Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in LausanneSwitzerland
Alexis Berne is an Associate Professor at the Environmental Remote Sensing Laboratory (LTE) within the School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC) at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). He co-directs the SSIE-GE program and serves as a member of the CDS (Commission for Doctoral Studies) . His research spans radar meteorology, precipitation microphysics, polar precipitation, and geostatistics, with a focus on mountainous and polar regions. Current Positions Associate Professor, LTE, EPFL (2013–present) Co-Director, SSIE-GE, EPFL PhD Program Committee Member, EDCE-GE, EPFL Research Interests include the remote sensing of precipitation, particularly snowfall and ice production mechanisms, using radar and geostatistical methods. His work addresses atmospheric processes in extreme environments like Antarctica and the Swiss Alps, leveraging machine learning and numerical modeling for climate analysis. Teaching encompasses courses on remote sensing, atmospheric processes, and climate change, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches and spatiotemporal variability. He advises current PhD students such as Heather Anne Corden and Gionata Ghiggi, alongside mentoring past students like Jacopo Grazioli and Timothy Hugh Raupach.
Leena Järvi is a Professor at the Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR) and Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS) , University of Helsinki. Her work bridges urban climate science , air pollution , and greenhouse gas dynamics through experimental and theoretical approaches. Research Interests : Urban micrometeorology, carbon sequestration in green spaces, climate mitigation strategies, and air quality modeling. Key Projects : CO-CARBON (Strategic Research Council), GHUGS (Research Council of Finland), and PAUL (EU Horizon 2020). Her recent publications focus on urban CO2 fluxes , carbonyl sulfide as a carbon proxy , and climate impacts of urban vegetation . She has supervised 12 PhD students, 7 postdocs, and 17 undergraduates, while serving on editorial boards and organizing international workshops. Scientific Awards : Timothy Oke Award 2021 (IAUC). Teaching : Courses on Urban Climate and Atmospheric Sciences .
Xuhui Lee is the Sara Shallenberger Brown Professor of Climate Science at Yale University's School of the Environment. He maintains offices at Kroon Hall (195 Prospect Street) and laboratory facilities at the Class of 1954 Environmental Science Center (21 Sachem Street, Room 300) in New Haven, Connecticut. Professor Lee is an active researcher and educator specializing in the interactions between the terrestrial biosphere, atmosphere, and anthropogenic drivers, with particular expertise in boundary-layer meteorology and climate science. He is currently on leave for the Fall 2025 semester but continues to accept doctoral students. Professor Lee received his B.S.C. and M.S.C. from Nanjing Institute of Meteorology in China, followed by a Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia. His academic journey has positioned him as a leading expert in climate science, particularly in the areas of land-atmosphere interactions and urban climate systems. Professor Lee's research focuses on boundary-layer meteorology, micrometeorological instrumentation, remote sensing, and carbon cycle science. His work examines biophysical effects of land use on the climate system, greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial environments (including forests, cropland, and lakes), isotopic tracers in carbon dioxide and water vapor cycling, and urban climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. His lab employs diverse methodologies including field observations (eddy covariance, optical isotope instruments, and greenhouse gas analyzers), mathematical models (land surface models, large-eddy simulation, WRF, and earth system models), and environmental remote sensing (satellites and drones). The Lee Lab investigates phenomena across multiple scales from micro (urban greenspaces) to global (land wet-bulb temperature, historical deforestation). Analysis of Professor Lee's recent publications reveals a strong focus on urban climate systems, greenhouse gas emissions, and land-atmosphere interactions. His 2024-2025 work demonstrates increasing application of advanced remote sensing technologies and machine learning approaches to climate problems, with significant attention to urban heat islands, methane and CO2 emissions monitoring, and the impacts of land use change on climate systems. His research shows a clear trajectory toward more sophisticated integration of observational data with modeling approaches to address critical climate challenges. Sara Shallenberger Brown Professor of Climate Science (named professorship) Professor Lee actively mentors doctoral students and has established the Lee Lab as a hub for climate research at Yale. His lab group conducts field observations, mathematical modeling, and remote sensing analysis to advance understanding of climate systems. The lab's research infrastructure supports investigations from micro-scale urban environments to global climate patterns, with particular emphasis on urban heat mitigation and greenhouse gas monitoring. The Lee Lab at Yale, located in Room 300 of the Class of 1954 Environmental Science Center, serves as the primary research facility for Professor Lee's team. The lab deploys an array of research methodologies including field observations with eddy covariance systems and optical isotope instruments, mathematical modeling using land surface models and earth system models, and environmental remote sensing with satellites and drones. The lab's research spans multiple spatial scales from micro (urban greenspaces) to global (land wet-bulb temperature patterns), addressing critical questions about climate change impacts and mitigation strategies.
Dr. Toprak Aslan is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster, specializing in biosphere-atmosphere interactions. He holds an Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship and focuses on carbon exchange dynamics in forest ecosystems using eddy covariance techniques. His educational background includes: Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences (2025) from the University of Helsinki, with a dissertation on carbon exchange in managed boreal forests. M.Sc. in Atmospheric Sciences (2015) from Istanbul Technical University. B.Sc. in Meteorology (2012) from Istanbul Technical University. Dr. Aslan's research centers on Atmospheric Sciences and Biosphere-Atmosphere Interactions , particularly the carbon cycle in boreal forests. His work integrates micrometeorology and eddy covariance to study fluxes of CO2 and water vapor, with emphasis on forest management impacts. He investigates turbulent flow within forest canopies and develops methods for accurate flux measurements. His recent publications (2021-2025) reveal a strong focus on improving eddy covariance techniques and understanding carbon dynamics in boreal forests. Key themes include the effects of forest thinning on carbon sources, vertical flow decoupling, and high-frequency response corrections for flux measurements. His work spans atmospheric measurement techniques, forest ecology, and climate change impacts. Scientific awards: Alexander von Humboldt Fellow Dr. Aslan actively contributes to collaborative research projects such as PEAT, ACCLIM, ICOS, CERES, EMBER-SIM, COCO, and CLEANFOREST. While no formal advisees are listed, he collaborates extensively with international researchers on forest-atmosphere exchange studies. He is part of the research group led by Prof. Dr. Mana Gharun at the University of Münster, working within the Institute of Landscape Ecology. His current projects involve field measurements and data analysis to advance understanding of ecosystem carbon fluxes under changing environmental conditions.
Dr. Kevin A. Adkins is a Professor in the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University , where he teaches aerodynamics, aircraft performance, and uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) courses. He pioneered the first collegiate Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) course in the U.S. in 2023 and directs two labs: the Advanced Air Mobility Research and Innovation Lab (AAMRIL) and the Uncrewed Vehicle and Atmospheric Investigation Lab (UNVAIL) . Education : Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering (Mississippi State University), M.Eng. and B.S. in Aerospace Engineering (University of Michigan-Ann Arbor) His research focuses on atmospheric boundary layer meteorology using UAS, AAM concepts of operation (ConOps), and flight test engineering. He collaborates extensively on sensor development for environmental monitoring, including low-cost particulate matter sensors and bioaerosol sampling mechanisms. Recent publications emphasize UAS applications in wildfire detection, urban microclimate analysis, and wind farm humidity studies. Dr. Adkins serves on advisory committees for the Florida Department of Transportation's AAM initiative and ASTM International's UAS standards. Awards : Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, ERAU Researcher of the Year (2020), PIEoneer Real Life Learning Award (2019), AUVSI Best Paper Award (2019) He mentors numerous student projects on UAS sensor development and atmospheric research, with teams winning symposium awards. His labs integrate experiential learning with international fieldwork in Puerto Rico, Norway, and Lithuania.
Bernhard Rappenglueck is a Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry at the University of Houston within the Earth and Atmospheric Science Department, part of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. He maintains an active research group with students from diverse international backgrounds originating from over 15 countries, with expertise spanning Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, Engineering disciplines, Meteorology, and Physics. His educational background includes a Habilitation in Bioclimatology & Atmospheric Environmental Chemistry from Munich University of Technology (TU Munich) in 2003, a PhD in Physics from University of Munich (LMU Munich) in 1996, an M.S. in Meteorology from University of Munich (LMU Munich) in 1991, and a B.S. in Technical Physics from Munich University of Technology (TU Munich) in 1985. Rappenglueck's research integrates meteorology and atmospheric chemistry through both experimental field work and numerical modeling. His primary research interests encompass meteorological processes and their impacts on atmospheric chemical composition across spatial and temporal scales, micrometeorological and boundary layer studies, regional and large-scale transport processes within the troposphere, air quality studies in polluted and unpolluted areas including photochemical processes, and the application and development of atmospheric modeling. His work spans from biosphere-atmosphere exchange processes to regional urban air quality studies and long-range transport studies, utilizing various meteorological measurement tools including micrometeorological towers, tethered sondes, SODAR, RASS, and radio- and ozonesondes. His publication record shows consistent research output focused on urban air quality assessment across multiple global megacities including Munich, Berlin, Athens, Santiago de Chile, Mexico City, Houston, Los Angeles, Dallas/Ft Worth, and Doha, Qatar. Recent work emphasizes machine learning applications for ozone forecasting, boundary layer height determination, VOC source apportionment, and the impacts of emission changes on atmospheric composition. His research demonstrates strong methodological diversity, combining field measurements with advanced modeling approaches to address complex air quality challenges. Rappenglueck actively mentors numerous graduate and undergraduate students, with a track record of successful student placements in academic, government, and industry positions. His group has participated in major field campaigns including TexAQS-II/TRAMP, SHARP, and TCEQ O3 formation campaigns in Houston. His teaching portfolio includes advanced courses in Atmospheric Chemistry, Boundary Layers and Turbulence, Remote Sensing for Atmospheric Science, Aerosols and Climate, and Air Pollution Meteorology, contributing to both undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Atmospheric Science at the University of Houston.
Damiano Zanotelli serves as Professor at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano's Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, where he conducts pioneering research on climate change adaptation in mountain agriculture. His work bridges fundamental plant science with practical solutions for sustainable food production in Alpine regions, with particular emphasis on water management and fruit tree resilience. His research portfolio centers on: Physiological responses of apple and grapevines to heatwaves and drought stress Evapotranspiration dynamics and precision irrigation systems in mountain orchards Carbon sequestration mechanisms in vineyard and orchard ecosystems Soil-plant-atmosphere interactions under climate extremes Sustainable management of mountain crop ecosystems Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a dominant focus on climate stressors, with 80% addressing water relations during heat events. His methodology combines isotopic tracing, multi-sensor monitoring, and computational modeling to develop practical irrigation strategies. A distinctive trend is the integration of physiological measurements (sap flow, chlorophyll fluorescence) with ecosystem-level carbon flux analysis, particularly in Italian Alpine vineyards and apple orchards. No scientific awards were documented in the available materials. Professor Zanotelli teaches six courses across bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs including Sustainable Management of the Mountain Environment and Statistical Methods for Agricultural Research. He leads an active research group focused on water management systems for apple cultivation, as highlighted in university news regarding efficient irrigation solutions for South Tyrolean apple production. His team employs field experiments, sensor networks, and modeling approaches to optimize water use while maintaining productivity under climate change.
Tobias Gerken is an Assistant Professor in the Integrated Science and Technology (ISAT) department at James Madison University's College of Integrated Science & Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental & Atmospheric Science from the University of Bayreuth (Germany) and a Diplom in Environmental Science from the same institution. His research focuses on land-atmosphere interactions, including surface flux dynamics of water, energy, and trace gases between ecosystems and the atmosphere, and their impacts on weather and climate. Notable areas include flash drought mechanisms in the Northern Great Plains, agricultural land management effects on rainfall, and carbon dioxide exchanges in tropical ecosystems like the Amazon rainforest and Tibetan Plateau. Gerken has held prior appointments as an Assistant Research Professor at Penn State University and Research Associate at Montana State University. His work spans interdisciplinary projects funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), NASA, and the Department of Energy (DOE), including studies on urban lightning patterns, climate modeling via ACT-America missions, and Tibetan Plateau ecosystem dynamics. He teaches courses on environmental science, sustainability, and applied data analysis. His research outputs emphasize climate change impacts, air pollution dynamics, and hydroclimatology. Notable studies include analyzing lightning frequency in urban regions, quantifying methane emissions from bison herds, and evaluating carbon cycle models using airborne observations. Gerken actively contributes to editorial roles in journals like Agricultural and Forest Meteorology and participates in the National Ecological Observation Network (NEON). Media engagements include discussions on wildfire smoke effects, climate destruction mitigation strategies, and agricultural climate impacts in the Great Plains. His work bridges field experiments, computational modeling, and policy-relevant climate science.
Jacob A. Nelson serves as Project Group Leader for the Cross-Scale Terrestrial Ecophysiology (XTE) group within the Biogeochemical Integration Department at the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry in Jena, Germany. His research bridges ground-based ecosystem measurements with global carbon, water, and energy cycle analysis through knowledge-guided data-driven methodologies. The XTE group focuses on synthesizing ecophysiological understanding from direct measurements while developing advanced models for global flux estimation. Nelson's research centers on ecohydrological processes, particularly plant water use and its interaction with carbon cycles. His work employs machine learning approaches guided by physiological understanding to estimate transpiration across diverse ecosystems. Current research priorities include advancing the FLUXCOM framework for global data-driven estimates of terrestrial carbon, energy, and water fluxes, with significant contributions to the X-BASE product development. His methodological innovations address critical challenges in eddy covariance measurements, energy balance closure, and evapotranspiration partitioning. Analysis of Nelson's 15 most recent publications reveals strong emphasis on resolving measurement limitations in ecosystem flux quantification while developing next-generation scaling frameworks. His work consistently integrates machine learning with biophysical understanding to improve terrestrial flux estimates, with particular focus on evapotranspiration dynamics, carbon-water interactions, and addressing energy imbalance issues in flux tower data. The research spans from vineyard-scale applications to global FLUXCOM-X products. Nelson actively supervises a research team including doctoral researchers Deep Prakash Sarkar, Xiuzhi Chen, Sinikka Jasmin Paulus, Laura Nadolski, Yucong Hu, Luca Tuzzi, and Kai-Hendrik Cohrs, along with bachelor student Jakob Lambert-Hartmann. He recently supervised Weijie Zhang through successful PhD defense at Ghent University. Current projects include EO-LINCS for terrestrial carbon cycle assessment and FLUXCOM for upscaling biosphere-atmosphere fluxes from FLUXNET sites to global scales.
Donatella Spano is Full Professor and Scientific Coordinator of the PhD programme in Agrometeorology and Ecophysiology of Agricultural and Forestry Ecosystems at the University of Sassari, Italy. She also coordinates the Agrometeorology and Ecophysiology Laboratory at the same university and serves as Senior Member of the Strategic Council of the Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change (CMCC). A founding member and former President (2015–2016) of the Italian Society for Climate Sciences, Prof. Spano has held numerous high-profile roles including Regional Minister for the Environment of Sardinia (2014–2019) and Pro-Rector for Research at the University of Sassari (2009–2014). Education Degree in Agricultural Sciences, University of Sassari Three-year Post-Doctoral specialisation in Biometeorology, University of Sassari Research Focus Prof. Spano’s work lies at the intersection of agrometeorology, biometeorology, and ecophysiology . Her team investigates the energy and mass exchange between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere using advanced micrometeorological techniques such as Surface Renewal. She pioneered temperature-based phenological models to quantify chilling requirements and degree-day accumulation. Current research lines include climate-change impacts on crop yields (coffee, olives, maize), fire-behaviour modelling (danger indices and propagation), and the development of integrated systems for quantifying net CO₂ exchanges at urban and territorial scales. Across her recent publications, two dominant themes emerge: (1) climate-change projections and their sectoral impacts , where process-based and ensemble models are used to evaluate water demand, yield trends, and fire risk under future climates, and (2) micro-to-macro scale biometeorological observations , combining eddy-covariance data, phenological monitoring, and sensor-network optimisation to refine predictive models. Scientific Awards & Recognition Medal of the University of Sassari for best scientific production (2012) Best Practice Paper Award, American Society of Civil Engineers (2001, co-recipient) Advising & Grants Prof. Spano has chaired more than 40 doctoral and master theses. She is responsible for the scientific cooperation agreement with the University of California, Davis, a collaboration active since 1993. She leads or participates in numerous EU-funded projects focused on climate-change adaptation, sustainable farming strategies, and integrated fire-risk management systems. Laboratory & Team Leadership Since 2006 she has directed the Agrometeorology and Ecophysiology Laboratory at the University of Sassari, managing a team of 25 researchers, post-docs, and PhD students in cutting-edge experimental and modelling activities.
Xi Sun is a Research Fellow at RMIT University's School of Engineering, specializing in civil and geotechnical engineering with a focus on tree-soil interactions, expansive soils, and climate impacts. His work bridges engineering and environmental science, addressing challenges in urban infrastructure and sustainable land management. He holds a postdoctoral position and is affiliated with RMIT’s City Campus in Australia. Research interests include expansive soils behavior, field instrumentation, climate-plant-soil interactions, and tree-induced structural damage assessment. His studies investigate how tree species affect soil moisture dynamics and ground movement in urban settings, with applications to infrastructure resilience and climate adaptation. Key research outputs from 2021 to 2025 explore topics like biochar-enhanced pavement subgrades, empirical modeling of tree-soil mechanisms, and climate change impacts on expansive soil movements. His work often involves interdisciplinary collaboration, combining field monitoring with computational modeling to address real-world engineering challenges. Dr. Sun’s contributions include over 20 peer-reviewed articles, focusing on geotechnical engineering innovations, urban tree management, and sustainable infrastructure solutions. His research aligns with RMIT’s commitment to addressing global environmental and engineering challenges through applied research.
Dr. Curtis Wood is a researcher in atmospheric and biometeorological sciences, with a PhD from the University of Reading (2007). His work focuses on urban boundary layer dynamics, insect migration, and urban climate impacts. He has contributed extensively to field campaigns in London such as REPARTEE and DAPPLE, investigating airflow, pollution dispersion, and thermal structure in cities. His research interests include: Urban meteorology and boundary layer dynamics Biometeorology of high-altitude insect migration Urban climate adaptation and resilience Atmospheric dispersion and pollution monitoring Remote sensing techniques (lidar, radar, scintillometry) The analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong interdisciplinary focus on the interaction between atmospheric processes and urban environments. His work spans physical meteorology, environmental monitoring, and ecological aerobiology, with particular attention to observational data from urban settings. He frequently employs advanced instrumentation such as Doppler lidar and radar to study turbulence, wind profiles, and biological aerosols. Scientific contributions and recognitions: Key contributor to major urban atmospheric studies (REPARTEE, DAPPLE) Prolific collaborator with leading researchers in urban climatology Published in high-impact journals including Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics and Boundary-Layer Meteorology Dr. Wood has advised or collaborated on research involving atmospheric instrumentation, urban climate modeling, and biometeorological monitoring. While no formal students are listed, his publications suggest a strong mentorship and collaborative role within large interdisciplinary teams. He has not received any explicitly mentioned grants, but his involvement in major projects implies participation in funded research initiatives. He has been involved in urban atmospheric observation teams conducting field experiments in central London, focusing on dispersion, turbulence, and microclimatic effects. These teams often included experts from multiple institutions and disciplines, working on integrated environmental assessment projects.
Professor Martin Gallagher is a leading atmospheric scientist at The University of Manchester's Earth and Environmental Sciences department. He holds a BSc in Physics (University of Edinburgh, 1982) and a PhD in Modelling & Observations of Airflow over Hills (UMIST, 1986). His research focuses on interdisciplinary atmospheric science, including surface-atmosphere trace gas exchange, cloud microphysics, bioaerosol detection, and airborne instrumentation. He leads projects like the BEACHON Programme and contributes to global initiatives such as IAGOS-ERI and the Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements. Key research areas include cloud-aerosol interactions, ice nucleation in convective systems, and real-time bioaerosol monitoring using UV-LIF spectrometers. His work addresses UN SDGs related to climate action and sustainable cities. Professor Gallagher has coordinated major field campaigns like DCMEX and Fatima-GB, advancing understanding of cloud dynamics in tropical and marine environments. He collaborates internationally, contributing to over 335 research outputs and serving on editorial and advisory boards. Recent studies explore nocturnal pollen fragmentation in urban environments, marine fog microphysics, and ice production mechanisms in deep convective clouds. His projects integrate machine learning for bioaerosol analysis and address societal impacts like aviation safety during ash crises. Grants include the £2.8M Climate and Weather Impacts on Society initiative, focusing on extreme weather and health outcomes.
Sebastian Hoch is an Adjunct Associate Professor in Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Utah. His research focuses on boundary layer processes in complex terrain , particularly examining radiation and surface energy balance effects on boundary layer evolution and terrain-driven flows. Education: PhD in Natural Sciences (Earth Science) from ETH Zurich (2006) Languages: German His research integrates atmospheric sciences , climate change science , and geophysics , with specific emphasis on pollution monitoring , mountain meteorology , and fog dynamics . Recent publications analyze freezing fog microphysics, coastal fog formation mechanisms, and complex terrain wind energy potential using WRF-COAMPS modeling. Grant-funded projects include: COLD FOG AMONGST COMPLEX TERRAIN (CFACT) 2021-2025 RED BUTTE AIR EXCHANGE STUDY 2019-2020 OWENS LAKE LIDAR STUDY 2018 MODELING FOR FASMEE 2018-2021 MATERHORN program 2011-2017 As educator, he has taught Experiential Learning II and Mountain Weather & Climate courses (2023-2024). His work combines extensive field measurements with high-resolution modeling to address atmospheric boundary layer dynamics in complex environments.
Chad Hanson is a Faculty Researcher in the Department of Forest Ecosystems & Society at Oregon State University's College of Forestry . His work focuses on environmental data systems, particularly quality assurance for the AmeriFlux network , where he contributes to optimizing carbon and water flux measurements across ecosystems. His research spans ecosystem ecology , climate change impacts , and remote sensing , with a strong emphasis on wildfire recovery, soil moisture dynamics, and UAV-based monitoring. Publications highlight expertise in eddy covariance data validation, thermal acclimation, and CO2 flux compilation. Article trends reveal a focus on terrestrial ecosystems (wildfire impacts, drought stress), climate modeling (thermal acclimation, greenhouse gas trends), and UAV applications (albedo mapping, biochar effects). Collaborative efforts include multi-laboratory atmospheric data projects. Hanson's technical contributions to the AmeriFlux QA/QC team involve instrument calibration, error detection, and portable eddy covariance systems. He also participates in Arctic watershed studies and biochar soil management research.
