UAH alumnus wins NOAA award
Jianglong Zhang, '04 Ph.D., atmospheric science, will receive the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's David Johnson Award in March for
his innovative work with complex data gathered by satellites.
An assistant professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the
University of North Dakota, Zhang has focused on remote sensing of
atmospheric aerosols and using data collected by satellites in near real
time in forecast models.
The NOAA David Johnson Award for Outstanding Innovative Use of Earth
Observation Satellite Data is presented each year to a young professional
who shows outstanding innovation in the use of satellite data for
operational environmental applications. Zhang was cited for "his pioneering
role in the assimilation of satellite-retrieved aerosol data into an
operational forecast model; work that has been far-reaching in both
operational and climate-forecast modeling communities."
While the award is presented by NOAA, the winner is selected by the National
Space Club. It will be presented during the club's annual Robert Goddard
memorial dinner in Washington.
In 2010 Zhang received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and
Engineers ‹ the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding
scientists and engineers beginning their independent careers ‹ from the
National Science and Technology Council.
In addition to his doctorate from UAH, Zhang also has a master's degree in
atmospheric science, '00, and a bachelor's degree in atmospheric physics,
'92, both from Peking University.
