Synoptic Meteorology Research Group
Students and postdoctoral scholars that are interested in joining the Synoptic Meteorology Research Group at CU Boulder are encouraged to contact Prof. Winters to discuss available opportunities.
Current Group Members
Prof. Andrew Winters (he/him) Principal Investigator Bio: Prof. Winters is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (ATOC) at the University of Colorado Boulder and has led the synoptic meteorology research group at CU Boulder since August 2019. His research interests are broadly focused on understanding the dynamics, variability, and predictability of synoptic-scale environments conducive to the development of high-impact weather events. In his free time, Prof. Winters enjoys running, hiking, cooking, and cheering on all Wisconsin sports teams. |
Becca Baiman (she/her) CU Boulder Ph.D Candidate Bio: Becca is a fourth-year Ph.D student within Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at CU. She studied math in undergrad and taught high school for 5 years before starting grad school. Becca is excited to join the synoptic meteorology group and is currently working with Andrew on investigating the development and impacts of Atmospheric Rivers over Antarctica. Outside of school Becca loves hanging in the mountains with her dog Tavi and bouldering. |
McKenzie Larson (she/her) CU Boulder Graduate Student / DOE CS Graduate Fellow / AMS Graduate Fellow Bio: McKenzie is a second-year Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Ph.D. student in the synoptic meteorology group. She received her B.A. in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences and Physical Geography from CU in 2022. McKenzie is researching how to improve operational weather forecasts of extratropical cyclones and downslope windstorms along the Colorado Front Range by utilizing modeling and machine learning techniques. Outside of academics, she enjoys hiking, camping, skiing, playing the piccolo, watching hockey, and cooking! |
Zach Michael (he/him) CU Boulder Graduate Student / NSF Graduate Research Fellow Bio: Zach is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (ATOC) at CU. He received a B.S. in both atmospheric science and applied math from the University of Miami (Florida) in Spring 2022. Zach is investigating cold frontal passages along the Colorado Front Range and their attendant sensible weather impacts. Zach’s hobbies include swimming, martial arts, tennis, exploring new places, and trying other people’s food! |
Michelle Maclennan (she/her) CU Boulder Ph.D Candidate / NASA FINESST Future Investigator Bio: Michelle is a fourth-year Ph.D student studying snowfall over Antarctica in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at CU. She is researching how Atmospheric Rivers (bands of warm, moist air) bring snowfall to the Antarctic Ice Sheet and impact its surface mass balance. Michelle loves the outdoors and spends her free time hiking and skiing in the mountains, gardening, and cooking. |
Clairy Reiher (she/her) CU Boulder Graduate Student / CU Boulder Devaney Fellow Bio: Clairy is a third-year Ph.D student within the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at CU. She received her B.S. in atmospheric science from the University of Maryland - College Park in Spring 2021. Clairy’s research interests lie primarily with understanding jet superpositions and their relationships with high-impact weather and climate change. Beyond school, she enjoys hiking, music, trying new food, and meeting other people’s pets. |
Group Alumni
Christian McGinty
Research Associate – Summer 2023
Project: "Predicting Precipitation Type Using Microwave Radiometer Data Collected during the WINTRE-MIX Field Campaign"
Sierra Brown
Summer 2023 CU SMART Program Participant
Project: "The Frequency and Characteristics of Near-Freezing Precipitation Events along the Colorado Front Range"
Seryna Robles
Summer 2023 ATOC REU Participant
Project: "Factors Influencing Snowfall Accumulations during Atmospheric River Events over the Antarctic Peninsula"
Erica Bortfeldt
Independent Study – Spring 2023
Project: "Studying Flow Perturbations as a Result of ET Cyclone Interaction with the North Pacific Jet"
Benjamin Danielski
Independent Study – Spring 2023
Project: "Atmospheric River Relevance and Frequency in Colorado"
Brody Kuehl
Independent Study – Spring 2023
Project: "ET and Downstream Effects following Typhoon Mindulle (2021)"
Rebecca Torres
Summer 2022 ATOC REU Participant
Project: "The Evolution of Precipitation Type during Two Contrasting Cases from the WINTRE-MIX Field Campaign"
Alexandre Collin
Independent Study – Summer 2022
Project: "Investigating the Characteristics of HRRR Forecasts Prior to Colorado Front Range Snow Events"
Gillian Grasso
Summer 2020 & 2021 UROP Recipient
Project: "The Character of Large-Scale Atmospheric Environments Conducive to Cool Season Tornadic and Nontornadic Outbreaks in the Eastern U.S"
Laura Smith
Summer 2021 ATOC REU Participant
Project: "Thunderstorm Gust Fronts and Complex Terrain Wildfires: A Case Study of the 2018 Wyoming Badger Creek Wildfire"
Elyse Hawkins
Summer 2020 UROP Recipient
Project: "Analysis of Severe Thunderstorm Wind Gusts Across the Continental U.S from 2003–2018"
David Rosencrans
Independent Study – Spring 2020
Project: "Investigating the Relationship between the Pacific-North American Pattern and Temperature Whiplash Events in the Western United States"
Research Associate – Summer 2023
Project: "Predicting Precipitation Type Using Microwave Radiometer Data Collected during the WINTRE-MIX Field Campaign"
Sierra Brown
Summer 2023 CU SMART Program Participant
Project: "The Frequency and Characteristics of Near-Freezing Precipitation Events along the Colorado Front Range"
Seryna Robles
Summer 2023 ATOC REU Participant
Project: "Factors Influencing Snowfall Accumulations during Atmospheric River Events over the Antarctic Peninsula"
Erica Bortfeldt
Independent Study – Spring 2023
Project: "Studying Flow Perturbations as a Result of ET Cyclone Interaction with the North Pacific Jet"
Benjamin Danielski
Independent Study – Spring 2023
Project: "Atmospheric River Relevance and Frequency in Colorado"
Brody Kuehl
Independent Study – Spring 2023
Project: "ET and Downstream Effects following Typhoon Mindulle (2021)"
Rebecca Torres
Summer 2022 ATOC REU Participant
Project: "The Evolution of Precipitation Type during Two Contrasting Cases from the WINTRE-MIX Field Campaign"
Alexandre Collin
Independent Study – Summer 2022
Project: "Investigating the Characteristics of HRRR Forecasts Prior to Colorado Front Range Snow Events"
Gillian Grasso
Summer 2020 & 2021 UROP Recipient
Project: "The Character of Large-Scale Atmospheric Environments Conducive to Cool Season Tornadic and Nontornadic Outbreaks in the Eastern U.S"
Laura Smith
Summer 2021 ATOC REU Participant
Project: "Thunderstorm Gust Fronts and Complex Terrain Wildfires: A Case Study of the 2018 Wyoming Badger Creek Wildfire"
Elyse Hawkins
Summer 2020 UROP Recipient
Project: "Analysis of Severe Thunderstorm Wind Gusts Across the Continental U.S from 2003–2018"
David Rosencrans
Independent Study – Spring 2020
Project: "Investigating the Relationship between the Pacific-North American Pattern and Temperature Whiplash Events in the Western United States"