Faculty and Staff Directory

Dr. JOSH DURKEE joined the Department in Fall 2008 after completing his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia. His primary research interests include assessing the role of mesoscale convective complexes (MCCs) in precipitation variability in North and South America. He is particularly interested in using space-borne instruments, such as the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite, for estimating rainfall. He is also interested in understanding how changes in land cover may alter the physical and rainfall characteristics of MCCs. Josh has also published research pertaining to severe wind storms that are not associated with thunderstorms. He is particularly interested in developing dynamic models that help determine the various origins of these non-convective wind events (NCWEs), and coupling these models with remote sensing data in order to improve the forecast for these potentially dangerous wind storms. Josh has also conducted education-based research with the aim of improving teaching and learning of science and mathematics in introductory weather and climate laboratories and developing modern educational student assessment tools. He directs the CHAOS lab in EST, engaging students in observational and analytical meteorology. For more information about these or other of his research projects, as well as opportunities for research collaboration, feel free to contact Dr. Durkee at joshua.durkee@wku.edu.