Laura Stevens

Ms. Stevens (née Kettles) recently completed a postgraduate research program in atmospheric science at the University of Leeds. Her research investigated the influence of modifying droplet concentrations on the properties of stratocumulus clouds and climate (using both global and cloud-resolving models), as well as examining the potential for a cloud droplet modification geoengineering technique. As a postgraduate student in 2007 she assisted with field measurements for the Convective and Orographically-induced Precipitation Study (COPS) in Southern Germany. She completed her undergraduate studies in Meteorology at the University of Reading in 2006, which also included an exchange year at the University of Oklahoma. She is a member of the American Meteorological Society and the American Geophysical Union.

Ms. Stevens joined CICS-NC as a Research Associate in Fall 2010. Her current research, in collaboration with the lead scientist for Assessments, Kenneth Kunkel, involves the analysis of daily statistically-downscaled climate data for the North American region. This includes the calculation, analysis and visualization of a suite of derived climate variables from an ensemble of CMIP3 climate models, in preparation of national and regional outlooks for the National Climate Assessment.

Laura's role also involves providing primary science and technical support to the Assessment lead scientist, including: the processing and analysis of observational and climate model data, the production of documents for the National Climate Assessment, and research on Assessment-relevant topics.