Our Team

We are a committed team of engineers, scientists, and applied and computational mathematicians working toward a common goal of developing an Earth system model capable of accurate and precise climate predictions.

Science and Engineering Team

  • Brandon Allen

    Ocean Core

    Brandon Allen

    Research scientist, MIT

    • Ph.D., MIT, 2019
    • Elementary particle physics, high-performance computing

  • Eric Ballouz

    Data Assimilation

    Eric Ballouz

    Graduate Student, Caltech

    • M.S., Stanford University, 2019
    • Inverse Problems and Parameter Learning for Chaotic Systems

  • Valeria Barra

    Atmosphere Core/Software Engineering

    Valeria Barra

    Research Software Engineer, Caltech

    • Ph.D., NJIT, 2018
    • Computational mathematics and high-performance scientific computing
    • Numerical methods for PDEs
    • Computational fluid dynamics

  • Jordan Benjamin

    Atmosphere Processes

    Jordan Benjamin

    Graduate Student, Caltech

    • B.S., MIT, 2019
    • Clouds, microphysics, turbulence, and convection

  • Melanie Bieli

    Atmosphere Processes

    Melanie Bieli

    Postdoc, Caltech

    • Ph.D., Columbia University, 2019
    • Statistical models and machine learning techniques for cloud microphysics

  • Tobias Bischoff

    Atmosphere Processes

    Tobias Bischoff

    Senior Research Scientist, Caltech

    • PhD., Caltech, 2016
    • Senior Data & Applied Scientist at Microsoft, 2016-2019
    • Subgrid-scale modeling for atmospheric processes
    • Machine learning & AI approaches

  • Jake Bolewski

    Software Engineering

    Jake Bolewski

    Software Engineer, Caltech

    • B.S., Cornell University, 2011
    • Array databases
    • Cloud computing

  • Dave Bonan

    Atmosphere Processes

    Dave Bonan

    Graduate Student, Caltech

    • B.S., University of Washington, 2019
    • Climate dynamics, sea ice, ocean overturning, feedbacks

  • Renato Braghiere

    Land Model

    Renato Braghiere

    Research Scientist, JPL/UCLA

    • Ph.D., University of Reading, 2018
    • Land Surface Modeling, radiative transfer theory, and biosphere-atmosphere interactions

  • Dmitry Burov

    Data Assimilation/Machine Learning

    Dmitry Burov

    Graduate Student, Caltech

    • B.Sc., Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 2013
    • Experimental design approaches for optimal placement of high-resolution simulations

  • Simon Byrne

    Software Engineering

    Simon Byrne

    Lead Software Engineer, Caltech

    • Ph.D., University of Cambridge, 2011
    • Management of large and distributed software projects
    • High-performance computing
    • Statistics and machine learning

  • Jean-Michel Campin

    Ocean Core

    Jean-Michel Campin

    Research Scientist, MIT

    • Ph.D., Université catholique de Louvain, 1997
    • Computational fluid dynamics and ocean modelling; extensive experience developing ocean, sea-ice and atmospheric models
    • Co-developer of the MITgcm ocean model

  • Costa Christopoulos

    Atmosphere Processes

    Costa Christopoulos

    Graduate Student, Caltech

    • B.S., MIT, 2017
    • Clouds and convection

  • Valentin Churavy

    Software Engineering

    Valentin Churavy

    Graduate Student, MIT

    • B.Sc., University Osnabrück, Germany, 2015; M.Sc., MIT, 2019
    • Compiler research for heterogenous high-performance computing
    • Julia language development
    • Distributed and accelerated computing for high-level programming languages

  • Yair Cohen

    Atmosphere Processes

    Yair Cohen

    Research Scientist, Caltech

    • Ph.D., Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 2016
    • Process models for atmospheric turbulence, convection, and clouds

  • Emily de Jong

    Atmosphere Processes

    Emily de Jong

    Graduate Student, Caltech

    • B.S.E., Princeton University, 2019
    • Aerosol indirect effects

  • Katherine Deck

    Land Model

    Katherine Deck

    Senior Research Scientist, Caltech

    • Ph.D., MIT, 2014
    • Evolution of dynamical systems
    • Inverse problems and learning from data

  • Oliver Dunbar

    Data Assimilation/Machine Learning

    Oliver Dunbar

    Postdoc, Caltech

    • Ph.D., University of Warwick, 2017
    • Experimental design approaches for optimal placement of high-resolution simulations

  • Alan Edelman

    Software Engineering

    Alan Edelman

    Professor of Applied Mathematics Computer Science, MIT

    • Ph.D., MIT, 1989
    • Software for high-performance computing, numerical linear algebra, random matrix theory
    • Recipient of the Gordon Bell Prize and Householder Prize (1990), Chauvenet Prize (1998), Edgerly Science Partnership Award (1999), SIAM Activity Group on Linear Algebra Prize (2000), and Lester R. Ford Award (2005, with Gilbert Strang).

  • Haakon Ervik

    Atmosphere Processes/Data Assimilation

    Haakon Ervik

    Graduate Student, Caltech

    • M.Sc., University of Bergen, 2020
    • Subgrid-scale modeling for atmospheric turbulence, convection and clouds
    • Inverse problems, stochastic modeling, and learning from data
    • Recipient of Aker Scholarship and Fulbright Fellowship

  • Kristen Fahy

    Land Model

    Kristen Fahy

    Science Systems Engineer, JPL

    • M.Ed./B.S – Rutgers University, 2015
    • Using systems engineering practices and tools to optimize efficiency for climate modelling projects, including project management tasks with the CliMA land model component at JPL.

  • Raffaele Ferrari

    Ocean Core and Processes

    Raffaele Ferrari

    Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Oceanography; Director of the Program in Atmospheres, Oceans, and Climate, MIT

    • Ph.D., Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 2000
    • Theories of ocean turbulence and its impact on biogeochemistry and present/past climates
    • Recipient of the Nicholas P. Fofonoff Award (American Meteorological Society), Robert L. and Bettie P. Cody Award (Scripps Institution of Oceanography)

  • Christian Frankenberg

    Land/Biosphere

    Christian Frankenberg

    Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering, Caltech; Research Scientist, JPL

    • Ph.D., Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, 2005
    • Carbon cycle; atmospheric CO2 and methane; space-based measurements of the biosphere
    • Recipient of Macelwane Medal (AGU). AGU Fellow. NASA Early Career Achievement Medal

  • Basile Gallet

    Ocean Processes

    Basile Gallet

    Researcher, CEA Saclay, France

    • Ph.D., Physics, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, 2011
    • Radiatively driven convection, wave-mean flow interactions, asymptotic methods in geophysical fluid dynamics
    • Recipient of the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Distinguished Scholar Award (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

  • Frank Giraldo

    Atmosphere Core

    Frank Giraldo

    Professor of Applied Mathematics, Naval Postgraduate School

    • Ph.D., University of Virginia, 1995
    • Numerical methods for partial differential equations; scientific computing
    • Core architect of U.S. Navy’s atmosphere model
    • Recipient of Carl E. and Jesse W. Menneken Award (NPS Foundation), Alan Berman Research Prize (U.S. Navy)

  • Jia He

    Atmosphere Processes

    Jia He

    Postdoc, Caltech

    • Ph.D., Georgia Tech, 2017
    • Atmosphere dynamics; machine learning for weather prediction
    • Parameterization of atmospheric turbulence, convection, and clouds

  • Chris Hill

    Ocean Core

    Chris Hill

    Principal Research Engineer, MIT

    • Climate modeling, high-performance parallel computing
    • Architect of the widely used MITgcm ocean model and Earth System Modeling Framework (ESMF)

  • Adeline Hillier

    Ocean Processes

    Adeline Hillier

    Student Researcher, MIT

    • Machine learning
    • Parameterization of ocean convection

  • Mike Howland

    Atmosphere Processes/Data Assimilation

    Mike Howland

    Postdoc, Caltech

    • Ph.D., Stanford University, 2020
    • Data assimilation
    • Atmospheric flow physics

  • Daniel Z. Huang

    Atmosphere Processes/Data Assimilation

    Daniel Z. Huang

    Postdoc, Caltech

    • Ph.D., Stanford, 2020
    • Computational mathematics
    • Multiphysics
    • Machine Learning

  • Anna Jaruga

    Atmosphere Processes

    Anna Jaruga

    Research Scientist, Caltech

    • Ph.D., University of Warsaw, 2017
    • Cloud microphysics and cloud-aerosol interactions

  • Sriharsha Kandala

    Software Engineering

    Sriharsha Kandala

    Research Software Engineer, Caltech

    • PhD., Illinois Institute of Technology, 2015
    • Computational fluid dynamics and High-performance computing
    • Software development

  • Charles Kawczynski

    Software Engineering

    Charles Kawczynski

    Software Engineer, Caltech

    • Ph.D., UCLA, 2018
    • Computational fluid dynamics and magnetohydrodynamics
    • High-performance computing, machine learning

  • Oswald Knoth

    Atmosphere Core

    Oswald Knoth

    Senior Scientist, TROPOS

    • Ph.D., University of Halle, 1983
    • Numerical methods for weather prediction
    • Multirate time integration methods

  • Jeremy Kozdon

    Atmosphere Core

    Jeremy Kozdon

    Assistant Professor of Applied Mathematics, Naval Postgraduate School

    • Ph.D., Stanford University, 2009
    • Robust and accurate numerical methods for partial differential equations
    • High-performance computing;  experienced developer of parallel codes for CPUs and GPUs

  • Paul Levine

    Land Model

    Paul Levine

    Postdoc, JPL

    • Ph.D., UC Irvine, 2019
    • Biosphere-atmosphere transfer processes
    • Water and carbon cycle interactions

  • Ignacio Lopez-Gomez

    Atmosphere Processes

    Ignacio Lopez-Gomez

    Graduate Student, Caltech

    • M.Sc., ISAE-SUPAERO, 2018
    • Computational fluid dynamics; process models for atmospheric turbulence, convection, and clouds

  • Shuang Ma

    Land Model

    Shuang Ma

    Postdoc, JPL

    • Ph.D., Northern Arizona University, 2019
    • Terrestrial carbon cycle
    • Representation of natural wetland methane emission in land system models
    • Representation of below ground carbon cycle in land system models

     

  • Ben Mackay

    Software Engineering

    Ben Mackay

    Schmidt Scholar, Caltech

    • B.S., Caltech, 2020
    • High performance computing
    • Cloud microphysics
    • Stochastic processes

  • Elias Massoud

    Land Model

    Elias Massoud

    Postdoc, JPL

    • Ph.D., UC Irvine, 2017
    • Model development and documentation
    • Uncertainty quantification of Earth system processes
    • Water and carbon cycle

  • John Marshall

    Ocean Core and Processes

    John Marshall

    Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Oceanography; Director Climate Modeling Initiative, MIT

    • Ph.D., Imperial College, 1980
    • Ocean circulation theory; coupled dynamics of atmosphere and oceans; parameterization of ocean processes
    • Architect of the widely used MITgcm ocean model
    • Recipient of L.F. Richardson Prize (Royal Meteorological Society), Sverdrup Gold Medal and Bernhard Haurwitz Prize (both American Meteorological Society). Fellow of the Royal Society.

  • Nicholas Nelsen

    Data Assimilation/Machine Learning

    Nicholas Nelsen

    Graduate Student, Caltech

    • M.Sc., Caltech, 2020
    • Emulation of high-dimensional input-output maps

  • Alexander Norton

    Land Model

    Alexander Norton

    Postdoc, JPL

    • Ph.D., University of Melbourne, 2019
    • Terrestrial Carbon Cycling
    • Carbon-Climate Feedbacks
    • Data Assimilation

  • Lenka Novak

    Atmosphere Processes

    Lenka Novak

    Research Scientist, Caltech

    • Ph.D., University of Reading, 2016
    • Large-scale atmosphere dynamics; storm track dynamics

  • Grace O’Neil

    Atmosphere Processes

    Grace O’Neil

    Graduate Student, MIT

    • M.A., Columbia University, 2020
    • Atmospheric Dynamics

  • Kiran Pamnany

    Software Engineering

    Kiran Pamnany

    Research Software Engineer, Caltech

    • Ph.D. Brown University, 2011
    • Parallel systems: algorithms, programming models, compilers and runtimes, architecture
    • Julia language developer
    • High performance computing

  • Nicholas Parazoo

    Land Model

    Nicholas Parazoo

    Research Scientist, JPL

    • Ph.D., Colorado State University, 2011
    • Terrestrial carbon cycling
    • Carbon-climate feedbacks
    • Atmospheric Transport

  • Henry Peterson

    Atmosphere Processes

    Henry Peterson

    Graduate Student, Caltech

    • B.A., UC Berkeley, 2019
    • Large-scale climate dynamics
    • Extreme precipitation trends

  • Ulyana Piterbarg

    Ocean Processes

    Ulyana Piterbarg

    Student Researcher, MIT

    • Bayesian learning and stochastic modeling
    • Subgrid-scale modeling of oceanic turbulence

  • Ali Ramadhan

    Ocean Processes

    Ali Ramadhan

    Graduate Student, MIT

    • M.S., University of Waterloo, 2017
    • Atmosphere-ocean-cryosphere dynamics; biophysical ocean interactions
    • High-performance computing and ocean model development

  • Sassan Saatchi

    Land Model

    Sassan Saatchi

    Senior Research Scientist, JPL

    • PhD., George Washington University, 1988
    • Carbon Cycle

  • John Seinfeld

    Atmosphere Processes

    John Seinfeld

    Louis E. Nohl Professor & Professor of Chemical Engineering, Caltech

    • Ph.D., Princeton University, 1967
    • Atmospheric chemistry and physics; aerosols
    • Developer of first numerical model of atmospheric chemistry and air pollution
    • Recipient of Tyler Prizefor Environmental Achievement. Member of the National Academy of Sciences

  • Tapio Schneider

    Atmosphere Processes

    Tapio Schneider

    Theodore Y. Wu Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering, Caltech; Senior Research Scientist, JPL

    • Ph.D., Princeton University, 2001
    • Dynamics of atmospheres and climate changes, including changes in clouds, storminess, and extreme precipitation
    • Named one of “20 Best Brains Under 40” (Discover Magazine), David and Lucile Packard Fellow, Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow.

  • Zhaoyi Shen

    Atmosphere Processes

    Zhaoyi Shen

    Postdoc, Caltech

    • Ph.D., Princeton University, 2018
    • Climate dynamics and aerosol-climate interactions
    • Cloud dynamics and feedbacks

  • Clare Singer

    Atmosphere Processes

    Clare Singer

    Graduate Student, Caltech

    • B.S./B.A., University of Chicago, 2018
    • Cloud feedbacks

  • Andre Souza

    Ocean Processes

    Andre Souza

    Research Scientist, MIT

    • Ph.D., University of Michigan, 2016
    • Optimal control and scientific computing; turbulent heat transport theory and rare events in dynamical systems

  • Akshay Sridhar

    Atmosphere Processes

    Akshay Sridhar

    Postdoc, Caltech

    • Ph.D., Caltech, 2018
    • Subgrid-scale modelling of atmospheric turbulence and clouds
    • Numerical techniques in earth-system modeling/high-performance computing

  • Andrew Stuart

    Data Assimilation/Machine Learning

    Andrew Stuart

    Bren Professor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, Caltech

    • Ph.D., University of Oxford, 1986
    • Bayesian learning and optimal combination of mechanistic models with data; data assimilation, inverse problems, and stochastic modeling
    • Recipient of James Wilkinson Prize in Numerical Analysis and Scientific Computing (SIAM), J. D. Crawford Prize (SIAM), Wolfson Research Merit Award (Royal Society)

  • Andrew Thompson

    Ocean Processes

    Andrew Thompson

    Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering, Caltech

    • Ph.D., Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 2006
    • Physical oceanography, Southern Ocean dynamics, role of ocean in climate
    • Recipient of AGU Ocean Sciences Early Career Award. David and Lucile Packard Fellow

  • Yassine Tissaoui

    Atmosphere Core

    Yassine Tissaoui

    Graduate Student, NJIT

    • Degree of Engineer, National Engineering School of Tunis, Tunisia
    • Atmosphere modeling
    • Scientific computing
    • Climate simulation
    • Multi-phase flow and drop dynamics

  • Paul Ullrich

    Atmosphere Core

    Paul Ullrich

    Professor, UC Davis

    • Ph.D., University of Michigan, 2011
    • Numerical methods for global atmospheric models
    • Global model evaluation

  • Gregory Wagner

    Ocean Processes

    Gregory Wagner

    Research Scientist, MIT

    • Ph.D., UC San Diego, 2016
    • Dynamics of waves and small-scale mixing in oceans
    • Recipient of NOAA Climate and Global Change Postdoctoral Fellowship

  • Yujie Wang

    Land Model

    Yujie Wang

    Postdoc, Caltech

    • PhD, University of Utah, 2020
    • Model development
    • Leaf gas exchange
    • Plant acclimation to the climate

  • Ryan Ward

    Atmosphere Processes

    Ryan Ward

    Graduate Student, Caltech

    • B.S., University of Florida, 2019
    • Aerosol-cloud interactions

  • Maciej Waruszewski

    Atmosphere Core

    Maciej Waruszewski

    Research Associate, NPS

    • Ph.D., University of Warsaw, 2019
    • Numerical methods for PDEs
    • Simulations of atmospheric flows
    • Heterogeneous high-performance computing

  • Lucas Wilcox

    Atmosphere Core

    Lucas Wilcox

    Associate Professor of Applied Mathematics, Naval Postgraduate School

    • Ph.D., Brown University, 2006
    • Computational mathematics and scientific computing
    • Recipient of Carl E. and Jesse W. Menneken Award (NPS Foundation)

  • John Worden

    Land Model

    John Worden

    Principal Scientist, JPL

    • Ph.D., University of Colorado, 1996
    • Remote sensing of atmospheric composition and assimilation of these data into global models for investigating the carbon and water cycle
    • JPL Earth Sciences Section Manager 2014 – 2017
    • NASA Aura TES PI 2010 – 2014

  • Jinlong Wu

    Atmosphere Processes, Data Assimilation/Machine Learning

    Jinlong Wu

    Postdoc, Caltech

    • Ph.D., Virginia Tech, 2018
    • Turbulence modeling
    • Statistical models and machine learning techniques

  • Yan Yang

    Land Model

    Yan Yang

    Postdoc, JPL

    • Ph.D., Boston University, 2017
    • Model development and data assimilation
    • Vegetation remote sensing
    • Statistical analysis and machine learning

  • Dennis Yatunin

    Software Engineering

    Dennis Yatunin

    Schmidt Scholar, Caltech

    • B.S., Caltech, 2020
    • High-performance computing and numerical methods

Project Management and Coordination

  • Dan McCleese

    Project Management

    Dan McCleese

    Senior Project Manager, Caltech

    • Ph.D., University of Oxford, 1976
    • Managed projects and missions in Earth and planetary science as JPL Chief Scientist (2006-2016) and Chief Scientist for Mars Exploration (1994-2006)
    • Science architect for JPL/NASA Mars Exploration Program
    • Recipient of NASA’s Outstanding Leadership and Distinguished Service Medals

  • Sabrina Pirzada

    Program Coordination

    Sabrina Pirzada

    CliMA Program Coordinator, Caltech

    • B.A., Mount Saint Mary’s University, 2017
    • Program development
    • Research administration
    • Finance and communication

  • Ashlee Zhang

    Finance

    Ashlee Zhang

    CliMA Finance Assistant; Grants Manager, Caltech

    • B.A., UC San Diego, 2014
    • Financial management
    • Financial forecasting and budgeting

Funders