Assoc Prof Dr. Marina Astitha | Environmental Engineering | Best Researcher Award

University of Connecticut (UCONN) - Storrs, CT, United States

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Early Academic Pursuits:

Dr. Marina Astitha began her academic journey with a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Athens, followed by a Master of Science in Environmental Physics from the same institution. Her thesis during her master's program earned her recognition as the highest-ranked student in the program. She then pursued a Ph.D. in Environmental Physics at the University of Athens, focusing on the impacts of air pollutants on climate and receiving distinction for her dissertation.

Professional Endeavors:

Her professional journey encompasses a range of roles, starting as a Research Associate at the University of Athens, where she contributed to atmospheric modeling and weather forecasting projects. She furthered her expertise as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at The Cyprus Institute, specializing in physical parameterization schemes for mineral dust emissions in atmospheric models. This experience led her to become a Senior Research Associate at the University of Athens before joining the University of Connecticut as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Her dedication and contributions led to her current roles as Associate Professor and Associate Department Head for Graduate Education, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Connecticut.

Contributions and Research Focus:

Her research focuses on Atmospheric Physics, Dynamics, and Chemistry, with an emphasis on regional and global modeling systems. Her work extends to predicting extreme weather events, wind prediction for offshore wind farms, climate change assessment for the green energy sector, and integrating physics-based modeling systems with machine learning for real-time weather forecasting. Her research activities also delve into uncertainties in atmospheric and air quality modeling systems.

Accolades and Recognition:

Throughout her career, Her received several awards and distinctions, including the Al Geib Professor of Environmental Engineering Research and Education, the Best Reviewer award from the Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association, the C.R. Klewin, Inc. Excellence in Teaching Award, and the Young Researchers EURASAP award for her contributions to air pollution modeling and its applications.

Impact and Influence:

Her impact extends beyond her research to mentoring and teaching. She has mentored numerous graduate and undergraduate students, guiding them in their research endeavors and academic pursuits. Her teaching evaluations consistently reflect her effectiveness and dedication to education.

Legacy and Future Contributions:

Her legacy lies in her significant contributions to atmospheric science and environmental engineering, particularly in advancing our understanding of air quality, climate dynamics, and sustainable energy solutions. Her future contributions are poised to further enhance our capabilities in predicting and mitigating environmental challenges, fostering a greener and more resilient world.

Notable Publications 

A review of operational, regional-scale, chemical weather forecasting models in Europe

Long-range transport of anthropogenically and naturally produced particulate matter in the Mediterranean and North Atlantic: Current state of knowledge

AOD trends during 2001–2010 from observations and model simulations

An integrated modeling study on the effects of mineral dust and sea salt particles on clouds and precipitation

Saharan dust levels in Greece and received inhalation doses

Storm outage modeling for an electric distribution network in Northeastern USA

Parameterization of dust emissions in the global atmospheric chemistry-climate model EMAC: impact of nudging and soil properties

Nonparametric Tree-based Predictive Modeling of Storm Damage on an Electric Distribution Network

Effects of mineral dust on global atmospheric nitrate concentrations

Dust-Air Pollution Dynamics over the Eastern Mediterranean