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.
Dr. Dominik Büeler is a Researcher at ETH Zurich's Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science and staff member of the Center for Climate Systems Modeling (C2SM). His work bridges atmospheric dynamics with practical climate services, focusing on subseasonal prediction systems and their societal applications in Europe. Research Focus: Büeler's work centers on subseasonal-to-seasonal prediction, with emphasis on weather regime dynamics, extratropical cyclone behavior, and stratosphere-troposphere interactions. His research integrates large ensemble modeling, forecast verification, and climate impact assessment, particularly for European weather extremes. Recent projects examine heatwave mortality prediction, energy meteorology applications, and the role of moist processes in atmospheric blocking. Analysis of his publication record since 2021 reveals consistent advancement in subseasonal forecasting methodology, with growing emphasis on societal applications including public health (heat-related mortality) and energy sectors. His work increasingly connects fundamental atmospheric processes with operational forecasting systems, leveraging collaborations through the Subseasonal-to-Seasonal Prediction Project. Affiliations: Center for Climate Systems Modeling (C2SM) - Core Research Staff ETH Zurich Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science MeteoSwiss Collaborator (Energy Meteorology) Büeler contributes to multidisciplinary teams developing climate services, with recent work supporting Swiss operational forecasting systems. His research group within C2SM focuses on improving subseasonal predictability through advanced diagnostics of model biases and atmospheric processes.
Erhan Kutanoglu is an Associate Professor in the Operations Research and Industrial Engineering Graduate Program at The University of Texas at Austin's Cockrell School of Engineering. He joined the faculty in 2002 and received a National Science Foundation Early Career Development Award that year. His research focuses on integrating predictive models with stochastic optimization to address challenges in disaster resilience, humanitarian logistics, and semiconductor manufacturing. Key areas include hurricane mitigation, power grid resilience, and supply chain optimization. Education: PhD in Industrial Engineering from Lehigh University (1999). Research Interests: Applied operations research for manufacturing/service logistics, disaster resilience decision-making, semiconductor cycle time optimization, and inventory modeling. Recent work emphasizes hurricane evacuation planning, flood mitigation for critical infrastructure, and equity considerations in grid resilience. Publications: Over 50 peer-reviewed articles in journals like IEEE Transactions, European Journal of Operational Research, and Annals of Operations Research. Notable work includes models for power grid resilience, patient evacuation strategies, and semiconductor manufacturing efficiency. Awards: NSF CAREER Award (2002), recognized for contributions to service logistics optimization and stochastic modeling. Advising & Grants: Advised graduate students on projects involving hurricane preparedness and semiconductor scheduling. Active in collaborative research with industry partners to streamline manufacturing processes and enhance disaster response systems. Labs/Teams: Engaged with the Cockrell School's infrastructure resilience research groups and interdisciplinary teams addressing climate adaptation challenges.
Professor Georg Guggenberger is a distinguished academic at Leibniz University Hannover, where he serves as Professor of Soil Chemistry within the Department of Soil Science at the Institute of Earth System Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences. In addition to his research and teaching responsibilities, he holds several significant administrative positions including Vice Dean for Research in the Dean's Office of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Executive Management at both the Institute of Soil Science and Department of Soil Science levels, and Chair of the Selection Committee for the M.Sc. Landscape Sciences program. Prof. Guggenberger's research program focuses on fundamental processes governing soil organic matter dynamics across diverse ecosystems worldwide, from Arctic to tropical regions. His work investigates biotic and abiotic factors influencing the formation, transport, and stabilization of soil organic matter, with particular emphasis on soil fertility maintenance. He employs advanced methodologies including stable isotope approaches, biomarker analyses, microspectroscopic techniques (XPS, ESEM, NMR, NanoSIMS), and molecular biological methods to study biogeochemical interactions on mineral surfaces, dissolved organic matter dynamics, plant-mycorrhizal-soil interactions, permafrost soil organic matter, and impacts of land use and climate change on soil organisms. Analysis of Prof. Guggenberger's recent publications reveals a strong interdisciplinary research program spanning soil biogeochemistry, carbon cycling, soil microbiology, and climate change impacts. His work integrates field experiments along environmental gradients with laboratory manipulation studies to identify underlying mechanisms. The research shows particular strength in understanding organic matter stabilization mechanisms, microbial contributions to soil processes, and development of sustainable soil management practices that address climate change challenges. Prof. Guggenberger actively contributes to academic service through his leadership roles in examination boards and committees, including the Examination Board for Geosciences programs and the Selection Committee for Landscape Sciences. His administrative responsibilities as Vice Dean for Research demonstrate his commitment to advancing research within the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Leibniz University Hannover.
Professor Joaquim Pinto is a leading climate scientist at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), where he serves as Head of the Working Group "Regional Climate and Weather Hazards" and as Spokesperson of the collegial institute management team. He holds the prestigious AXA Research Fund Chair position at the Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research - Troposphere Research (IMK-TRO). His academic background includes a Licenciate in Geophysical Sciences - Meteorology from the University of Lisbon (1990-1996), PhD studies at the University of Cologne (1998-2002), and academic positions at the University of Cologne (2002-2016) and University of Reading (2013-2016) before joining KIT in 2016. He became a Privatdozent (lecturer) at the University of Cologne in 2011 and earned his habilitation with research on extreme European wind storms. Professor Pinto's research focuses on mid-latitude meteorology and climatology, with special emphasis on extreme weather events , climate variability in Europe across multiple time scales, regional climate modeling and downscaling methods , and the diagnostic modeling and quantification of risks associated with extreme events affecting Europe. His work bridges fundamental climate science with practical applications for risk assessment and management. His extensive publication record demonstrates expertise in analyzing European windstorms, heatwaves, and compound extreme events. Recent work examines the impacts of climate change on wind energy potential, extreme precipitation events, and the complex interactions between atmospheric circulation patterns and regional climate extremes. His research often employs high-resolution climate modeling, statistical-dynamical downscaling approaches, and interdisciplinary collaborations to address pressing climate challenges. AXA Research Fund Chair in Regional Climate and Weather Hazards Professor Pinto teaches graduate and undergraduate courses including "Climate Modelling and Dynamics with ICON," "IPCC Assessment Report," "Climatology," "Energy Meteorology," "Methods of Data Analysis," and "Regional Climate and Weather Hazards." His teaching reflects his research expertise in climate modeling, extreme events, and regional climate change impacts.
Dr. Jonathan T. Overpeck is the Samuel A. Graham Dean of the School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) at the University of Michigan, where he also holds the William B. Stapp Collegiate Professorship of Environmental Education. He is a Professor of both Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, and Earth and Environmental Sciences, with a career spanning climate-vegetation interactions, abrupt climate change, monsoon dynamics, drought hydroclimate, sea level rise research, and interdisciplinary climate assessment. Overpeck has published over 230 works cited 60,000+ times, emphasizing public education, university-community partnerships for climate solutions, and environmental justice initiatives. PhD in Geological Sciences, Brown University MSc in Geological Sciences, Brown University BA in Geology (Honors), Hamilton College His research spans climate-biosphere interactions , climate variability and abrupt change , monsoon dynamics , drought and hydroclimate , sea level rise , climate law , and climate adaptation . Overpeck pioneered studies on megadrought terminology, temperature-driven drought intensification, and the aridification of North America. His work with the NOAA Paleoclimate Program and World Data Center for Paleoclimatology established foundational understanding of climate dynamics through annually-laminated sediment analysis in the Cariaco Basin. Overpeck's 2020-2024 research includes climate aridification , hydroclimate scaling mismatches , and temperature-precipitation interactions , with recent focus on Antarctic heatwaves, Mississippi River Basin changes, and corporate climate accountability. His article trends show concentration in climate attribution , hydrological extremes , paleoclimate modeling , and climate policy analysis . Scientific Honors: 2024 U.S. National Academy of Sciences 2015 American Geophysical Union Fellow 2009 AAAS Fellow 2007 Nobel Peace Prize contributor (IPCC) 2005 Guggenheim Fellowship Multiple U.S. Department of Commerce awards Overpeck has led or participated in significant climate adaptation projects , including NSF grants totaling $5.1M+ for Southwest Hydroclimatic Extremes (2017-2020), Amazon Drought Impacts (2014-2018), and Quantifying Drought Risk (2013-2018). He serves on the Colorado River Research Group (2014-present) and advises Climate Communication (2011-present). Current initiatives include Great Lakes University positioning, Michigan's climate resilience planning, and the Audacious Water podcast series examining Mississippi River Basin transformations. Overpeck actively contributes to climate policy discourse , advocating for science-informed decision-making and stakeholder collaboration across government, military, and corporate sectors.
Dr. Patrick S. Market is a Professor of Atmospheric Science and currently serves as the Director of the School of Natural Resources at the University of Missouri. He also acts as Interim Co-Director of the Missouri Water Center. His research focuses on synoptic and mesoscale dynamics, particularly winter weather, heavy rainfall, flash flooding, and severe local storms. He has contributed to advancements in precipitation efficiency studies and operational forecasting techniques. His work explores the role of artificial intelligence in weather prediction and communication, emphasizing the continued importance of human expertise in an automated forecast process. Dr. Market has secured grants for data stream maintenance and digital equity planning, and he has led educational initiatives integrating research into synoptic meteorology classrooms. Notable collaborations include projects with the National Weather Service and studies on the Ozark Plateau's topographical influence on weather systems.
Tom Beucler is a Conditional Pre-Tenure Assistant Professor in Geo-Environmental Data Science at the University of Lausanne’s Institute for Earth Surface Dynamics (IDYST). He holds a Master’s degree in Science and Mechanics from École Polytechnique (2014) and a PhD in Atmospheric Science from MIT (2019). Postdoctoral research at Columbia University and UC Irvine focused on machine learning applications in climate science under Professors Pierre Gentine and Michael Pritchard. Research Interests: Climate informatics, atmospheric physics, fluid dynamics, tropical meteorology, and integrating machine learning into climate models for extreme weather prediction and hydrological cycle modeling. Collaborations: Works with environmental scientists and computer engineers to improve climate models using neural networks and causal discovery methods. Initiatives: Organizes weekly brainstorming sessions to promote machine learning adoption in environmental sciences. Publications span climate-invariant machine learning, data-driven parameterizations, and hybrid AI-climate modeling frameworks like ClimSim. His work emphasizes causal consistency and generalizability across climate conditions.
Central Queensland University (CQUniversity Australia)Australia
Dr. Hassan Saeed Khan is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) at Central Queensland University and an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of New South Wales . He holds a Ph.D. in Built Environment from UNSW (2018-2022), a Master of Science in Architectural Engineering from Politecnico di Milano (2010-2012), and a Bachelor of Science in Building and Architectural Engineering from UET Lahore (2003-2008). His research focuses on zero-energy buildings , radiative cooling materials , and urban heat mitigation . Ph.D. in Built Environment, UNSW Australia (2018-2022) MSc in Architectural Engineering, Politecnico di Milano (2010-2012) BSc in Building and Architectural Engineering, UET Lahore (2003-2008) Dr. Khan specializes in urban climatology , energy-efficient building systems , and climate-responsive urban design . His work includes fluorescent radiative coolers for urban surfaces, seasonal performance modulation of cooling materials, and microclimate evaluation in coastal regions. His research spans thermal performance of buildings, extreme heat event analysis , and renewable energy integration . His recent publications highlight scalable radiative cooling solutions, synoptic weather interactions with urban heat, and green infrastructure benefits in subtropical environments. Key projects include ARC Discovery grants on fluorescent materials and consultancy with BlueScope and Dulux for material performance optimization. HDR Completion Scholarship (UNSW, 2022) Data61 CSIRO Ph.D. Top-up (2019-2022) ADA HDR Research Output Awards (2021, 2022) UniverLecco Gold Merit Scholarship (Politecnico di Milano, 2010-2012) Award of Distinction (KFUPM, 2016-2017) Dr. Khan has supervised research in 4011 Environmental Engineering , 3302 Building , and 3304 Urban Planning . His interdisciplinary approach bridges building science , materials engineering , and climate adaptation . He employs tools like ENVI-met for microclimate analysis and DesignBuilder for energy modeling.
Hyemi Kim is an Adjunct Professor at the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS), Stony Brook University. Her research focuses on climate variability across subseasonal to decadal timescales, including topics like the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), tropical-extratropical interactions, and extreme weather events such as atmospheric rivers and tropical cyclones. Education: Ph.D., 2008, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, South Korea Research Interests: Hyemi Kim's work spans four primary areas: (1) Climate prediction from subseasonal to decadal scales, (2) Tropical-extratropical interactions, (3) Extreme events (atmospheric rivers, storm tracks, tropical cyclones), and (4) Machine learning applications for subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) prediction. Publication Trends: Her research output emphasizes the MJO, its interactions with other climate modes (QBO, ENSO), and implications for extreme weather. Recent works analyze atmospheric rivers, storm tracks, and tropical cyclone activity, often linking these to large-scale climate variability. Publications frequently employ climate models (e.g., CESM1, SubX, NMME) to assess predictability and improve forecasting frameworks. Labs & Teams: She collaborates with institutions like the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and contributes to multi-model experiments such as the Subseasonal Experiment (SubX) and North American Multi-Model Ensemble (NMME).
Lukas Papritz is a Lecturer at the Department of Environmental Systems Science at ETH Zürich , Switzerland. He specializes in atmospheric dynamics, focusing on large-scale weather systems, Arctic climate processes, and air-sea interactions. Research Interests : Dynamics of extratropical cyclones and atmospheric blocking Arctic climate system, including air mass transformations Atmospheric and oceanic energy exchanges Physics of temperature extremes (cold/warm) Development of dynamical frameworks for weather system analysis His recent publications examine baroclinic wave energetics, heatwave thermodynamics, cold-air outbreak dynamics, and synoptic-scale moisture transport. These works integrate Lagrangian methods, climatological analysis, and regional climate modeling. Current Affiliation : Professorship for Atmospheric Dynamics (Professur für Atmosphärendynamik), ETH Zürich
Prof. ZHUANG Yizhou is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography at Hong Kong Baptist University. His research focuses on weather and climate extremes, climate change attribution, and land-atmosphere coupling. With a Ph.D. in Meteorology from Peking University and extensive postdoctoral experience at UCLA, he brings significant expertise in atmospheric sciences to his academic role. Dr. Zhuang's educational background includes: 2019-2024: Postdoctoral Scholar, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), USA 2017: Visiting Graduate Researcher, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), USA 2015-2017: Visiting Research Scholar, University of Texas at Austin, USA 2013-2019: Ph.D., Meteorology, Peking University, China 2009-2013: B.S., Atmospheric Sciences (Remote Sensing Focus), Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, China Dr. Zhuang's research spans multiple critical areas in climate science. His work on weather and climate extremes examines phenomena like wildfires, droughts, and floods. In climate change attribution , he investigates the human influence on extreme weather events, with several publications in PNAS demonstrating how anthropogenic warming has altered drought mechanisms and fire risks. His research on land-atmosphere coupling explores the complex feedback mechanisms between Earth's surface and the atmosphere. Additionally, he applies machine learning techniques and remote sensing technologies to analyze cloud formations and precipitation patterns. Analysis of Dr. Zhuang's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on drought mechanisms and fire weather risk in western North America. His work frequently employs advanced statistical methods like self-organizing maps and canonical correlation analysis to understand complex climate phenomena. A notable trend is his investigation of how anthropogenic climate change is fundamentally altering the nature of droughts, shifting from precipitation-deficit dominated to temperature-driven events, with significant implications for water resource management. Dr. Zhuang has received several prestigious awards for his research contributions: JIFRESSE Outstanding Leadership/Service Award, UCLA, 2023 Richard P. and Linda S. Turco Exceptional Research Publication Award, UCLA, 2023 China Scholarship Council (CSC) Joint Ph.D. Scholarship, 2015-2017 As an academic mentor, Dr. Zhuang supervises graduate students, with evidence of at least one student (G. Wang) whose work has been published under his supervision. He serves as a reviewer for numerous high-impact journals including Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), Earth's Future, and Geophysical Research Letters. Additionally, he has mentored students in the UCLA Joint Institute for Regional Earth System Science and Engineering (JIFRESSE) Summer Internship Program, with his mentee Annie Rosen winning the 2024 Best JSIP Presentation Award. Dr. Zhuang maintains an active research group, as indicated by his personal website www.zhuangyz.org. His team focuses on climate extremes, attribution studies, and land-atmosphere interactions, with ongoing projects examining drought mechanisms, fire weather risks, and precipitation variability across different regions of the United States, particularly the western states and Great Plains.
Kristen L. Corbosiero is a Professor in the Department of Atmospheric & Environmental Sciences at the University at Albany, State University of New York. Her primary research focuses on understanding the structure, intensity changes, and environmental interactions of tropical cyclones, including processes like secondary eyewall formation and rapid intensification. She utilizes both observational data and numerical models to explore topics such as cloud microphysics, vertical wind shear effects, and the role of lightning in storm dynamics. Education: PhD, Atmospheric Science, University at Albany, SUNY, 2005 MS, Atmospheric Science, University at Albany, SUNY, 2000 BS with Distinction, Atmospheric Science, Cornell University, 1997 Research Interests: Dr. Corbosiero investigates tropical cyclone behavior, including the formation of hurricane rainbands and secondary eyewalls, the impact of environmental conditions on storm evolution, and the influence of cloud microphysical parameterizations. Her work also addresses the predictability of heavy rainfall events linked to tropical systems, such as atmospheric rivers and remnant cyclones. Articles & Research Trends: Her recent publications emphasize ventilation processes in tropical cyclones, diurnal pulsations in hurricane structure, and the climatological significance of downshear reformation. She collaborates on projects funded by NASA, NOAA, and UCAR, advancing the understanding of cyclone dynamics and forecast improvement. Advising & Students: Dr. Corbosiero has mentored numerous graduate and undergraduate students, many of whom have contributed to studies on tropical cyclone evolution, precipitation patterns, and mesoscale meteorology. Notable advisees include Nicholas Johnson (ventilation in sheared storms) and Alex Mitchell (eastern Pacific cyclone variability). Labs & Teams: Her research group actively explores topics like tropical cyclone predictability, lightning activity in storms, and the North American Monsoon System’s interaction with eastern Pacific systems. Current projects involve ensemble-based sensitivity analysis and high-resolution numerical simulations.
Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyNorway
Eirin Olaussen Ryeng is a Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Her work focuses on transportation engineering, road safety, and human behavior in urban and rural mobility contexts. Key research themes: winter road conditions, autonomous vehicles, cyclist/pedestrian safety, route familiarity, and sustainable transport infrastructure Active in transnational studies and multidisciplinary collaborations Recent publications analyze pedestrian gait in winter, cargo bike efficiency, driver risk perception, and geometric road design impacts. She employs advanced methodologies like sensor technology, survey analysis, and crash-based modeling. Teaching includes courses on road engineering, traffic safety, and transport infrastructure. She has presented at major European Transport Conferences and Nordic Traffic Safety Academy seminars.
Tae J. Kwon is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Alberta . His research spans Winter Transportation Engineering , Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) , Traffic Optimization , and Geospatial Information Science . Developed LoRWIS , a web-based decision support system for road weather sensor optimization Recipient of multiple awards including ITS Canada Excellence in Research and Development Award (2024) , KOFST Scientist of the Year (2024) , and Early Career Research Award (University of Alberta, 3 times) Active in professional committees like the TRB Surface Transportation Weather Research Group (2016–present) Research Highlights : Winter Road Maintenance : Advanced geostatistical and deep learning techniques for road condition monitoring Location Optimization : Pioneered models for RWIS sensor placement using hybrid geostatistical methods Intelligent Transportation Systems : Focused on big data applications for traffic safety and connected vehicles Climate Resilience : Integrated ecological vulnerability into fire hazard modeling Scientific Awards : ITS Canada Excellence in Research (2024) KOFST Scientist of the Year (2024) Donald Stanley Best Paper Award (2023) AKCSE Early Achievement Award (2021) University of Alberta Early Career Research Award (2020) Great Supervisor Award (2019) Teaching & Leadership : Teaches courses like CIV E 419 (Transportation Engineering: Highway Planning and Design) and CIV E 612 (Transportation Planning: Methodology and Techniques) Leads the Geospatial Transportation System & Sensing Solutions Lab (GeoTrans) , mentoring PhD students Juan Cuellar and Jiehao Bi Collaborates with agencies including Alberta Transportation , NSERC , and Iowa DOT
