I sincerely enjoy working with students! I hold an affiliate assistant professor appointment in OU’s School of Meteorology. Occasionally I have paid research positions, but I also mentor students through programs like the NWC REU, NOAA’s Lapenta program or via other research opportunities. If you’re interested in the type of research I do and would like to explore student research options, please get in touch. Feel welcome to schedule a time for us to talk.
In my work with students, I aim to be clear about what my expectations are for our time working together. When initiating a new mentoring or supervising relationship, I begin by providing students a summary of expectations, which we jointly review. The document I use is based generally on a similar process developed by Dr. Mary K. Salcedo. The expectations document I use is a living document that updates overtime. For the most recent version, please get in touch, and I can provide the relevant version! I also encourage all prospective students to contact current and previous students (listed below) to understand my working style.
Salcedo, Mary. (2020). Undergraduate Expectations Document – working with Dr. Salcedo. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4000437
Courses
METR 4603/5603 – Advanced Observations for Lower Atmospheric Research
I developed this class and began offering it at OU in fall 2021. I plan to offer it every other year in the fall.
Current Students
Alejandro Medina NOAA EPP NERTO 2025 Exploring sampling approaches for NSSL’s UAS applications Degree: MS, Computer Engineering University of Texas at El Paso Expected Graduation: 2026 — I mentor Alejandro during his 12-week experience at a NOAA facility as part of his studies as a NOAA EPP/MSI CESSRT Graduate Scholar. During his time at NSSL, he will work with me to explore and develop adaptive sampling strategies for uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS). | Matt Ammon Graduate Research 2023–2025 Venturing into the Vertical: OSSEs and 3D mesonets Degree: Master of Science, Meteorology University of Oklahoma School of Meteorology Expected Graduation: 2025 (Matthew also worked with me as an undergraduate student 2022-2023). — Matt is studying potential designs of future 3D mesonet networks using observing system simulation experiments. These experiments rely on high-fidelity observation emulators. Using two cases of high-impact convection with differing evolution and environmental conditions, different network designs can be evaluated in terms of their impact on numerical weather prediction. These evaluations include forecast skill, instrument capability and feasibility, and cost efficacy. |
Abdullah al Tasim Graduate Research 2022-2025 Advancing CopterSonde Technology for Next Generation Observations Degree: MS, Mechanical Engineering University of Oklahoma Expected Graduation: 2025 — Tasim is directly advised by my colleague, Tony Segales. However, I am the PI funding his work via my NOAA OMAO project PRODIGEE, which is developing the next generation of CopterSonde to meet NOAA mission needs. | Michelle Storm (Spencer) Graduate Research 2022-2025 Exploring Sea Breezes, Convection, and Boundary Layer Processes Degree: PhD, Meteorology University of Oklahoma Expected Graduation: 2025 (Michelle also worked with me as an undergraduate REU student in 2019). — Michelle is co-mentored by Dr. Petra Klein and supported by the TRACER project. She earned her BS at Metropolitan State University and MS at University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, both in Atmospheric Science. Her PhD work will use boundary layer observations collected during the TRACER project in coastal Houston, TX. She will focus on the interactions between sea breezes, urban boundary layers, boundary layer processes, and convection initiation. |
Arianna Jordan Graduate Research 2020-2025 Boundary layer flow associated with wind energy resources Degree: PhD, Meteorology University of Oklahoma Expected Graduation: 2025 — Arianna earned a Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology from San Jose State University and a Master of Science degree in atmospheric science from Howard University before joining the PhD program at OU. I serve as a co-adviser for Arianna alongside Dr. Petra Klein (OU/SoM/AGS) and scientists from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Arianna’s work will explore boundary layer features and flow in the context of wind energy resources. Learn more about Arianna on her webpage. | I am not seeking new graduate students at this time due to lack of funded opportunities. – SP25 |
Previous Students
Isaac Medina Undergraduate Research 2021-2024 Assessing multiyear boundary-layer variability in the southeastern United States NWC REU 2021 Boundary Layer Depth Measurement Disparities During the Evening Transitional Period Degree earned: BS in Meteorology with minors in Air Traffic Management and General Business, 2024 University of Oklahoma School of Meteorology and School of Aviation Afterwards: Graduate study at Johns Hopkins University | Victor Alvarez Undergraduate Research 2021-2023 CLAMPS dataset analysis and development Degree earned: BS in Data Science, 2023 University of Oklahoma Afterwards: Private sector software development | Marshall Baldwin Undergraduate Research 2021-2023 CLAMPS dataset analysis and development Degree earned: BS in Meteorology, 2024 University of Oklahoma School of Meteorology |
Josh Ostazewski NOAA Lapenta Internship Program 2023 Choose your own adventure at NSSL: process-based studies of the pre- and near-storm environment and conditions that support it using recent field observations of the lowest levels of the atmosphere Degree in progress: PhD, Atmospheric Science, Expected 2027 Texas Tech University | Matt Ammon Under Graduate Research 2022-2023 Effects of Terrain Heterogeneity on Boundary-layer Processes that Impact the Evolution of Severe Convection Degree earned: BS in Meteorology, 2023 University of Oklahoma School of Meteorology Afterwards: Graduate study at the University of Oklahoma Publication of this work in review | Nadiyah Williams NOAA Lapenta Internship Program 2022 Comparative Analysis of Wind Observations from Doppler Lidar and Radiosondes Degree earned: BS in Atmospheric and Ocean Science, 2024 Georgia Tech University Afterwards: Graduate study at Colorado University of Boulder |
Nolan Meister Graduate Research 2020-2022 Boundary layer characteristics during CHEESEHEAD: typical characteristics and analysis of a 2-day severe convection event Senior Capstone 2019-2020 Utilizing Mobile Doppler Wind Lidar Observations and Idealized Modeling to Understand the Characteristics of a Density Current’s Vertical Velocity Field Degree earned: MS in Meteorology, 2022 Degree earned: BS in Meteorology with Minor in Communication, 2020 University of Oklahoma School of Meteorology Afterwards: NWS Forecaster Norman, OK | Katie Giannakopolous Undergraduate Research 2020-2021 Evaluating Polarimetric Retrievals of Boundary Layer Height Using State-of-the-Art Boundary Layer Profiling Degree earned: BS in Meteorology with Minor in Math, 2022 University of Oklahoma School of Meteorology Afterwards: Graduate study at the University of Oklahoma | Tyler Pardun Undergraduate Research 2019-2021 Defining the capabilities of boundary layer profiling systems for operations in the southeastern United States Degree earned: BS in Meteorology with Minor in Math, 2021 University of Oklahoma School of Meteorology Afterwards: Graduate study at the University of Oklahoma |
Dana Pawlowski NWC REU 2021 Pre-Convective HSLC Environment Analysis of a Supercell Using Boundary Layer Profiling Data Degree earned: BS in Applied Atmospheric Science, 2022 East Carolina University | Jordan Laser Graduate Research 2019-2020 Evaluating Warn-on-Forecast System (WoFS) predictions of supercell inflow environments Degree earned: MS in Meteorology, 2020 University of Oklahoma School of Meteorology Afterwards: Scientific engineering work at UT-Austin | Maci Gibson Senior Capstone 2019-2020 Investigation of supercell characteristics and their sensitivity to hodograph shape using idealized WRF simulations Degree earned: BS in Meteorology with Minor in Math, 2020 University of Oklahoma School of Meteorology Afterwards: Graduate study at the University of Oklahoma |
Marisa Nuzzo Senior Capstone 2019-2020 Investigation of supercell characteristics and their sensitivity to hodograph shape using idealized WRF simulations Degree earned: BS in Meteorology with Minors in Math and Broadcast Journalism, 2020 University of Oklahoma School of Meteorology | James Cuellar Senior Capstone 2019-2020 Utilizing Mobile Doppler Wind Lidar Observations and Idealized Modeling to Understand the Characteristics of a Density Current’s Vertical Velocity Field Degree earned: BS in Meteorology with minors in GIS and Math, 2020 University of Oklahoma School of Meteorology Afterwards: NWS Forecaster in Wichita, KS | Michelle Spencer NWC REU 2019 Exploring Great Plains Nocturnal Low Level Jet Heterogeneity and Connections to Convection Initiation Degree earned: BS in Meteorology, 2019 Metropolitan State University of Denver Afterwards: Graduate study at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee |