2019 PIRE Taiwan
Founded in 1844, the University at Albany is New York State’s oldest publicly founded university. Located in New York’s capital city, it is the premier public research University in the Capital Region and offers a world of opportunity to over 17,300 students, including 1,800 international students from more than 90 countries. UAlbany’s location in the state capital of New York provides students with limitless opportunities for public service and research through which you can gain experience, test your skills, and prepare to launch brilliant careers. The excellence of a UAlbany education is recognized by many independent sources. UAlbany is ranked among the top universities in Forbes’ “America’s Best Public Colleges,” and U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks many of our graduate programs among the top 50 in the United States, including clinical psychology, criminal justice, library and information studies, public affairs, public health, sociology, and social work.
Application Deadline
Program Start
Program End
Program Details
Academic Program
In today’s evolving world, you need more than the tools of a trade or knowledge that comes from a book. You need a broad view of the world—the ability to adapt, to accept new ideas, and to embrace, even lead, change. At UAlbany, you’ll find the resources and experiences you need to prepare for an unpredictable future. And you’ll study and learn with a diverse group of students from around the globe—enriching your experience and opening you up to endless new ideas.
The Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE) Summer Program at UAbany is designed for students from our partnering institutions in Taiwan: National Central University and National Taiwan University. Students will conduct research at the Mesonet, National Weather Service Albany Office, Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences (DAES) and different research labs at the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center (ASRC).
Lab and Research Opportunities:
Large-scale circulations associated with extreme weather events over eastern China and Northeastern United States
- Supervisor/s: Supervisor/s: Dr. Wei-Chyung Wang, ASRC
- Project Description: To identify and characterize the dynamic and thermodynamic aspects of large-scale circulations associated with the evolution of weather extreme events in the two regions.
- Tasks: To conduct literature review and participate in research working closely with Dr. Guoxing Chen/ASRC in analyzing observations and regional climate model simulations.
- Skill in computer usage; Background and training in atmospheric sciences
- Website: https://www.albany.edu/asrc/Wei_Chyung_Wang.php
Analyze precipitation/circulation for near-Taiwan extreme tropical cyclones
- Supervisor/s: Dr. Sarah Lu, ASRC
- Project Description: Understand TC-induced extreme rainfall in present-day base period and projected future climate by leveraging TCCIP dynamical down-scaling work
- Tasks: Case study: analyze extreme TC (top 1%) in present-day and projected future climate. Data set: HiRAM-WRF simulations conducted by NCDR. This work will align with on-going work by Cheng-Tai (NCU)
- Requirements: Computer coding (for data analysis) experiences. Basic knowledge about atmospheric sciences
- Website: http://www.albany.edu/asrc/cheng-hsuan-lu.php
Aerosol-radiation-cloud interaction in NCEP global models
- Supervisor/s: Sarah Lu, ASRC
- Project Description: Diagnostics and evaluation of global model simulations to understand aerosol-radiation-cloud interaction with the focus on extreme precipitation events in Northeast US and East Asia.
- Tasks: Case study: analyze results of GFS simulations with different aerosol-radiation configuration. Data: GFS simulations conducted by Shih-Wei Wei (ASRC)
- Requirements: Computer coding (for data analysis) experiences; Basic knowledge about atmospheric sciences
- Website: http://www.albany.edu/asrc/cheng-hsuan-lu.php
Impacts of Aerosols of Different Sources on Cloud Properties and Precipitation
- Supervisor/s: Dr. Fangqun Yu, Aerosol-Cloud-Precipitation Interactions, ASRC
- Project Description: The research will be related to analysis of aerosol properties (and their spatiotemporal variations) in the atmosphere and the impacts of aerosols on cloud properties and precipitations. Both model results and data from observations (satellites) will be used for the analysis. The specific topics or regions of focus can be decided based on the interests of the students.
- Tasks: 1) Analyze global aerosol, cloud, and precipitation data from both model simulations and observations; 2) Investigate long-term trends of aerosol, cloud, and precipitation in various regions of interesting; 3) Identify signals of aerosol impacts on clouds and precipitations; 4) (optional) Explore the community models (WRF-Chem, CESM-CAM5) to under the mechanisms of aerosol-cloud-precipitation interactions.
- Requirements: Skill in computer usage and data analysis; Basic knowledge about atmospheric sciences.
- Website: http://www.albany.edu/asrc/Fangqun_Yu.php
Evaluation of initial condition vs. model physics uncertainty on a heavy rainfall forecast
- Supervisor/s: Dr. Ryan Torn, (DAES)
- Project Description: To investigate how precipitation uncertainty arises with initial condition uncertainty vs. model uncertainty
- Tasks: (1) analyze WRF model simulations with various stochastic representations of Cd (2) Create plots of these two types of experiments and compare precipitation forecasts; (3) Provide analysis of results to Professor Torn and graduate student Lupo.
- Requirements: Good computer coding skills; Basic knowledge about atmospheric sciences
- Website: http://www.albany.edu/atmos/ryan-torn.php
Understanding variations of particle number concentrations over Taiwan and implications to precipitation
- Supervisor/s: Dr. Fangqun Yu, ASRC
- Project Description: By acting as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and ice nuclei (IN), atmospheric particles play an important role in cloud microphysics and precipitation. Depending on atmospheric conditions, aerosols may enhance or inhibit precipitation. The objective of this project is understand the variations of particle number concentrations over Taiwan and possible effects on precipitation. Both model results and data from observations will be used for the analysis.
- Tasks: 1) Analyze aerosol and precipitation data in Taiwan from both model simulations and observations; 2) Investigate variations of particle number concentrations and precipitation in Taiwan; 3) Carry out statistical analysis to study the influence of aerosols on precipitation in Taiwan under different atmospheric conditions and in different seasons.
- Requirements: Strong skill in computer usage and data analysis; Basic knowledge about atmospheric sciences.
- Website: http://www.albany.edu/asrc/Fangqun_Yu.php
Impacts of long-range transport on aerosol concentrations in Taiwan
- Supervisor/s: Dr. Fangqun Yu, ASRC
- Project Description: The impacts of aerosol particles on air quality as well as cloud and precipitation are well established. The concentrations of particles in Taiwan are subject to the influence of particles from other regions in Asia. This project seeks to understand the impacts of long-range transport on aerosol concentrations in Taiwan region. Both model results and data from observations will be used for the analysis.
- Tasks: 1) Analyze aerosol data from both model simulations and observations; 2) Understand variations of aerosol concentrations in Taiwan region, focusing on severe particle pollution events associated with long-range transport of biomass burning, dust storm, and air pollution; 3) Identify seasonal variations and long-term trend of such transport events.
- Requirements: Strong skills in computer usage and data analysis; Basic knowledge about atmospheric sciences
- Website: http://www.albany.edu/asrc/Fangqun_Yu.php
Understanding variations of CCN concentrations over the Northeastern United States (NEUS) and implications to cloud properties and precipitation
- Supervisor/s: Dr. Fangqun Yu, ASRC
- ?Project Description: By acting as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), atmospheric particles play an important role in cloud microphysics and precipitation. Depending on atmospheric conditions, aerosols may enhance or inhibit precipitation. The objective of this project is understand the variations of CCN concentrations over the Northeastern United States (NEUS) and possible effects on cloud properties and precipitation. Both model results and data from observations will be used for the study.
- Tasks: 1) Analyze aerosol and precipitation data in NEUS from both model simulations and observations; 2) Investigate variations of particle number concentrations and precipitation in NEUS; 3) Carry out statistical analysis to study the influence of aerosols on precipitation in NEUS under different atmospheric conditions and in different seasons.
- Requirements: Strong skill in computer usage and data analysis; Basic knowledge about atmospheric sciences.
- ?Website: http://www.albany.edu/asrc/Fangqun_Yu.php
Course Credit – NONE
About the Faculty
Students will have the opportunity to work closely with University at Albany experts in weather and climate prediction, and emergency response.
The Atmospheric Sciences Research Center (ASRC), of the State University of New York at Albany, was established on February 16, 1961 by the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York, as a SUNY system-wide resource for developing and administering programs in basic and applied sciences related to the atmospheric environment. Research and development at ASRC spans a broad spectrum of scientific areas, including: advanced sensor development; laboratory and field experiments in atmospheric chemistry, atmospheric physics, and aerosol microphysics; remote sensing of the environment; global aerosol forecasting, air quality, climate change, dispersion modeling; high performance computing, and data & visual analytics.
Cheng-Hsuan (Sarah) Lu
Expertise: Global aerosol modeling, regional air quality forecasting, and land surface modeling
Dr. Cheng-Hsuan Lu’s current research focuses on quantifying the distributions of tropospheric aerosols, its impact on weather forecasts and climate predictions, and improving aerosol forecasts through the assimilation of satellite and in situ aerosol observations.
Christopher Thorncroft
Expertise: Tropical weather and climate with an emphasis on variability of West African monsoon rainfall, tropical waves and Atlantic hurricanes
Dr. Christopher Thorncroft’s research is mainly focused on improving our understanding of the West African monsoon and how it impacts Atlantic tropical cyclone variability. The research spans a wide range of timescales from diurnal to multidecadal.
Ryan Torn
Expertise: Weather forecasting models, tropical cyclones, and atmospheric predictability
Dr. Ryan Torn’s research focuses on trying to understand atmospheric predictability by determining the source and growth of errors within numerical models across a number of timescales using ensemble forecasts. Having knowledge about error growth processes within numerical models also provides insight into the governing dynamics.
Wei-Chyung Wang
Expertise: Modeling and observational studies of climate changes due to changes in atmospheric constituents (gases and aerosols)
Dr. Wei-Chyung Wang is Professor of Applied Sciences at the University at Albany, State University of New York (SUNY), and a member of Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. He received Doctor of Engineering Sciences from Columbia University studying the radiative effect of atmospheric aerosols, and has been using models and observations to study the climate effects of atmospheric greenhouse gases, ozone, and aerosols. His current research focuses on atmospheric aerosol-cloud-radiation-climate interactions, and historical climate over China.
Fangqun Yu
Expertise: Molecular scale investigation of environmental nucleation processes through computational quantum study and kinetic nucleation modeling, Formation and growth of tropospheric particles: Modeling, data analyses, and comparisons
Accommodations
Housing
Accommodations will be arranged by UAlbany.
Transportation
You will have access to UAlbany and CDTA public transportation. Transportation will be provided for program-related field-trips.
Meals
Some meals will be included as part of your program. You will be responsible for most of your meals.
Costs
Students should contact their home university for information regarding program costs.
Eligibility Requirements
Your home university must select you and recommend you to this program. Questions about the terms of the agreement between your university and UAlbany should first be addressed to your university.
Entry Requirements
Please contact your home university for more information regarding the visa application process.
THERE ARE NO SCHOLARSHIPS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM.
Testimonials
Tzu-Ying Wu
Wesley Wu
UAlbany’s campus is very beautiful, especially the fountain.. After finishing the daily schedule, I would go to the supermarket where I could buy some special foods that I had never seen in Taiwan. In addition, I went to many special places, including New York city, Whiteface Mountain, Six Flags, and so on. I was impressed by New York City, which was so beautiful and cool.
It was my first time ever in the U.S. and a little dream came true for me. Besides experiencing culture, we discussed how to improve the results in different ways. Thanks to the PIRE program, I was very happy this summer.