About Me

I received my Bachelor’s degree in Science Education from Martin Luther College (New Ulm, MN) in 2008, with dual majors in Elementary Education and Secondary Science Education. After graduation, I attended graduate school in the Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science at Penn State University, earning an M.S. in 2010 and Ph.D. in 2014. From 2014-2017, I was a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia. I joined the faculty in the School of Meteorology at OU in fall of 2017.

My research focuses on the fluid dynamics of the lowest mile of the atmosphere, known as the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). An understanding of turbulent transport of momentum, heat, energy, water vapor, greenhouse gases, and heavy particles (e.g. water droplets, ice crystals, dust, and pollen) is critical for understanding processes related to weather, climate, hydrology, ecology, air quality, and human health. My research group studies atmospheric turbulence and its implications for the Earth system using a combination of observations, numerical simulations, and theory. We also work to develop more accurate models of atmospheric turbulence using the large eddy simulation technique. My research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy.

For more information, see my research summary, publications, or CV.

Grants

• CAREER: Advancing the Understanding of Turbulence-Microphysics Interactions in Clouds Through Multiscale Numerical Modeling, NSF/PDM (2022-2027)
• Effects of large-scale motions on turbulent heat and moisture transport in the convective boundary layer, DOE/ASR (2021-2024)
• Collaborative Research: Snow transport in katabatic winds and implications for the Antarctic surface mass balance: observations, theory, and numerical modeling, NSF/OPP (2021-2024)
• RII Track-4: Turbulence Effects on Cloud Microphysical Processes: Development and Testing of Subgrid-Scale Parameterizations for Large Eddy Simulation, NSF/OIA (2019-2022)

Awards

• NSF CAREER Award (2022–2027)
• Penn State Alumni Association Disseration Award (2014)
• John C. Wyngaard Graduate Research Award, Dept. of Meteorology & Atmospheric Science, Penn State University (2014)

Students and mentoring

• Logan Roy, (Ph.D., anticipated 2027)
• Leia Otterstatter, (M.S., anticipated 2025)
• Claire Doyle, (M.S., anticipated 2024)
• Robby Frost, (B.S., anticipated 2024)
• Kendra Gillis, Ph.D. student, Brighan Young University (M.S., 2023)
• Brian Greene, Postdoc, University of Oklahoma (Ph.D., 2022)
• Dominic Candela, Ph.D. student, University of Oklahoma (Ph.D., 2022)
• Robert van Kleeck, Environmental Resources Management, Boston, MA (M.S., 2020)
• Briana Lynch, Boston Government Services, Golden, CO (M.S., 2019)