cw3e-web - Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes

CW3E Welcomes Pete Stamus

February 6, 2025

Pete Stamus joined CW3E in January 2025 as a numerical weather prediction scientist and research data analyst on the CW3E modeling team. He holds a B.S. in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science from the University of Michigan and an M.S. in Meteorology from the University of Oklahoma. His thesis work on the verification of numerical model forecasts was done in the Advanced Study Program at the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

After graduation Pete worked with NOAA’s Forecast Systems Lab in Boulder, Colorado and then with commercial research companies, working on a wide variety of topics including numerical analysis and forecasting, the analysis of waves in the upper atmosphere, and the use of satellite-derived ocean surface winds at NWS forecast offices. Eventually starting his own consulting company, Pete moved into the renewable energy industry, where he helped set up and manage high-resolution WRF model runs to assist in wind resource assessments for client projects in the US and internationally.

A common thread through Pete’s career is technology transfer: applying scientific research to create tools assisting end-users focused on real world problems. He’s excited to be able to continue that thread and contribute to CW3E’s work.

Pete lives near Longmont, Colorado and enjoys family time, travel, hiking/snowshoeing, and dabbling in the earth sciences.

CW3E Welcomes Dr. Abdul Moiz

January 10, 2025

Dr. Abdul Moiz joined the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E) in January 2025 as a Research & Development Engineer within the Water Resources Engineering team.

Dr. Moiz earned his Master’s (2017) and Ph.D. (2020) degrees in Civil Engineering from The University of Tokyo, Japan, as a Japanese government scholar. He received his Bachelor’s degree (2015) in Civil Engineering from the University of Engineering & Technology, Taxila, Pakistan. Following his Ph.D., Dr. Moiz served as a Project Researcher at The University of Tokyo's Department of Civil Engineering and the Institute for Future Initiatives. He subsequently held a position as a Postdoctoral Research Scholar at Arizona State University’s Center for Hydrologic Innovations.

At The University of Tokyo, Dr. Moiz focused on advancing physics-based distributed hydrological models for snowfed mountainous regions, developing real-time hydrometeorological forecasting systems, and exploring their value in decision support for dam reservoir operations in Japan. His work emphasized the integration of radar precipitation observations with reanalysis vertical air temperature profiles to enhance hydrological simulations and precipitation phase partitioning using parameter optimization schemes.

During his time at Arizona State University, Dr. Moiz conducted a comprehensive multi-scale evaluation of the NOAA’s National Water Model to assess its applicability across Arizona. This work supported the Arizona Tri-University Recharge and Water Reliability Project and the Advanced Water Observatory and Decision Support System Project, identifying sites for groundwater recharge.

At CW3E, Dr. Moiz will contribute to the Water Resources Engineering team by advancing research and development efforts, particularly focusing on the application of Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) initiatives across the Western U.S. He is eager to leverage his skills and experiences from Japan and Arizona to support CW3E’s mission.

CW3E Welcomes John Deane

December 23, 2024

John Deane joined CW3E as an R&D Engineer in December 2024. As part of the field team, he specializes in hydrology and surface water measurements.

This past summer, John worked with the Upper Colorado River Recovery Program in Utah, where he monitored native fish populations while navigating rafts and motorboats on the Green and Colorado Rivers. Prior to that, John served with the Park Service in Yosemite National Park, where he operated stream gages and hydrometeorological stations in the Merced and Tuolumne headwaters. He also gained valuable experience as a hydrologic technician with the USGS in Nevada. John is passionate about maintaining tidy instrumentation and ensuring data transparency. He is excited to apply his hydrology expertise at CW3E, developing field solutions that support researchers and resource managers.

Outside of work, John enjoys biking, skiing, reading, cooking, and spending time in the water.

CW3E Welcomes Tyler Bath

December 5, 2024

Tyler Bath joined CW3E as a Systems Integration Engineer in December 2024. He earned his B.S. in Computer Science from UCSD in 2014.

Tyler’s prior work spans a wide range of technologies and topics, particularly in health and genomics. His experience ranges from exploring and building on Electronic Health Records to creating automated grading processes for blockchain competitions. Throughout his career, his focus has been on creating tools that improve the usability of health data for both patients and researchers, with an emphasis on protecting patient privacy and enabling reproducibility in research. He has approached this via the automation of pipelines and workflows through intuitive web interfaces, often across systems requiring distributed analytics.

Outside of work, Tyler enjoys spending time outdoors hiking with his dog, tending to his garden, and engaging in DIY hobbies. From woodworking to 3D printing, Tyler enjoys combining his technical skills with his passion for hands-on projects.

At CW3E, Tyler is looking forward to helping create tools and methods for creating more stable, understandable, and generalizable code. He is excited to be working in such a positive environment filled with passionate people, where he can learn new subjects, and apply his skills to a variety of new multidisciplinary challenges.

CW3E Welcomes Kevin Pease

November 25, 2024

Kevin Pease joined CW3E as a Systems Integration Engineer in November 2024. He brings over 20 years of experience in Information Technology, with expertise spanning multiple industries, including startups and the life sciences. He is excited to apply his knowledge of regulated workflows and clinically focused computing to enhance CW3E’s operations.

He serves as a valuable resource for operational and technical challenges, contributing to the center’s mission with a keen interest in learning about meteorology and forecast modeling. Since his career has been focused on technology, Kevin welcomes any opportunities to deepen his understanding of CW3E’s mission and work.

Originally from Oregon and Seattle, Kevin now resides in San Diego full time. In his personal time he enjoys a variety of outdoor activities and values a work environment that enhances his connection to nature. He is most looking forward to his work at the center increasing the predictability of delivering results in a timely manner to all stakeholders. His efforts focus on increasing system monitoring, optimizing code deployment practices, implementing detailed unit testing, and enhancing access to resources. If there is a technology or process related need feel free to include him in the discussion!

CW3E Welcomes Dr. Yanbo Nie

November 22, 2024

Yanbo Nie joined CW3E as a postdoctoral scholar on November 18, 2024.

Yanbo earned his B.S. degree in atmospheric science from Lanzhou University in 2019, and his Ph.D. degree in meteorology from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2024. His previous research focused on the mechanisms and prediction of extreme precipitation. He investigated the intraseasonal atmospheric processes associated with extreme precipitation events over Southwest China and the oceanic drivers of their interannual to decadal variability using various statistical tools, diagnostic methods, and numerical experiments. He also developed machine learning- based models to improve subseasonal and seasonal prediction of extreme precipitation in this region.

At CW3E, Yanbo will work with the machine learning team. He will lead the development of machine learning models to assess the impact of inundation on protected species habitats. Additionally, he will contribute to ongoing developments in the AI data-driven ensemble prediction of weather extremes.

CW3E Seeking Associate Project Scientist

November 14, 2024

CW3E is seeking an Associate Project Scientist. Applications accepted initially through 30 November but will remain open until filled. Starting salary range is up to $111,400. Please see the job description below or at this link for more information and don’t hesitate to reach out to kloteyro@ucsd.edu if you have any questions at all. Here is the link to apply: https://apol-recruit.ucsd.edu/JPF04053

CW3E Welcomes Andy Richards

October 15, 2024

Andy Richards joined CW3E as a Fiscal Analyst in October 2024. With nearly 20 years of experience in finance and operations, he brings a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record of driving efficiency and strategic growth across diverse industries, including technology, food and beverage, and manufacturing. A native San Diegan, Andy earned a professional certification in Brewing Science and Technology from UC San Diego, an MBA from the University of Phoenix, and a B.S. in Psychology from UC San Diego.

Before joining CW3E, Andy served as the Director of Finance & Operations at Second Chance Beer Co., where he optimized financial management and operational workflows across manufacturing, four sales channels, and two taprooms. He enjoys building dynamic financial models and dashboards, preparing financial reports, and implementing internal controls to enhance compliance and productivity.

Throughout his career, Andy has consistently focused on creative problem-solving and leveraging technology to deliver valuable insights and solutions. His expertise includes accounting, financial forecasting, and process improvement, complemented by proficiency in tools such as Excel, VBA, Power Query, and DAX.

At CW3E, Andy is excited to apply his analytical skills and operational experience to support financial decision-making and drive the organization’s growth initiatives.

CW3E Welcomes Subin Yoon

September 23, 2024

Subin Yoon joined CW3E’s as a Field Operations Manager in September 2024. She earned her B.A. in Geology with a concentration in Geochemistry from Bryn Mawr College in Bryn Mawr, PA (2011) and her Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences at Baylor University in Waco, TX (2020).

Before joining CW3E, Subin was a postdoctoral fellow (2020 – 2023) and a research scientist (2023 – 2024) at the University of Houston. Her research focused on using air quality measurements to understand major sources and drivers of urban and coastal air pollution. Her work on air quality spans studies across Texas, Northern California, China, and India. Her expertise involves utilizing advanced analytical instrumentation and technologies to measure the chemical composition and optical properties of environmental pollutants (aerosols, trace gasses, volatile organic compounds), as well as analyzing measurements with source apportionment models to address air quality and climate-related questions. Since her graduate studies, she has participated in numerous intensive field campaigns and long-term monitoring projects.

At CW3E, Subin is excited to use her research and field-based expertise to manage and assist in all facets of the land-based observations efforts serving as primary resource for these projects. She will also assist in the collaboration with the AR Recon and FIRO programs to ensure smooth coordination of research.

CW3E Welcomes Peyton Capute

August 26, 2024

Peyton Capute joined CW3E in August 2024 as a postdoctoral researcher. Prior to joining CW3E, she earned a B.S. in Geoscience with a concentration in Meteorology from Hobart and William Smith Colleges (2018) and a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science from the University at Albany, SUNY (2024). As a Ph.D. student, Peyton worked under CW3E affiliate Dr. Ryan Torn analyzing the predictability of Arctic cyclones in comparison to Atlantic Basin cyclones under an Office of Naval Research (ONR) grant. A climatological comparison of the practical predictability of these storms is published in Monthly Weather Review (Capute and Torn 2021). Further, she used the Model for Prediction Across scales to evaluate the tropospheric features and surface thermodynamics that limit the position and intensity variability of Arctic and Atlantic Basin cyclones using ensemble-based sensitivity analysis. Her research was part of ONR’s Arctic cyclone Departmental Research Initiative, which allowed her to take part in forecast operations for the THINICE field campaign, collaborating with other US, British, and French scientists to better understand the predictability of Arctic cyclones.

At CW3E, Peyton’s postdoctoral research will focus on extreme precipitation events related to flood risk and New York City water supply reliability and contribute to ongoing AR Reconnaissance research. Peyton is eager to apply her skillset to ongoing efforts at CW3E, while continuing to learn new tools.