I am a climate scientist who specializes in climate projections, modeling, and data products. Climate projections, modeling and data products are used both by researchers learning more about the weather and climate of Earth, but they are also increasingly used in other ways. For example, a team of researchers may use this information to assess the relationship between local climate and a local ecosystem or stream and the subsequent impacts of a changing climate on that river or stream. Alternatively, local, regional, or even national decision-makers may use this same weather and climate information to understand how people impacted by weather, climate, or climate change as they make decisions for the management of critical systems, such as dams, aquifers, or emergency response. However, these climate projections, models, and data products, collectively climate data products, are all tools to help understand Earth’s climate, the impacts, and make decisions. Would you use a hammer to do a saws job? Of course not! My research focuses on evaluating climate data products, particularly climate projections, for their accuracy, sources of uncertainty, and their appropriate use outside of climate science. Based on this research work, alongside others, I advise users and stakeholders of the appropriate usage for climate data products for their unique needs. The central aspect of my work is that sound scientific research is a critical component needed to inform decision-making and impacts assessments.

I received my PhD and M.S. in Atmospheric Science from the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences Department at North Carolina State University in 2016 and 2011 respectively, and my B.S. from North Carolina State University in 2008.