We are delighted to announce the recipients of the 2024-2025 Kuo-Nan Liou Endowed Graduate Fellowship. This prestigious fellowship recognizes outstanding academic excellence and engagement in interdisciplinary and collaborative research in the field of atmospheric and oceanic sciences.

This Fellowship, named to commemorate the life and achievements of Professor Kuo-Nan Liou, a UCLA distinguished professor of atmospheric sciences and the founding director of the Joint Institute for Regional Earth Systems Science and Engineering, was established through the generosity of the Liou Family and the Division of Physical Sciences Dean’s Matching Gift Program. The fellowship aims to empower the next generation of atmospheric and oceanic scientists by fostering a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative research community. It particularly encourages applications from female, historically underrepresented, and international students.

The awardees for this year are:

• Flor Vanessa Maciel

Flor Vanessa Maciel is a third-year PhD student in Dr. Jasper Kok’s research group at UCLA’s Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Department. Her interest in atmospheric sciences grew from her hope in playing a role in helping humanity contend with climate change. In order to work towards this goal, Vanessa graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a BS in Earth Sciences and a BA in Environmental Studies. After various positive research experiences, she decided to further her education by pursuing a master’s degree in Meteorology at San José State University, where she was advised by Dr. Minghui Diao.

Vanessa’s research is now focused on dust and cold cloud interactions. She is working to quantify the amount of dust at these high altitudes, given dust's significant role as an ice nucleating particle (INP). This research is especially motivating to her due to its potential implications for climate intervention strategies. In addition to her research, Vanessa is passionate about pedagogy and has been collaborating with an LAUSD high school teacher to design a “storyline” unit on this topic, within an environmental justice framework, which will be taught in May.

Upon receiving the award, Flor Vanessa Maciel responded: "This is such wonderful news! My sincere thanks to the Liou family and the Division of Physical Sciences Dean’s Matching Gift Program along with the Kuo-Nan Liou Endowed Graduate Fellowship Award Committee. I feel extremely honored to have been selected for this award and would like to thank my current advisor, Dr. Jasper Kok, my master's advisor, Dr. Minghui Diao, and all my previous research mentors for their support during my academic journey."

• Alex Chang

Alex Chang is currently a 4th year PhD Candidate at UCLA's AOS department working with Professor Rong Fu. His passion for the atmospheric sciences was sparked by witnessing several different crazy types of weather as a kid in his hometown of Princeton, NJ (including two hurricanes!). From 2017-2021, Alex went to UC Berkeley and studied applied mathematics and data sciences while also taking on several different research experiences within the atmospheric sciences. Now, for his PhD thesis, he is studying the causes behind why the Amazon has been getting drier and hotter, with particular emphasis on vapor pressure deficit, the Amazon's dry season, and droughts.

Upon receiving the award, Alex Chang responded: "I'm honored to be a recipient of this year's Kuo-Nan Liou Fellowship. Receiving this award has empowered me to make even greater discoveries about the dryness in the Amazon and so much more. I would like to extend a huge thanks to the Liou family for their generous contributions to JIFRESSE, AOS, and much more at UCLA. This fellowship would not have been possible with their support."

Each awardee will receive an award certificate, which will be presented at the JIFRESSE Open House (TBD). We look forward to honoring their achievements and contributions to the scientific community.

Please join us in congratulating the awardees and wishing them continued success in their future academic pursuits and research endeavors. We are thankful to the Liou family for making this fellowship possible.