about
Hi, my name is Jake :)
In reverse order, prior to starting at GFDL, I held a postdoc position at WHOI from 2020-2023, and before that completed my PhD at the University of Washington (UW) in physical oceanography in 2020. At UW, my thesis work centered on the use of autonomous underwater vehicles (Seaglider and Deepglider) to explore eddy structure, evolution, and decay through the lens of mesoscale turbulence theory. As a graduate student I spent time in the field deploying/recovering instruments and in the classroom teaching undergraduates and graduates in fluid mechanics and geophysical fluid dynamics. During my time at UW I also completed a masters degree in applied mathematics. This graduate work at UW followed four years at the University of Maryland where I obtained a bachelors of science in Civil and Environmental Engineering.
In addition to my research, I am interested how people interact with the ocean and percieve its role in Earth’s climate. Prior to entering the field of physical oceanogrpahy, my studies at the University of Maryland focused on water resources (i.e. surface water hydrology, ground water hydrology, and coastal engineering). This background has shaped my relationship with physical oceanography. Because my efforts to observe the ocean arose at UW through the continued development and use of autonomous underwater vehicles, I often had the opportunity to share our work with students and the public. Approaching oceanography and explaining our scientific efforts in this applied manner, especially in a place like Seattle with water all around us, makes engaging with others easier and more rewarding. In my continued work I think that meaningful connections can be made in the shared excitement of applying new technologies to understand how the ocean affects us all.
Outside of work I like to run, climb, bike, swim, read, make (+ drink) coffee, and xc-ski. Recent favorite books are: Debt: The First 5000 Years (Graeber), Children of Time (Tchaikovsky), A Manual for Cleaning Women (Berlin), Killing Commendatore (Murakami), Circe (Miller), The Power Broker (Caro) …