRATES (Australia), ORCAS (Chile), HIPPO (global), and NASA DC3 (US).

Recent publications demonstrate advances in understanding cloud microphysical processes using machine learning, observational constraints on climate models, and hemispheric cloud property comparisons. Work contributes to improved parameterizations in NCAR CAM and E3SM models.

Honors include SJSU Early Career Investigator Award and multiple NCAR fellowships. Dr. Diao teaches courses in physical meteorology, climate change, and advanced atmospheric physics while leading the Cloud Research Group.