BIO

Dr. Kara J. Sulia is an accomplished meteorologist and researcher. She is currently the Associate Director of the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center (ASRC) and the Director of the xCITE Lab at the University at Albany. Dr. Sulia's work UAlbany's Atmospheric Sciences Research Center (ASRC) and the xCITE Lab is deeply intertwined with advanced technology.

Her research utilizes advanced computational methods; her research incorporates advanced data analytics, machine learning, and AI to apply weather information to solve complex problems. This includes developing new models and enhancing the explainability of these methods. Through the xCITE Lab, she manages extensive high-end GPU-based hardware and scientific visualization tools. These resources are crucial for handling large datasets and running complex simulations. Her team at the xCITE Lab is involved in developing software applications that leverage these advanced computational techniques to provide actionable insights for weather-related emergencies. Dr. Sulia's projects often combine meteorological data with non-meteorological data, such as camera images or utility outages, to better understand the impact of weather on various sectors.

Dr. Sulia's integration of technology into meteorology exemplifies how interdisciplinary approaches can lead to significant advancements in understanding and predicting weather phenomena.

Talk: A Career in Meteorology, Computer Science, and Beyond

“What is the weather forecast?” … “Are we going to get a lot of snow?” … “What channel are you on?” … “Do you believe in climate change?” … “I love space!” These are the comments/questions that are all too familiar to a Meteorologist, when often have no relevance to a Meteorologist’s career. I thought I would fit into one or more of these categories when I first began my career in Meteorology, but my skillset and interests took me in many other directions. This talk will cover a smattering of science, anecdotes, and lessons I have learned over the past decade and a half, evolving from fundamental Meteorology to applications in AI, to management and administration. Much of what is required of us as we journey through our careers are the consistent refinement of hard skills, and the development of soft skills, many of which we need to teach ourselves. The evolution of topics is an example how a fundamental scientific career can branch into multiple disciplines, areas of expertise, and responsibilities, all critical to the evolving nature of the field in alignment with technological advancements.