Jaclyn John Selected for NASA’s FINESST Award
Jaclyn John, PhD Student at Wyant College of Optical Sciences, has been awarded the prestigious Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) award. It will fund three full years of her research and tuition, allowing her to pursue her dissertation with her advisor, Meredith Kupinski, associate professor of optical sciences. Also supporting Jaclyn's work toward her dissertation is co-PI, Sylvia Sullivan, assistant professor of chemical and environmental engineering at the U of A, and collaborator Jie Gong, PhD, from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Jaclyn's dissertation goals include making thermal polarimetric measurements of chamber-grown ice crystals in Prof. Sullivan's lab and improving the thermal management of Infrared Channeled Spectro-Polarimeter (IRCSP) in high-altitude deployments, which will increase the measurement sensitivity.
The FINESST award is a highly competitive honor, with the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) receiving 1,120 proposals for the 2023 cycle. Jaclyn’s proposal, "Thermal Polarimetry of Ice Crystals: Cloud Top Observations and Growth Chamber Studies," addresses significant uncertainties in ice-cloud microphysical properties that contribute to errors in global climate models. The work she is doing now has great potential to impact how we understand the weather around us.
“I am so thrilled and honored to have been selected for this award,” Jaclyn said. “I’d like to give a big thank you to my advisor, Professor Meredith Kupinski, and our collaborators for their support in making this proposal the best it can be.”
Jaclyn's research builds on her previous experience with the IRCSP, developed as part of the Sub-mm Wave and IR Polarimeter (SWIRP) project at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Previous work has already demonstrated the instrument's capability to measure polarized thermal radiation from the Earth's atmosphere at high altitudes. Her FINESST-funded research will further explore the scientific relevance of longwave infrared (LWIR) polarimetry through high-altitude observations, engineering advancements, and controlled laboratory studies.
The goals of Jaclyn’s research include making thermal polarimetric measurements of chamber-grown ice crystals and improving the thermal management of IRCSP, enhancing the precision of polarization measurements. These outcomes will deepen our understanding of ice crystal orientation and its impact on climate, paving the way for future NASA instruments targeting ice water path and ice crystal orientation retrievals.
Looking to the future, Jaclyn shared her long-term goals: “After I graduate, I would love to continue working with remote sensing technologies for Earth Science applications. My passion for research lies in collaboration with others. Wherever my career goes, I just hope I can continue to build a strong community with my peers.”
Congratulations to Jaclyn on receiving this recognition and award!