Curriculum Vitae

PDF

Research Interests
Physics of climate and climate change, cloud feedback, Earth’s energy budget, poleward energy transport

Education

  • Ph.D., Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, December 2010
    Dissertation:     Towards an Improved Understanding of Cloud Feedbacks and Changes in Poleward Energy Transport Associated with Global Warming
    Advisor:     Dennis L. Hartmann
  • M.S., Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, December 2007
    Thesis:     Evolution of Clouds and Humidity in Association with Tropical Deep Convection
    Advisor:     Dennis L. Hartmann
  • B.S., Meteorology, Pennsylvania State University, May 2004
    Minors:     Earth Systems & Climatology
    Honors:     Department Marshall, Highest Distinction Graduate, 4.0 Major GPA

Professional Experience

  • Post-doctoral research scientist, Program for Climate Model Diagnosis and Intercomparison, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, January 2011 – present
  • Graduate research assistant, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, September 2004 – December 2010

Work in Preparation, Submitted, or in Press

  • Zelinka, M.D., S.A. Klein, and D.L. Hartmann: Computing and Partitioning Cloud Feedbacks using Cloud Property Histograms. Part I: Cloud Radiative Kernels. In press, J. Climate, August 2011. doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-11-00248.1.
  • Zelinka, M.D., S.A. Klein, and D.L. Hartmann: Computing and Partitioning Cloud Feedbacks using Cloud Property Histograms. Part II: Attribution to Changes in Cloud Amount, Altitude, and Optical Depth. In press, J. Climate, November 2011. doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-11-00249.1.

Published Work

  • Zelinka, M.D. and D.L. Hartmann, 2012: Climate Feedbacks and their Implications for Poleward Energy Flux Changes in a Warming Climate. J. Climate, 25, 608-624, doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-11-00096.1.
  • Zelinka, M.D. and D.L. Hartmann, 2011: The Observed Sensitivity of High Clouds to Mean Surface Temperature Anomalies in the Tropics. J. Geophys. Res., 116, D23103, doi:10.1029/2011JD016459.
  • Zelinka, M.D. and D.L. Hartmann, 2010: Why is Longwave Cloud Feedback Positive? J. Geophys. Res., 115, D16117, doi:10.1029/2010JD013817.
  • Zelinka, M.D. and D.L. Hartmann, 2009: Response of Humidity and Clouds to Tropical Deep Convection. J. Climate, 22, 2389-2404. doi:10.1175/2008JCLI2452.1.

Honors & Awards

  • Stephen Henry Schneider Symposium Student Scholarship, 2011
  • Why is Longwave Cloud Feedback Positive? chosen as AGU Journal Highlight, 2010
  • NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship, 2006-2008
  • NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Honorable Mention, 2006
  • University of Washington Top Scholar Award, 2004
  • University of Washington Program on Climate Change First Year Fellowship, 2004
  • Jerome N. Behrmann Scholarship in Meteorology, 2004
  • Om and Saraswati Behethi (AMS) Scholarship, 2003
  • Charles L. and Anna R. Hosler Scholarship in Meteorology, 2003
  • Penn State Space Grant Consortium Sylvia Stein Memorial Scholarship, 2003
  • Kruhoeffer Annual Meteorology Scholarship, 2002
  • John and Elizabeth Holmes Teas Scholarship, 2001
  • Earth and Mineral Science Scholarship, 2000

Talks & Presentations

  • McGill University Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Seminar, 15 Mar 2012 (oral, invited)
  • WCRP Workshop on Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 Model Analysis, 7 Mar 2012 (poster)
  • Colorado State University Dept. of Atmospheric Science Colloquium, 20 Feb 2012 (oral, invited)
  • Pennsylvania State University Dept. of Meteorology Colloquium, 15 Feb 2012 (oral, invited)
  • University of California Los Angeles Dept. of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Seminar, 25 Jan 2012 (oral, invited)
  • American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting: Atmospheric Feedbacks and Climate: Observations, Theory, and Modeling Session, 8 Dec 2011 (oral, invited)
  • American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting: Climate Modeling: Innovative Application of Observations for Diagnosing CMIP5 and IPCC Simulations: Quantifying ModelProcesses and Uncertainties Session, 8 Dec 2011 (poster)
  • Santa Fe Conference on Global and Regional Climate Change, 2 Nov 2011 (oral, invited)
  • National Center for Atmospheric Research Climate and Global Dynamics Division Seminar, 31 Oct 2011 (oral, invited)
  • WCRP Open Science Conference, 27 Oct 2011 (oral)
  • CERES Science Team Meeting, 6 Oct 2011 (oral)
  • Department of Energy Climate and Earth System Modeling PI Meeting, 20 Sep 2011 (oral)
  • Gordon Research Conference on Radiation and Climate, 11 Jul 2011 (poster)
  • CFMIP/GCSS/EUCLIPSE Meeting on Cloud Processes and Climate Feedbacks, 7 Jun 2011 (oral)
  • University of Washington Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences Colloquium, 19 Nov 2010 (Ph.D. defense)
  • University of Washington Graduate Climate Conference: Climate Feedbacks Session, 16 Oct 2010 (session chair)
  • University of Washington Program on Climate Change Summer Institute, 15-17 Sep 2010 (poster)
  • Texas A&M University Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences Seminar, 16 Jun 2010 (oral, invited)
  • Program for Climate Model Diagnosis and Intercomparison Seminar, Lawrence Livermore National Lab, 11 May 2010 (oral, invited)
  • University of Chicago Dept. of the Geophysical Sciences Colloquium, 19 Feb 2010 (oral,invited)
  • University ofWashington Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry Seminar, 1 Feb 2010 (oral, invited)
  • American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting: Atmospheric Feedbacks and Climate Change: Necessary Observations and Modeling Improvements Session, 16 Dec 2009 (oral)
  • NASA Sounder Science Team Meeting, 14 Oct 2009 (oral, invited)
  • Summer School on Water Vapor in the Climate System, 14-26 Sep 2009 (poster)
  • Gordon Research Conference on Radiation and Climate, 5-10 Jul 2009 (poster)
  • University of Washington Graduate Climate Conference: Tropics Session, 17-19 Apr 2009 (oral)
  • American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting: Multiplatform and Multisensor Satellite Observations of Cloud-Precipitation Structures and Microphysics Session, 15-19 Dec 2008 (poster)
  • Chapman Conference on Atmospheric Water Vapor and its Role in Climate, 20-24 Oct 2008 (poster)
  • American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting: Physics and Chemistry of the Upper Troposphere / Lower Stratosphere Session, 12 Dec 2007 (oral)
  • University of Washington Graduate Climate Conference: Aerosols, Clouds, and Water Vapor Session, 20 Oct 2007 (session chair)
  • Gordon Research Conference on Radiation and Climate, 29 Jul – 3 Aug 2007 (poster)
  • University of Washington Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences Clouds and Precipitation Seminar, May 2007 (oral)
  • University of Washington Graduate Climate Conference, Apr 2006 (poster)

Leadership Roles

  • Chair, 2011 Gordon Research Seminar on Radiation and Climate
    • Created meeting agenda and accepted abstracts for talks or poster presentations
    • Applied for and procured funding for attendees
    • Invited senior scientists to serve as discussion leaders and keynote speaker
  • Organizer, University of Washington Graduate Climate Conferences; 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010
    • Read submitted abstracts and selected presenters (2006, 2010)
    • Created booklet containing schedule, abstracts, and contact information of attendees (2006, 2007, 2009)
  • Senator, University of Washington Graduate and Professional Student Senate; Sep 2006 – Jun 2009
    • Sponsored and voted on resolutions that affect the graduate student body
    • Polled constituents in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences concerning student needs, then applied for and procured funds from GPSS to address these needs

Teaching Experience

  • Lead Teaching Assistant for Department of Atmospheric Sciences; Sep 2009 – Aug 2010
    • Organized and led quarterly TA workshop, conducted quarterly TA orientation, attended TA quiz sections and provided teaching feedback, acted as liaison between faculty and TAs
  • Teaching Assistant: ATMS 211: Climate and Climate Change; Feb – Jun 2009
    • Taught two recitation sections, created and graded homework assignments and examinations, held office hours, occasionally served as guest lecturer to the class (90 students)
  • Teaching Assistant: ATMS 101: Weather; Mar – Jun 2006
    • Taught two recitation sections (70 students), created and graded homework assignments, quizzes, and examinations, held office hours and homework help sessions, occasionally served as guest lecturer to the class (240 students)
  • ATMS 321: Science of Climate; Spring quarter 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
    • Served as guest lecturer, held office hours and homework help sessions (20 students)
  • Teaching Assistant: EM SC 100S: First-Year Seminar; Jan – May 2004
    • Created and graded homework assignments and class projects, held office hours, occasionally served as guest lecturer to the class (20 students)

Communication Skills Development

  • Climate Communication Training, AGU Fall Meeting, Dec 2011
    • Training organized by the AGU Climate Science Rapid Response Team and led by Susan Hassol and Dr. Richard Somerville
    • Learned messaging strategies, participated in mock interviews, and learned techniques to convey my knowledge to a wide variety of audiences
  • Graduate Certificate in Climate Science, University of Washington, Mar – Jun 2010
    • Capstone Project: Perception and Reality of Environmental Risk Among the Ha Tinh Population of Vietnam
    • Worked with Prof. Alison Cullen (Evans School of Public Affairs) to assess environmental risk, report findings to public affairs community, and critically evaluate my communication skills

Outreach Activities

  • Department of Atmospheric Sciences and Program on Climate Change Outreach Teams; Sep 2004 – Dec 2010
    • Gave talks at libraries, churches, and schools about climate change
    • Gave demonstrations about physical processes relevant to weather and climate at elementary and middle school classrooms and science fairs
    • Served as panel discussant proceeding screening of An Inconvenient Truth at Lincoln Theater in Mount Vernon, Washington, Summer 2006

Professional Activities

  • Member, American Meteorological Society, 2003 – Present.
  • Member, American Geophysical Union, 2005 – Present.
  • Reviewer for:

Atmosphere-Ocean
Climate Dynamics
Climatic Change
Environmental Research Letters
Geophysical Research Letters
Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences
Journal of Climate
Journal of Geophysical Research – Atmospheres

Last updated: 16 March 2012

Recent Posts