California Institute of Technology (Caltech)United States
Tapio Schneider is the Theodore Y. Wu Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering at the California Institute of Technology. His research focuses on atmospheric dynamics across Earth and other planets, climate modeling innovations, and geophysical turbulence analysis. He contributes to the Climate Modeling Alliance (CliMA) and develops advanced computational tools for climate prediction. Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg (Vordiplom, 1993) Princeton University (M.Sc. 1997, Ph.D. 2001) University of Washington, Seattle (Visiting Graduate Student, 1994-1995) His research spans climate dynamics , atmospheric turbulence , and AI-enhanced climate modeling , addressing challenges in cloud dynamics, extreme weather patterns, and planetary climate systems. Current work emphasizes hybrid machine learning-physical models and computational acceleration for high-resolution simulations. Recent publications highlight trends in AI integration for climate science, with applications in hydrology , cloud microphysics , ocean circulation , snowpack modeling , and climate tipping points . His team develops open-source tools like ClimateMachine for GPU-accelerated simulations. Scientific Recognition: Fellow, American Geophysical Union (2022) Rosenstiel Award (2019) World Economic Forum Young Scientist (2012) David and Lucile Packard Fellow (2005-2010) Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow (2004-2006) Tapio leads climate dynamics research at Caltech, directs the Linde Center for Global Environmental Science (2011-2012), and serves as Editor for the Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems . His group collaborates with NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2016-2024) and Google Research (2022-present).
Peter A. Raymond is the Oastler Professor of Biogeochemistry at Yale University's School of the Environment and Department of Geology and Geophysics. He serves as Senior Associate Dean of Research & Director of Doctoral Studies and is Co-Director of the Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture. Raymond leads the Raymond Biogeochemistry Lab, which investigates the biogeochemistry of inland waters, enhanced weathering, methane cycling, and blue carbon systems through cutting-edge field, laboratory, and modeling approaches. Education B.S., Marist College Ph.D., College of William and Mary/Virginia Institute of Marine Science Research Focus Raymond's research fundamentally reshapes our understanding of carbon cycling in aquatic systems, demonstrating that rivers serve as dynamic conduits rather than passive pipes in the global carbon cycle. His work examines how biology and watershed variables alter carbon chemistry in streams, rivers, and estuaries, with particular emphasis on understanding global carbon cycles in relation to climate change. Raymond employs radiocarbon measurements to explore the age and turnover of carbon in aquatic ecosystems, revealing that rivers are variable sources of both old and young terrestrial dissolved organic carbon to oceans. The Raymond Lab is particularly known for developing the Pulse-Shunt Concept, which challenges traditional views of riverine biogeochemistry by emphasizing the episodic and dynamic nature of elemental fluxes. Current research directions include enhanced weathering and alkalinity studies for carbon removal, global greenhouse gas budgets through projects like RECCAP 2, natural methane cycling in aquatic systems, and blue carbon ecosystems such as mangroves and salt marshes. Publication Trends Raymond's recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate a strong focus on global carbon and methane cycling, with particular attention to inland water systems' role in the Earth's climate system. His work increasingly integrates large-scale datasets with field measurements to understand how climate change and human activities affect greenhouse gas emissions from rivers and streams. A significant portion of his recent work contributes to international efforts like the Global Carbon Project, aiming to refine estimates of global carbon and methane fluxes. His research also shows growing emphasis on carbon removal strategies, particularly enhanced rock weathering through the Earthshot-funded GOAL-A project, and their potential for climate mitigation. Scientific Recognition Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Member of the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering Coastal and Estuarine Research Federations Cronin Award for Young Scientists ISI highly cited author Past Editor and Chief of the American Geophysical Union's journal Global Biogeochemical Cycles Mentorship and Funding Professor Raymond currently mentors four doctoral students (Jon Gewirtzman, Shou-En "Samuel" Tsao, Benjamin Saalidong, and Mingyu Zhang) and masters student Bella Garrioch. His research is supported by multiple grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), including CAREER awards, and participation in the Earthshot-funded GOAL-A (Global Ocean And Land Alkalinization) project. Raymond has also been involved in significant collaborative projects with USGS data to research how climate and land use change alter carbon export from US watersheds, and with Lamont Doherty to develop methods for measuring air-sea gas exchange of CO2 in rivers and estuaries. Research Infrastructure The Raymond Biogeochemistry Lab at Yale is a dynamic research group comprising research scientists, postdocs, doctoral and masters students, and postgraduate researchers. The lab recently acquired a Mini Carbon Dating System (MICADAS) at Yale, significantly expanding their research capabilities in ecosystem carbon turnover and verification of natural climate solutions. The lab collaborates globally on projects in the Arctic, Hudson River, and middle Atlantic Bight, and is actively involved in the NASA Carbon Monitoring System BlueFlux field campaign to assess carbon exchange in coastal wetlands.
Tobias Bolch is a full Professor at the Institute of Geodesy, Graz University of Technology (TU Graz), Austria, specializing in cryospheric research with a focus on High Mountain Asia and the Tibetan Plateau. His work integrates advanced geodetic and remote sensing methodologies to address critical climate change impacts on glaciers and related systems. His research spans: Glacier dynamics and mass balance monitoring using InSAR and optical satellite data Rock glacier kinematics and permafrost interactions Glacial lake evolution and outburst flood hazards Climate-glacier-hydrology linkages in Central Asian river basins Long-term cryosphere reconstruction using historical satellite archives Analysis of his 2023-2025 publications reveals dominant trends in quantifying ice loss acceleration, particularly from lake-terminating glaciers, and the application of multi-sensor approaches (Sentinel, ASTER, UAV) for decadal-scale change detection. His work consistently emphasizes the hydrological consequences of glacier retreat for downstream water security across High Mountain Asia. No scientific awards or specific grant programs were documented in the provided materials. While student supervision details are absent, his position at TU Graz's Institute of Geodesy indicates active mentorship within geospatial and cryospheric research programs. His homepage (https://ifg.tugraz.at) serves as the primary hub for research dissemination through the university's PURE portal.
Matthew Osman is an Assistant Professor of Climate Science in the Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge. He leads the Cambridge Computational Climate and PaleOceanography (C3PO) group and serves as a supervisor for the Cambridge NERC Doctoral Landscape Awards (DLA). Dr. Osman's research focuses on understanding climate dynamics across various timescales by integrating geochemical proxy records, modern observations, and climate model simulations. His work centers on: Developing quantitative tools to reconstruct past climates and constrain future projections Using data assimilation and modeling methods for key climate intervals (mid-Pliocene, Last Ice Age, interglacials) Creating probabilistic frameworks combining proxies with climate simulations Developing statistical proxy system models for ice cores and marine records Investigating cryosphere-climate feedbacks, particularly ice sheets and sea ice His research spans sub-seasonal to millennial time intervals, specializing in bridging climate proxies with global climate models. He works closely with the international PMIP/CMIP community on projects spanning Arctic sea ice sensitivity, AMOC weakening, and carbon cycle feedbacks. Dr. Osman actively supervises PhD students through the Department of Geography PhD Program and encourages students interested in quantitative climate science to develop projects in: Using paleo data to constrain future climate projections Developing fingerprinting techniques for proxy records Building probabilistic proxy system models Applying paleoclimate data assimilation during ice sheet collapse Climate risk modeling using physics-informed statistics The C3PO group maintains a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, welcoming researchers from all backgrounds to address the climate crisis through quantitative, multidisciplinary approaches.
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)United States
Xiaojing (Ruby) Fu is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Civil Engineering at the California Institute of Technology and a William H. Hurt Scholar (2024-present). Her research focuses on multiphase fluid mechanics in porous media, integrating theory, computation, experiments, and field observations to address geoscience and engineering challenges. Her educational background includes: B.S. in Engineering from Clarkson University (2011) M.S. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2015) Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2017) Professor Fu's research centers on cryosphere hydrology, subsurface engineering, and phase transitions in porous media. She investigates multiphase flow dynamics in contexts like permafrost thaw, snow metamorphism, and carbon sequestration using phase-field modeling and experimental techniques. Her work bridges fundamental physics with applications in environmental resilience and energy systems, emphasizing predictive capabilities for large-scale phenomena through simplified multiscale theories. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals intense focus on cryosphere processes (snow, permafrost) using advanced phase-field modeling and fiber-optic sensing. Key trends include freezing infiltration patterns, meltwater transport in layered snow, and seismic monitoring of soil moisture. Her work increasingly integrates field validation with computational models for environmental applications like drought monitoring and carbon sequestration. Her scientific recognition includes: William H. Hurt Scholar (2024) Professor Fu actively mentors graduate students, as evidenced by qualified students in her research group. She teaches core courses including Thermal Science (ME 11 abc) and Computational Methods for Flow in Porous Media (ME/CE/Ge/ESE 146), training students in both theoretical foundations and applied techniques for subsurface flow problems. She leads the Fu Research Group on Mechanics and Physics of Porous Media Flow, which develops multiscale theories to predict large-scale environmental and energy system behaviors. The group combines mathematical modeling, laboratory experiments, and field observations to address problems in geologic carbon storage, cryosphere dynamics, and subsurface resource management, with recent emphasis on climate change impacts and monitoring technologies.
Dr Olly Bartlett is a Senior Lecturer in Remote Sensing and Geography at the University of Hertfordshire , affiliated with the Department of Psychology, Sport and Geography within the School of Life and Medical Sciences. His work focuses on planetary-scale remote sensing analysis of the cryosphere, with field campaigns in Greenland, Nepal, Svalbard, and the Peruvian Andes. Education: PhD in Physical Geography (University of Exeter, 2020); MSc in Polar and Alpine Change (University of Sheffield, 2016); BSc in Physical Geography (University of Sheffield, 2015) Dr Bartlett specializes in UAV-based remote sensing and Google Earth Engine , holding a UK GVC for UAV operations. His research tracks environmental changes in polar and alpine regions, including quantifying Antarctic Peninsula greening (1986–2021) and glacier dynamics in the Himalayas and Canadian Arctic. Recent publications highlight his methodological innovations in radar surveying and supraglacial hummock morphology studies. His work bridges glaciology and geospatial analysis , focusing on climate-induced glacial retreat impacts. He supervises PhD student Lottie Pearson on pan-Arctic permafrost thaw projects and collaborates internationally on cryospheric studies.
Leif Eriksson is a Professor at Chalmers University of Technology , specializing in Radar Remote Sensing within the Department of Space, Earth and Environment . His career at Chalmers began in 2004, and he was promoted to Professor in 2022 after serving as Group Leader (2012–2017) and Head of Faculty Assembly (2017–2020). His research focuses on developing advanced methods for environmental monitoring using radar data, particularly synthetic aperture radar (SAR) from satellites and aircraft. Leadership Roles: Group Leader (Radar Remote Sensing), Faculty Assembly Head Key Collaborations: Rymdstyrelsen, EU Horizon, VINNOVA, European Space Agency Research Interests : Dr. Eriksson’s work spans forest biomass estimation , sea ice dynamics , and ocean surface current/wind retrieval . He integrates SAR data with in situ observations and climate models to study: Forest degradation (clear cuts, storm damage) via multi-temporal SAR Sea ice concentration, drift patterns, and thickness in Arctic regions Wind vectors and surface currents using interferometric SAR techniques Applications for maritime navigation safety and polar shipping optimization Article Trends : His recent publications emphasize SAR’s role in transport infrastructure monitoring (e.g., Iron Ore Line degradation), pan-Arctic landfast ice stability , and multi-frequency SAR fusion for enhanced sea ice observations. Collaborative work with teams across Europe and the U.S. highlights interdisciplinary approaches to climate and marine research. Projects & Grants : Dr. Eriksson leads or contributes to projects such as: CAISA (2022–2024): Air-ice-sea data assimilation EONav (2016–2019): Copernicus data for maritime navigation SEDNA (2017–2020): Safe Arctic shipping Forest Biomass Monitoring (2017–2018): Spaceborne SAR applications His work is supported by Rymdstyrelsen, EU Horizon, and industry partners like Trafikverket. Labs & Teams : He is central to the Radar Remote Sensing Group at Chalmers, collaborating with institutions like Lund University and international bodies such as ESA. His research often involves satellite campaigns (e.g., TanDEM-X, Sentinel) and field studies in polar regions.
Joanna Millstein is a Post-doctoral Fellow in Geophysics at the Colorado School of Mines. She earned her Ph.D. in Geophysics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2023 as part of the MIT-WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography and Engineering, where her dissertation focused on The Flow and Fracture of Antarctic Ice Shelves . She also holds an A.B. in Earth Sciences from Dartmouth College (2017). Her research centers on the deformation and fracture of glacier ice, working at the intersection of fracture mechanics, remote sensing (particularly SAR and InSAR processing), statistical mechanics, and stochastic models. Millstein uses observational data from satellites and field measurements to derive mechanical and statistical models for glacier ice processes, with particular focus on reconciling observations of ice fracture and iceberg calving with theoretical models. Her work aims to resolve the nonlinear physics of glacier ice to better understand future global climate change impacts. Millstein's publication record shows a strong focus on Antarctic ice dynamics, with recent work applying extreme value theory to analyze 47 years of iceberg calving events. Her research demonstrates consistent attention to both theoretical modeling and practical applications for understanding climate change impacts on polar regions. She has developed computational tools including CryoCloud, reflecting her commitment to open science and cloud-based infrastructure for cryosphere research. Her scientific contributions span ice shelf mechanics, fracture prediction, rheology, and statistical modeling of glacial processes. Millstein maintains an active research presence with publications extending to 2025, demonstrating ongoing contributions to the field of glaciology and climate science. She is affiliated with the glaciology research center at Colorado School of Mines and maintains an active GitHub presence with climate-related code repositories. Her work bridges theoretical geophysics with practical climate change impact assessment, particularly regarding ice sheet stability and sea level rise projections.
Lorenzo M. Polvani is the Maurice Ewing and J. Lamar Worzel Professor of Geophysics at Columbia University, with dual appointments in the Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics and the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. He has taught at Columbia for over 30 years and received multiple teaching awards. PhD in Physical Oceanography, MIT/Woods Hole Joint Program (1988) MSc and BSc in Physics, McGill University His research spans Atmospheric Science , Climate Modeling , and Arctic Studies , focusing on geophysical fluid dynamics, radiative forcing, and climate sensitivity. Recent work examines nonlinear climate responses to CO2 variations, Arctic amplification mechanisms, and volcanic aerosol impacts. Scientific publications reveal trends in radiative forcing , Arctic sea ice dynamics , stratospheric ozone effects , and climate feedback interactions . Key tools include the ClimKern Python package for radiative feedback analysis. Notable research includes: Nonlinear precipitation responses to volcanic eruptions High CO2 forcing effects on North Atlantic Oscillation Cloud feedbacks reducing hydrological sensitivity Arctic amplification through radiative-advective equilibrium Stratospheric ozone impacts on tropical climate patterns
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in LausanneSwitzerland
Lucas Paoli is a Researcher and Course Instructor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland. He leads the Paoli Lab (Microbiome Immunity and Ecology) within the Global Health Institute (GHI) under the School of Life Sciences (SV). His roles include scientific collaboration and teaching responsibilities in life sciences engineering. Paoli holds a PhD in Microbiome Research from ETH Zürich (2018-2023), an M.Phil. in Environmental Policy from the University of Cambridge (2017-2018), and an M.Sc. in Ecology and Evolution from École normale supérieure (2015-2017). Research Focus: His work bridges microbial immunity and ecology, investigating how microbes defend against viral infections across ecosystems like oceans and human microbiomes. Techniques include global-scale metagenomics and functional genomics to study immune strategies and ecological interactions. Key themes involve microbial community dynamics, viral defense mechanisms, and the impact of environmental factors on microbial immunity. Lab & Education: The Paoli Lab explores microbiome-immunity interactions with a focus on ecological contexts. Paoli supervises PhD students in Life Sciences Engineering. His research outputs span microbial ecology, metagenomic tool development, and marine microbiome studies. Contact: lucas.paoli@epfl.ch, AAB 1 39, +41 21 693 16 99.
Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric ResearchGermany
Dr. Arun Babu Suja is a Research Scientist at the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) in Leipzig, Germany, affiliated with the Department of Atmospheric Microphysics . His research focuses on aerosol-climate interactions in extreme environments including the Arctic, Himalayas, and oceanic regions. Education: Ph.D. in Physics, University of Kerala, India (2018-2022) M.Phil. in Physics, University of Kerala (2014-2015) M.Sc. in Physics, University of Kerala (2011-2013) B.Sc. in Physics and Computer Application, University of Kerala (2008-2011) Research Experience: 2022-Present: Research Scientist at TROPOS, Germany 2016-2022: Research Scholar at ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre 2015-2016: Research Fellow at Indian Institute of Science Research Interests: Specializes in aerosol mixing state, aerosol-cryosphere interactions, radiative forcing, and ice nucleating particles. Current projects include studies of Arctic aerosol transport (APAICA) and Bay of Bengal aerosol characteristics (BIOCAT-IIOE2). Publications: His 10 publications (2019-2024) focus on aerosol properties in Himalayan/Arctic regions, with emphasis on carbonaceous aerosols, black carbon distribution, and radiative effects. Research methodologies combine field measurements and chemical analysis. Awards: ISRO Junior Research Fellowship (2016)
Professor Joanna Bullard is a leading academic in Physical Geography at Loughborough University, specializing in aeolian processes, climate-landscape interactions, and dust dynamics. She holds adjunct roles at Griffith University, Australia, and has served in key leadership positions including Associate Dean (Teaching) and President of the International Society for Aeolian Research. Her work integrates field observations, remote sensing, and experimental methods to study dust emissions, microplastic transport, and environmental change in polar and arid regions. Bullard has received prestigious awards such as the EGU Ralph Alger Bagnold Medal (2021) and the Philip Leverhulme Prize (2004). Education: PhD from University of Sheffield Her research focuses on Arctic ecosystems, high-latitude dust pathways, and the geomorphic impacts of climate change. Recent work explores microplastic degradation via wind abrasion and the biogeochemical role of dust in Greenland’s lakes. Bullard’s teaching innovations include augmented reality tools for geomorphology education and crowd-sourced meteorological data projects. Awards: EGU Bagnold Medal, British Society for Geomorphology Fellowship, HEA Principal Fellowship Publications emphasize dust-climate feedbacks, aeolian sediment dynamics, and interdisciplinary methodologies. She leads international collaborations on dust cycle modeling and Arctic environmental monitoring.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityUnited States
Mike Willis is an Associate Professor of Cryospheric Science, Geodesy & Remote Sensing at the Department of Geosciences, Virginia Tech's College of Science. His research focuses on advancing remote sensing techniques to study Earth's cryosphere, coastal environments, and natural hazards. He leads projects on glacial dynamics, sea level rise impacts, landslide monitoring, and the application of GNSS and InSAR technologies. His work combines field instrumentation (e.g., OrangePi-GNSS systems) with satellite data analysis to address climate and geohazard challenges in polar regions and coastal communities. Education background: Not explicitly stated in provided text. Research interests include cryospheric science, geodetic monitoring, and environmental remote sensing applications. His lab group maintains a dedicated website at https://sites.google.com/view/4datvt/ . Key research themes include: Glacier and ice shelf mass balance Coastal vulnerability to sea level rise Disaster monitoring using GNSS-IR and InSAR High-resolution digital terrain modeling Recent projects highlight work in Greenland (landslide monitoring, sea level measurements), the Pacific Northwest (subduction zone hazards), and the Dominican Republic (coastal inundation modeling). His interdisciplinary approach bridges geophysical observations with computational geospatial analysis.
Jon Hawkings is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science at the University of Pennsylvania School of Arts & Sciences. His research focuses on biogeochemical cycles in glacial environments, particularly the role of glacial meltwater in downstream ecosystems and coastal oceans. He investigates processes such as subglacial weathering, nutrient mobilization, and contaminant transport, with fieldwork conducted in the Arctic, Patagonia, Himalayas, and Antarctica. Education: PhD in Biogeochemistry (University of Bristol, 2015); MSci in Physical Geography (University of Bristol, 2009). Research Interests: Aqueous biogeochemistry and elemental cycles Chemical weathering and mineral dissolution Contaminant transport (e.g., mercury, arsenic) Glaciology and ice sheet dynamics Environmental impacts of glacial meltwater He collaborates on projects such as the Salsa-Antarctica subglacial lake drilling initiative. His work integrates field observations, electrochemical sensing, and lab analyses to address pressing questions in cryosphere science. Awards: None explicitly listed, but active in professional societies like the American Geophysical Union. Advising/Grants: No student advisees listed; funding sources include grants for fieldwork and analytical studies in glacial systems. Labs/Teams: Leads field research groups in remote polar and mountainous regions, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaborations between geochemistry, glaciology, and environmental science.
Ana Paula Da Silva is a Research Fellow at the University of Sydney's Faculty of Science, specializing in coastal oceanography and eco-morphodynamics. Her work focuses on wave climate changes, sediment transport dynamics, coastal adaptation strategies, and Arctic coastal processes. She holds a Ph.D. from Griffith University (Australia) and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Quebec (Canada), studying High Arctic coastal erosion. Currently, she investigates the Great Barrier Reef's eco-morphodynamics and projected coastal changes through 2100. Education Ph.D. in Coastal Oceanography, Griffith University, Australia (Focus: Fingal Headland sediment bypassing) MSc in Coastal Dynamics, UFSC, Brazil Bachelor (Hons) in Oceanography, UFSC, Brazil Research Interests Ana's research bridges climate science and coastal management, emphasizing: Climate-driven changes in wave regimes and sediment transport Headland bypassing mechanisms and coastal connectivity Arctic coastal morphodynamics impacted by glacier retreat Long-term coastal vulnerability assessments Media Engagement She has participated in science communications through: ABC Radio interviews (2021) explaining Fingal Head sand bypassing impacts Conversation article (2020) on disappearing Australian beaches Lab/Affiliation Affiliated with Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, contributing to interdisciplinary coastal research initiatives.
