Joe Zagrodnik

Hi, my name is Joe Zagrodnik and I was a graduate student in Dr. Jiang's Research group at FIU from 2010-2013. I am currently pursuing my PhD at the University of Washington. My research interests at FIU included TRMM precipitation algorithms and tropical cyclone rapid intensification.

In addition to meteorology, I enjoy running and have finished races ranging from 5K to 50K. I also like reading, baseball, and enjoying Miami with my wife Becca and our two Italian Greyhounds, Ruby and Lily. I also enjoy contributing my spare time to various community organizations (see below). Feel free to contact me via the information on the right.

Education

BS University of Wisconsin-Madison, Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences, U.S. History (2009)
MS Florida International University (2013)
PhD University of Washington (Graduation: 2017)

Funded Research Proposals

2011-2014: NASA New Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF)

• Diurnal Cycle of Precipitation Features and Quantitative Comparison of Precipitation Algorithms in Tropical Cyclones (with Haiyan Jiang)

Publications

2013:

• Zagrodnik, J.P., H. Jiang, 2013: Rainfall, convection, and latent heating distributions in rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones. J. Atmos. Sci., submitted Oct. 2013.


• Zagrodnik, J.P., H. Jiang, 2013: Investigation of PR and TMI Version 6 and Version 7 Rainfall Algorithms in Landfalling Tropical Cyclones Relative to the NEXRAD Stage-IV Multi-sensor Precipitation Estimate Dataset. J. Appl. Meteor. Climatol., in press. Download PDF


• Zagrodnik, J.P., H. Jiang, 2013: Comparison of TRMM Precipitation Radar and Microwave Imager Rainfall Retrievals in Tropical Cyclone Inner Cores and Rainbands. J. Geophys. Res., 118, 29-42. Download PDF

Conference Proceedings

December 2012: American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting

• Poster Presentation: Comparison of TRMM PR and TMI Version 6 and Version 7 rainfall algorithms in Tropical Cyclones relative to the NEXRAD Stage-IV Multi-sensor Precipitation Estimate dataset
  Poster PDF

April 2012: 30th Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology

• Oral Presentation: Quantitative Comparison of TRMM Precipitation Algorithms in Tropical Cyclones
  Manuscript | Recorded Presentation

Field Experiments

2012: NASA Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes (GRIP)

• Student Forecaster

Teaching

NASA/FIU Hurricane & Remote Sensing Summer Education & Research Internship Program (HRSSERP)

• Graduate Instructor, 2011 and 2012
• Created most of curriculum and taught students for majority of two week program

FIU Met 3502: Synoptic Meteorology

• Lab and Teaching Assistant, Fall 2011 and Spring 2013

Honors and Awards

FIU College of Arts & Sciences Annual Awards

• Earth & Environment Award for Academic Excellence as a Master's student, 2013
• Earth & Environment Award for Service to the Department, 2013

FIU Earth & Environment Graduate Symposium

• First Place Oral Presentation (by an M.S. student), Spring 2012
• Second Place Oral Presentation (by an M.S. student), Spring 2013

Leadership and Community

Dr. Jiang's Research Group Website

• Designed and Maintained Website, 2011-2013

WxChallenge Forecasting Competition

• Participant: 2008-2009, 2011-2013
• FIU Local Manager: 2011-2013

Miami-Dade Regional Science Fair

• Volunteer Judge, 2011-2012

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

• Volunteer, 2011-2013

Katrina Corps

• Alternate Spring Break cleanup and rebuilding trip, 2007

Wisconsin Future Problem Solving

• Evaluator (for Middle and High School students), 2005-2010