2017-Commencement-Morning-Ceremony

Research F aculty Excellence Junior tr-aculty Award Paul Loikith, Ph.D. PAUL LOIKITH, assistant professor of Geography and Director of PSUI Climate Science Lab, joined Portland State Universiry in September 2015.|n his short time at the University he has made outstanding research contributions in climate science, published five new articles, mentored his students to remarkable achievements, and collaborated with geographers, civil engineers, and other natural and social scientists on a range of research projects at PSU. Professor Loikith holds a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science from Rutgers Universiry and is rapidly establishing an international reputation with his research, which focuses on the intersection of weather and climate. In particulaq Professor Loikith is interested in understanding the dynamic and thermodynamic mechanisms that drive extreme remperature and precipirarion events and applying this understanding to evaluate ciimate models in order to better understand projections of future climate. Professor Loikith has published highly influenrial papers in presrigious climate science journals, including Geophysica/ Research Letters. He has presenred his work in major professional societies such as the American Geophysical Union, American Meteorological Sociery, and American Association of Geographers, and led international workshop sessions. Professor Loikith has received major grants from the U.S. National Science Foundation and NASA, totaling over $1 million. Professor Loikirh brings his cuttingedge research into his classroom and graduate student advising, where he consistently provides his students with exciring opporrunities For insrruction and collaboration. including presenring at professional meetings and authorship of papers. A faculq' fellow of PSU's Institute for Sustainable Solutions, Professor Loikith also contributes to community research projects, working with fellow faculry and in partnership with the city of Portland and Clackamas River \(ater Providers. The Junior Faculry Research Excellence Award is given annually to an assistant or associate professor who produces outstanding and original scholarly works ar an impressive rate while engaging students in the kind of rigorous research that typifies PSUI commitment to excellence and to "let knowledge serve." t8

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc4NTAz