CMG Personnel

Robert B. Wilhelmson

Robert Wilhelmson is lead-PI of the Convective Modeling Group. Email: bw@ncsa.illinois.edu

Professor and former Head, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois
Senior Research Scientist, co-founder, and former Associate Director at the
National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) at the University of Illinois
B.S. Mathematics, Wheaton College, Illinois (1966)
M.S. (1969), Ph.D. (1972) Computer science, University of Illinois
Fellow, American Meteorological Society (AMS)
AMS Meisinger Award with Joseph Klemp (1983)
Outstanding Publication Award, NCAR (with Joseph Klemp)
Outstanding Paper Award, NOAA Env. Research Laboratories (w/Harold Brooks)
Research interests: Severe storms; numerical modeling, high performance computing, visualization, web-enhanced education, scientific portals; virtual reality in science
For more information, see his Atmospheric Sciences page, CV, and our Contacts page.

Brian Jewett is co-PI of the Convective Modeling Group. Email: bjewett@illinois.edu

Research Scientist, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois
B.S. in Meteorology, University of Oklahoma (1977)
M.S. in Meteorology, University of Oklahoma. Advisor: D. K. Lilly
Ph.D in Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois. Advisor: R. B. Wilhelmson
Member, American Meteorological Society and American Geophysical Union
Research interests: Severe thunderstorms; winter storms; hurricanes; ensemble weather prediction; mesoscale meteorology; visualization; numerical methods.
Brian runs a real-time ensemble prediction system within the Atmospheric Sciences department.
For more information, see his Atmospheric Sciences page, CV, and our Contacts page.

Ann is working in the Convective Modeling Group to publish her M.S. thesis results.

(Post-M.Sc.) Research Assistant, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Univ. Illinois
M.S. in Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois (May, 2012)
B.S. in Geology, University of Dayton, Dayton OH
Ann's Master's work utilized an ensemble of numerical simulations to model different configurations of storm cells -- to understand how interactions between developing storms affects storm intensity, including the likelihood of tornadoes.
She has accepted a position with the SAVO Group, in Chicago.
For more information, see her web page, CV, and our Contacts page.

Samantha Chiu joined the Convective Modeling Group in Fall, 2010.

Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Univ. Illinois
M.S. in Atmospheric Sciences expected Summer, 2013
B.S. in Meteorology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, 2010
Sam's Master's research is using the WRF model to carry out case-study and idealized simulations of the 27 April 2011 Alabama/southeast U.S. tornado outbreak to understand how long-track tornadoes form and persist.
For more information, see her web page, Resume, and our Contacts page.

Kevin Van Leer joined the Convective Modeling Group in Fall, 2011.

Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Univ. Illinois
M.S. in Atmospheric Sciences expected Summer, 2013
B.S. in Atmospheric Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 2011
Kevin's Master's research concerns the Joplin, MO tornado of 22 May 2011. His idealized and case-study simulations are being used to understand the roles of storm interaction in storm environment, tornado formation and intensity.
For more information, see his web page, Joplin research, CV, and our Contacts page.