Ryan Torn

Ryan Torn is the Chair and Professor in the Department of Atmospheric & Environmental Sciences at the University at Albany, SUNY. He holds a BS in Atmospheric Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2002) and a PhD in Atmospheric Science from the University of Washington (2007). His research focuses on atmospheric predictability, data assimilation, and the dynamics of synoptic and mesoscale weather systems, with a particular emphasis on tropical cyclones, atmospheric rivers, and Arctic cyclones. His work involves collaborations with institutions like the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), National Hurricane Center, and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.

He leads the Torn Research Group, which includes PhD and MS students such as Peyton Capute, Melissa Piper, and Ivan Fontanez. The group has a history of impactful contributions to weather forecasting, as evidenced by milestones like Travis joining NOAA/EMC as a scientist (2018) and Rosimar securing a post-doc at NCAR (2017). His academic career includes promotions to Associate Professor (2014) and Professor (2019), alongside serving as department chair since 2019.

Research activities emphasize improving numerical weather prediction models through error analysis and data assimilation strategies. The group’s work is documented in collaborations with international programs like the Waves-to-Weather initiative and participation in conferences such as the AMS Annual Meetings. Students under his advisement have transitioned into roles at NOAA, NCAR, and private sectors like Climacell and Truweather Solutions.