Department of Geosciences Welcomes Assistant Professor of Climate Science Yijie Zhu

In the past few years, Yijie Zhu, Ph.D., the department’s new assistant professor of climate science, has been actively studying the spatial and temporal patterns of tropical cyclone post-landfall intensity decay process. His work involved the use of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to investigate the physical factors, including the impact of changing climate, that contribute to the destructive wind footprint from hurricanes as they move inland.

Being among the most ethnically diverse universities in the United States and in a state that receives frequent hurricane strikes, Florida Atlantic University provides a unique opportunity for Zhu to share his knowledge of climate science with students from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities. Zhu’s hurricane research expertise and his ability to leverage a broad network would not only enrich the student's learning experiences but also enhance the resilience of the local community against hurricane events.

Prior to joining the Department of Geosciences at FAU, Zhu underwent post-doctoral training at the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, Colorado State University. Zhu earned his Ph.D. in the School of Geosciences at the University of South Florida. His dissertation work focused on spatial-temporal variations of hurricane post-landfall decay in the continental United States. Zhu also holds a Master's degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Toronto and a dual bachelor’s degree from the University of Waterloo and China University of Geosciences (Beijing).