Information for Prospective Students – Fall 2024

FALL 2024 GRADUATE STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES

I am seeking enthusiastic and motivated students for projects related to the following:

  • Meteorological drivers of precipitation variability – focus on the U.S primarily but other areas may be considered
  • Seasonal to sub-seasonal predictability of precipitation variability or future climate projections
  • Sea breeze thunderstorms and relationships to synoptic scale
  • Ensemble climate modeling using the Community Earth System model

At this time, I do not have funding secured for this work. However, the UF Department of Geography is able to offer a certain number of Graduate Teaching Assistants to strong PhD candidates, and applicants to the program would automatically be considered. TA’s involve teaching and grading our classes in the department, and come with a stipend of $21,000 per 9 months, with up to $9,000 earnings for additional summer work available each year. TAs are only available to PhD applicants. 

Prospective applicants – please provide a CV and indicate your research interest in the above topic areas or in an area you propose. Note that my discipline is primarily meteorology and synoptic climatology, and so I seek prospective students with background in these areas. Unfortunately, I am unable to respond to every applicant, but I try to respond to those who demonstrate backgrounds and experience that are most closely aligned with meteorology and climatology. I particularly welcome applications from women and underrepresented groups.

How will your request be evaluated?

  • I will compile all relevant solicitations and evaluate them based on match to my research program, qualifications, and additional skillsets.
  • If you are shortlisted, you will receive an email from me. I expect to do this sometime in mid October for first evaluation. I’ll then request a short interview where we can discuss the program and the university.
  • Your application if you chose then to place one would need to be complete and received by the University by Dec 1 for funding consideration.
  • If you are NOT contacted by me, I would not recommend that you apply to the program.
  • Not being contacted/selected to interview is not usually a reflection of your overall skills and abilities, but has more to do with potential fit to our program and my research group specifically.

Mobile Radar Visit to UF!

THIS POST REFERS TO AN EVENT THAT OCCURRED IN THE PAST. WE HOPE TO HAVE THE RADAR WITH US SOON, BUT IT IS NOT A REGULAR FEATURE OF OUR PROGRAM. 

Ever wanted to know what meteorology field work can be like? Ever seen those doppler radar on wheels on the TV and wondered what they do and how they do it? UF has an exciting opportunity to learn more about the use of mobile radar this coming September as the University of Oklahoma’s RaXPol radar-on-wheels, along with students and researchers will be coming in to town for some sea breeze field work from September 12-23.

The following events are available to UF and worldwide students and faculty who are interested in learning more:

  1. Student led workshop 3-6PM ET August 24 2022: This workshop will allow students to lead discussions on research development and radar field work, with the aim to develop some research aims for the upcoming field experiment. While faculty are welcome to attend, they should note that the primary goal of this workshop is for students to develop the plans with faculty experts acting in an advisory role. Register for the workshop using the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1EwynXyAYUNe-TevxUlvx34W5_eNomzB5ABPyD2qTDdo/viewform?edit_requested=true.
  2. Radar visit to UF Campus – Monday Sep 12 and Tuesday Sep 13, 9.30am-mid afternoon: Please stop by for an introduction to the radar equipment and to tour the vehicle and ask us anything! The radar will most likely be positioned outside Turlington Hall or at Flavet field. Further information to come.

Conversation Article Feature: What is a Bomb Cyclone?

A ‘polar low’ approaching Ireland. Image from Pixabay.

I recently write a short article in the Conversation regarding the upcoming intense winter storm due to impact the Northeastern US. The precise impacts of this event are still uncertain. If it tracks east, then the greatest impacts in terms of winds and precipitation remain offshore or restricted to the very edges of the coastlines. However, a westward shift brings the potential for heavier snow and strong winds inland. While mid-latitude storms tend to get less attention than tropical cyclones, the impacts of an intense mid-latitude storm such as this can be extreme – particularly in terms of snowfall, winds, and coastal erosion/flooding. See the article for more on how intense ‘bomb’ cyclones develop: https://theconversation.com/what-is-a-bomb-cyclone-an-atmospheric-scientist-explains-175825

Currently, Hongsheng Wang and I are conducting research into how extratropical cyclones are influenced by natural variability of the climate. We are examining changes in the frequency, spatial locations, and characteristics (winds, precipitation, moisture) over the Pacific-North American-Atlantic region. Hongsheng recently presented her work at the 2022 Annual meeting of the American Meteorological Society. https://ams.confex.com/ams/102ANNUAL/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/394491

 

Welcome!

Hi, I’m Esther Mullens (formerly White), Assistant Professor of Geography at the University of Florida. Prior to this, I was a Postdoctoral Researcher with the South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center (SC-CASC). My background is in Atmospheric Scientist, with a Bachelors degree from the University of Reading (UK), and a PhD from the University of Oklahoma, school of Meteorology. My research has focused on various projects related to weather and climate. During my time at SC-CASC, I examined future climate projections for the South Central United States, with a focus on hazards that impact the transportation sector, on a grant co-funded by the Southern Plains Transportation Center. I have a fascination with winter weather hazards, including freezing rain and ice storms, and recently developed a value-added climate length freezing precipitation dataset for the South Central United States.

My research interests surround precipitation variability – in particular in its extremes (drought, floods), as well as climate dynamics, and climate adaptation. My other joys are in mentoring undergraduate research, supporting stakeholder science through assisting with climate data interpretation, and assisting in a recent early-career workshop facilitated by CS-CASC. I also had the privilege of co-authoring the Southern Great Plains Chapter of the National Climate Assessment (NCA4). At the University of Florida, I will be expanding the meteorological teaching and research within the department of Geography. I will also continue to work with her colleagues at OU on the PRES2iP project, which aims to improve our understanding and prediction of heavy precipitation at seasonal to sub-seasonal lead times.