UROP Project
hurricanes, weather, meteorology, atmosphere, industry
Research Mentor: Jeremiah Otero, he/him/his
Department, College, Affiliation: Moody's HWind, N/A
Contact Email: jeremiah.otero@moodys.com
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Chana Keating she/her/hers
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: chana.keating@moodys.com
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Moody's HWind, N/A
Contact Email: jeremiah.otero@moodys.com
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Chana Keating she/her/hers
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: chana.keating@moodys.com
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: No
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Earth, Ocean, & Atmospheric Science
Computer Science
Project Location: 799 West Gaines Street Suite 105
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: 2:00–2:30 EDT on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday:
https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YzExMGI4MDQtN2JjMC00ZTJiLWFkOGItY2YwYmZhZjhkZjU1%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%221061a8b8-b1ee-4249-bb84-9a2cd2792fae%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22e6c2a066-1418-48fc-8101-2a0d8ec6bb96%22%7d
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Earth, Ocean, & Atmospheric Science
Computer Science
Project Location: 799 West Gaines Street Suite 105
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: 2:00–2:30 EDT on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday:
https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YzExMGI4MDQtN2JjMC00ZTJiLWFkOGItY2YwYmZhZjhkZjU1%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%221061a8b8-b1ee-4249-bb84-9a2cd2792fae%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22e6c2a066-1418-48fc-8101-2a0d8ec6bb96%22%7d
Project Description
Curious about tropical cyclone (TC) research and operations in industry? Consider applying to work as a research assistant with Moody’s HWind. Our group monitors the North Atlantic and Eastern Pacific basins for tropical activity and creates “snapshots” of TC winds during real-time events. Clients in insurance, government, and academia utilize HWind products to anticipate claims, prepare event responses, and perform research. The selected student will perform research aimed to help improve HWind products and operations. Specific projects are flexible depending on the student’s interest and skillset. For example, we would like to have a robust and statistical comparison of HWind and National Hurricane Center TC tracks. We are also interested in comparing the TC structure and intensity of HWind snapshots to reanalysis datasets such as ERA5. Lastly, the student researcher could work to create a dataset with relevant TC statistics that can be used for context throughout the TC season. For instance, if three Category 5 hurricanes occurred in September, how would this stand out statistically from historical records? In addition to these research related projects, the student will also observe real-time operations. The student may also learn how to provide tropical weather briefings, which provide important context for our analysts prior to shifts.Research Tasks: The student will primarily perform data analysis on preexisting datasets. This will include a combination of sorting/organizing, math, and visual plotting. We will also provide online resources and literature for the student to learn more about tropical cyclone structure and relevant processes.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Proficiency in Microsoft Excel is required. Some experience with coding in Python is recommended. Students must have their own working laptop and be interested in studying impactful weather.
Mentoring Philosophy
I strongly value communication, as I believe it is the key to unlocking a successful mentor-mentee relationship in any environment. Early conversations about your interests, skills, and intensions will help us maximize our time together and meet your personal goals. We will certainly continue these conversations throughout the project, both formally and informally, to make sure the project remains enjoyable and goal oriented. I am very flexible with working hours and understanding of anything that may be happening in your life outside of work. With transparency we can adapt and accommodate.I also believe that people work best when they feel comfortable and accepted within the workplace. I welcome all colleagues that are passionate and hard-working, regardless of gender, race/ethnicity, ability, etc. In addition to meeting the scientific objectives outlined previously, my goal for mentees is to gain confidence in this type of workspace, take ownership of their projects, and strive for independence. I am happy to provide the general and technical support needed to help you achieve that. As a recent graduate (I completed my Ph.D. in 2024), I can relate to students who are considering various career paths, and I hope I can help by speaking from personal experience.
Additional Information
The student will primarily meet and interact with both me (Jeremiah) and Chana. Our small HWind team in Tallahassee includes two other full-time employees, one of whom works remotely. We also currently have four graduate student analysts who largely produce HWind snapshots and work on their own research projects. The group is tightknit and very collaborative; questions and curiosity are welcomed. HWind is part of Moody’s, which is a global professional services and risk management company.Our office, located on Gaines Street, is only open two days a week; the rest of the time we work from home. In-office days change semester to semester depending on analysts’ availability. As such, it is not expected for the student researcher to work in person every week. We plan on working out a hybrid schedule and the student should be comfortable working mostly out of the office. This flexibility will also help us navigate what should be a very active hurricane season.