Academics

Faculty

Alden Adolph

Alden Adolph

  • Assistant Professor, Engineering Fundamentals
  • Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Links of Interest

Research Interests

  • Snow, Firn and Ice Physics
  • Climate Change
  • Snow Hydrological Processes
  • Remote Sensing of the Cryosphere
Shawn Brueshaber

Shawn Brueshaber

  • Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Links of Interest

Courses Taught

  • Introduction to Mechanical Engineering
  • Thermodynamics I.
  • Material Science
  • Theoretical and Computational Fluid Dynamics

Research Interests

  • Giant planet (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) atmospheric dynamics
  • Convection and storm dynamics in planetary atmospheres
  • Remote sensing of planets (telescopic and spacecraft imaging)
  • Lake effect snow storms
  • Turbulence
  • Spacecraft mission development and design
  • Computational fluid dynamics
  • Remote sensing for amphibian population studies.
Will Cantrell

Will H. Cantrell

  • Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate School
  • Professor, Physics

Links of Interest

Research Interests

  • Atmospheric Science
  • Cloud and aerosol physics and chemistry
  • Nucleation
Simon Carn

Simon Carn

  • Distinguished Professor, Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences

Research Interests

  • Using satellite measurements to constrain global volcanic SO2 production and emissions from individual volcanoes
  • Validation of OMI SO2 retrievals using correlative data from ground-based, airborne and space-borne instruments
  • Tracking volcanic SO2 and ash clouds operationally for aviation hazard mitigation
  • Remote sensing of tropospheric volcanic plumes using DOAS and FTIR
  • Quantifying anthropogenic emissions of SO2 from sources such as copper smelters and oil and gas fields
  • Mitigation of the environmental and health impacts of volcanic degassing using satellite data
  • Comparisons between satellite observations and chemical transport model simulations of volcanic clouds and plumes
Sarah Green

Sarah A. Green

  • Professor Emerita, Chemistry

Links of Interest

Research Interests

  • Climate change communication
  • Science-policy interface
  • Youth engagement in climate policy
  • Response of aquatic systems to climate change
  • Great Lakes
  • Fluorescence-based analytical methods
  • Aerosol chemistry
  • Origin and fate of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in terrestrial, lake, and marine environments
  • Methods for detection of free radicals, photochemical transformations of natural and anthropogenic organic compounds in the environment
  • Integration of biological, geological, physical, and chemical data for understanding global cycles.
Kartik Iyer

Kartik Iyer

  • Assistant Professor, Physics
  • Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Links of Interest

Research Interests

  •  Atmospheric Physics
  • Turbulence
  • Thermal convection
  • Numerical simulations
  • Supercomputing
Ben Kopec

Ben Kopec

  • Assistant Research Scientist, Great Lakes Research Center
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering

Links of Interest

Research Interests

  • Arctic water cycle
  • Water isotope geochemistry
  • Ice-ocean/lake-atmosphere interactions
  • Ocean/lake water mass partitioning
  • Impacts of changing cryosphere on hydrologic systems
Alex Kostinski

Alex B. Kostinski

  • Professor, Physics

Links of Interest

Specialties

  • Atmospheric Physics
Claudio Mazzoleni

Claudio Mazzoleni

  • Distinguished Professor, Physics
  • Director, Atmospheric Sciences Ph.D. Program

Specialties

  • Atmospheric Science
  • Aerosol properties (optical, physical and morphological) and effects on clouds and climate
  • Instrument development and environmental optics
Lynn Mazzoleni

Lynn R. Mazzoleni

  • Associate Professor, Chemistry

Links of Interest

Research Interests

  • Understanding the identities, occurrence, and transformation of aerosol organic compounds
  • Identifying organic aerosol constituents from a variety of atmospheric environments
  • Exploration of new LC column chemistries with ultrahigh pressure pumps for fast and thorough separations
  • Aqueous reaction pathways
Judith Perlinger

Judith A. Perlinger

  • Professor, Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
  • Affiliated Professor, Chemistry

Links of Interest

Teaching Interests

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Transport & Transformation of Organic Chemicals
  • Boundary Layer Meteorology
  • Sustainability

Research Interests

  • Air and Water Quality
  • Atmosphere-biosphere Exchange of Chemicals
  • Micrometeorology
  • Environmental Analytical Chemistry
  • Sustainability
Raymond Shaw

Raymond A. Shaw

  • University Professor, Physics
  • Affiliated Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Links of Interest

Research Interests

  • Atmospheric Physics
  • Cloud Physics
  • Nucleation
  • Turbulence
  • Digital Holography
Shiliang Wu

Shiliang Wu

  • Professor, Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences
  • Professor, Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering

Links of Interest

Research Interests

  • Interactions among climate, atmospheric chemistry, air quality, and land use/land cover
  • Impacts of global change on atmospheric chemistry and long-range transport of air pollution
  • Anthropogenic perturbations to the atmosphere and implications for environmental sustainability
  • Atmosphere-biosphere interactions, especially in the context of global change
  • Impacts of aerosols on the global hydrological cycle
Xin Xi

Xin Xi

  • Assistant Professor, Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences

Links of Interest

Research webpage

Research Interests

  • Processed-based modeling of aerosol interactions with weather and climate

  • Impacts of land-cover/land-use changes on atmospheric compositions

  • Remote sensing science and applications in environmental mapping, modeling, and monitoring

  • AI/ML applications in climate research

Pengfei Xue

Pengfei Xue

  • Associate Director, Great Lakes Research Center
  • Professor, Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
  • Director, Numerical Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Great Lakes Research Center

Links of Interest

Teaching Interests

  • Introductory Geophysical Fluid Dynamics
  • Hydrodynamic Modeling
  • Water Resources Engineering
  • Ecosystem Dynamics Modeling

Research Interests

  • Hydrodynamic modeling
  • Regional climate modeling
  • Coupled ocean-atmosphere dynamics
  • Data assimilation and machine learning
  • Biophysical processes in the Great Lakes
  • Estuary and coastal ocean processes

In Memorium

Faculty are the cornerstone of our community at Michigan Technological University. Their passion for teaching, research, and mentorship not only elevates our students’ experience but also drives advances in atmospheric science and beyond.

In the Atmospheric Sciences Program, our faculty members have been instrumental in pushing the boundaries of understanding in topics ranging from climate dynamics and weather modeling to air quality and environmental monitoring. Their work has resulted in cutting-edge research projects, collaborative partnerships, and real-world applications that inform regional, national, and global decision-making. Through their scholarship, they have inspired students to ask tough questions, to analyze data with rigor, and to confront complex environmental challenges with curiosity and integrity.

But their influence extends far beyond the lab or fieldwork. In classrooms, advising sessions, and community outreach, these faculty members have given generously of their time and wisdom, lifting students, supporting their ambitions, and helping transform raw potential into flourishing expertise. Countless students have gone on to careers in academia, government, industry, and education, carrying forward the lessons and example set by their mentors here.

It is said that true legacy is measured not only by discoveries made but by lives changed—and in that, our atmospheric faculty have left an indelible imprint. This section is dedicated to honoring their memory and celebrating the enduring impact they have made on students, colleagues, and the science of our changing atmosphere.

Rich Honrath

Professor Richard E. Honrath

Professor Richard E. Honrath was a professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering, and he was the founding director of the atmospheric sciences program. Richard passed away on April 17, 2009.

To honor Richard and to support his vision of scholarship, a memorial fund was established, the Richard E. Honrath Memorial Lecture Fund. This fund provided support for Richard E. Honrath Memorial Lecture and for undergraduate and graduate students.

Bill Rose

Professor Emeritus William (Bill) Rose

Professor Emeritus William (Bill) Rose was a distinguished colleague, devoted mentor, treasured friend, and visionary community leader, Bill began his journey with the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences (GMES) in 1970, shortly after earning his PhD from Dartmouth College. He dedicated his entire 41-year faculty career to Michigan Tech and the Keweenaw community. He passed away July 18, 2025.