About Me
I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science (EOAS) at Florida State University. I'm a two-time alumnus of Florida State’s meteorology program, earning my B.S. in 2017 and M.S. in 2019. I plan to graduate in Summer 2022, then pursue a career as a professor in the atmospheric sciences.
Under the advisement of Dr. Allison Wing, my current research intertwines two critical elements of tropical weather and climate: hurricanes and convection. I use high-resolution models to study the complex interactions between tropical clouds and their surrounding environment, including the tendency for convection to "self-organize". I use this system to study the physics of tropical cyclone formation, as well as the influence of tropical cyclones on large-scale weather and climate. My research experience dates back to 2015, when I began as an undergraduate research assistant at the Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies (COAPS). There, I worked with data ranging from sea surface temperature and winds measured by research vessels, to my undergraduate thesis on Eastern Pacific hurricanes.
I am particularly passionate about teaching and mentorship! I have served in several tutoring settings dating back to high school. More recently, I have been a teaching assistant for FSU’s Atmospheric Dynamics 1 course (MET 4301) with juniors, seniors, and graduate students. In Spring 2021, I served as lead instructor of Weather Analysis and Forecasting (MET 2507) for sophomores and juniors.
Outside of research and teaching, I have twice been an officer for the North Florida Chapter of the American Meteorological Society/National Weather Association (AMS/NWA). As Vice President in 2016-2017, we were named to the AMS Honor Roll. We later earned the title of AMS Chapter of the Year during my term as President in 2019-2020! I am also interested in data visualization and weather communication, and have been on-air with the “FSU Weather” television show since 2015, serving as a Producer during my senior year.
Jacob D. Carstens
Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science
Florida State University
1011 Academic Way
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4520
I'm originally from Oak Lawn, IL, (a suburb of Chicago) where I lived for 14 years before moving to Florida. Outside of the academic environment, there's a good chance you'll find me on a golf course or losing my voice at a Florida State sports game.
