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I am the oldest of three, born and raised on the South Shore of Montreal, Canada. As a child I was always fascinated by the devastating power of the four elements. For a while I thought natural disasters were just a thing of movies, but since the 1998 Ice Storm forced my family out of our house for a month, I can personally testify that they are the real thing. Seeking to better understand the different parts of the Earth system (atmosphere, ocean and geology), I later enrolled in the Earth System Science program of McGill University. Geochemist Alfonso Mucci gave me my first opportunity to conduct research. But it isn’t until I joined the radar meteorology group of Pavlos Kollias for a summer internship that I found my true passion: boundary layer meteorology.
The bulk of my early research has focused on improving our understanding of the the dynamical and macrophysical properties of boundary layer clouds. This research has led me to develop expertise in analyzing observations from several ground-based and spaceborn sensors including radar (zenith-pointing and scanning), lidar (backscatter, Doppler, micropulse and Raman), microwave radiometers and surface flux systems. Beyond being able to integrate and interpret the various measurements taken by these sensors, I have acquired a strong understanding of their capabilities and limitations. I used this knowledge during the course of my Ph.D. at the Pennylvania State University to develop a forward-simulator tool designed to bridge the gap between ground-based observations and general circulation model output with the goal of evaluating the coverage and microphysical phase of clouds and precipitation [The (GO)2-SIM simulator]. During my Ph.D., I was also able to broaden my knowledge base as I learned about microphysical parameterizations and ice and mixed-phase cloud processes. But perhaps more valuable are all the soft skill I acquired by leading projects involving people of diverse backgrounds (observationalists, modelers, academics and professionals). More recently I joined Brookhaven National Lab where I was challenged to apply my knowledge of remote sensing and atmospheric science to the urban challenges. This effort led to the rapid growth of the Center for Multiscale Applied Sensing (CMAS), which now owns and operates two mobile observatories and a fixed atmospheric observatory. As the leader of the Renewable Energies & Research and Development I strive to expand our footprint in urban weather monitoring by connecting with stakeholders and continuously educating myself about new technologies and scientific breakthroughs in the field of atmospheric science. I always seek to find new collaborative opportunities and love to educate and share my research. I hope this website will help you learn more about me and my research. I look forward to connecting with you, Kindly, Katia |
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