UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #792

Research Mentor Information
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Primary Research Mentor Name: Jayasankar Chempampadam Balasubramannian
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns: {Empty}
When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific?: Dr.
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): jcb@fsu.edu
Position Title: Post Doc
FSU College (if applicable): N/A
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation: Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies (COAPS)
Headshot (optional): https://cre.fsu.edu/system/files/webform/urop_project_proposal_portal/14586/Screen%20Shot%202024-08-15%20at%209.57.17%20AM.png

Additional Research Mentor(s)
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Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from above): {Empty}
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Pronouns: {Empty}
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Honorific?: {Empty}
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): {Empty}
Name of Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) (if applicable): Vasubandhu Misra
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Pronouns: {Empty}
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Honorific?: Prof.
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): vmisra@fsu.edu

Overall Project Details
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Title of the Project: Exploring the Variability of Florida's Wet Season: A Model-Based Investigation of Onset and Retreat
Project Keywords: Meteorology, Rainfall, Florida, Rainy Season, Regional Climate Model
Are you currently looking for research assistants?: Yes
Number of Research Assistants Needed : 1
Relevant Research Assistant Major(s):
Students with some background in computer programming and a reasonable GPA in math and physics (3.25 or higher) will be preferred.

Project Location:: On FSU Main Campus
If the project location is off campus, does the research assistant(s) need to provide their own transportation?: No, the project is remote
Please select the choice that most accurately describes your expectations for the research assistant(s):: Fully Remote
Approximately how many hours a week would the research assistant(s) need to work?: 8
Roughly what time frame do you expect research assistant(s) to work?: Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Overall Research Project Description:
Florida has a distinct wet season that plays a crucial role in meeting the state's annual water needs and beyond. Our previous research with observation datasets has revealed that, along with seasonal rainfall anomalies, the length of the wet season significantly contributes to its variability across Florida. Additionally, variations in the onset date of the rainy season are closely related to anomalies in both the length of the season and total accumulated rainfall. Given Florida's distinct seasonal cycle of precipitation and its year-to-year fluctuations, we have been motivated to explore methods to monitor the evolution of the rainy season more effectively. Prior studies suggest that an earlier onset of the rainy season often leads to a wetter or longer season, while a delayed onset may result in a drier or shorter season, indicating a predictive relationship between onset dates and seasonal length and total rainfall. The primary objective of this study is to accurately identify the onset and retreat of the rainy season across Florida using rainfall obtained from high-resolution regional climate model simulations. We aim to validate this regional climate model by assessing its ability to replicate the observed relationships between the onset date, the length of the season, and the total rainfall, thereby enhancing our predictive capabilities regarding the state's wet season dynamics.

Research Tasks:
This research involves data collection (rainfall data from regional climate model), analysis, and visualization. All tasks can be done remotely by using any computer. Research students will learn any one or more visualization or data analysis packages (e.g. Python, Matlab, NCL and GrADS) during the research period. Research student will investigate the variability of the onset and retreat date of Florida. Research students will have the opportunity to interact with other team members to discuss/present the research outputs.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need::
Recommended: Interest in meteorology/atmospheric science, computer programming (python), data analysis, visualization/plotting
Required: Be prepared to learn some Python

Mentoring Philosophy:
As a mentor, I focus on sharing knowledge and helping my mentees improve their weaknesses. I believe in open communication, encouraging my mentees to share their challenges after giving their best effort. I regularly meet with them to provide support, suggest relevant training, and foster a safe, comfortable, and beneficial mentoring environment.

Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable):: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=uOO1xfcAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
Please add any additional information here (if applicable)::
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Are you interested in participating in the UROP Research Mentor Roundtable?: Yes
Roundtable times and Zoom links:
Friday. Sept 6, from 1.45 pm to 2.15 pm, Zoom: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/4296397708

Roundtable Info:
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UROP Program Elements
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Mentor Handbook, FAQs, and Communication: Yes
UROP Performance Evaluation: Yes
Materials Grant: Yes
UROP Poster Presentation: Yes

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Year: 2024
update url: https://cre.fsu.edu/urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?element_parents=elements/research_mentor_information/headshot_optional_&ajax_form=1&_wrapper_format=drupal_ajax&token=_iXWlxABLyPSd44A94KHCf0oF27WTduTTMAhPYgm4cE