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Dr Gillian Young McCusker

Dr Gillian Young McCusker

  • Position: Visiting Researcher
  • Areas of expertise: Polar meteorology; mixed-phase cloud microphysics; cloud modelling across large-eddy simulation, regional, and global scales.
  • Email: G.Y.McCusker@leeds.ac.uk
  • Website: ORCID

Profile

I joined the Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science (ICAS) in March 2019 as a Research Fellow on the Microbiology-Ocean-Cloud Coupling in the High Arctic (MOCCHA) project, modelling central Arctic clouds with the Met Office Unified Model and Met Office NERC Cloud model. Prior to Leeds, I worked as a cloud physicist at the British Antarctic Survey on the Microphysics of Antarctic Clouds (MAC) campaign, modelling Antarctic cloud physics with the Weather Research and Forecasting model. I completed my PhD in Atmospheric Physics at the University of Manchester in 2016, as part of the Aerosol-Cloud-Coupling And Climate Interactions in the Arctic (ACCACIA) campaign, using both measurements and a large eddy simulation model to further our understanding of Arctic cloud physics and aerosol-cloud interactions. In 2021, I was awarded a NERC Independent Research Fellowship on the Tackling the Arctic Cloud Problem project.

In July 2022, I moved into the private sector to work as a Climate Solutions Consultant for Cervest, where I help businesses understand how evolving climate hazards may impact their operations and decision-making. I maintain a Visiting Researcher status with ICAS to facilitate research links and enable postgraduate student supervision.

<h4>Research projects</h4> <p>Any research projects I'm currently working on will be listed below. Our list of all <a href="https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/dir/research-projects">research projects</a> allows you to view and search the full list of projects in the faculty.</p>

Qualifications

  • PhD Atmospheric Physics, University of Manchester (2016)
  • MSci Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow (2013)

Research groups and institutes

  • Atmospheric and Cloud Dynamics
  • Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosols
  • Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science
<h4>Postgraduate research opportunities</h4> <p>We welcome enquiries from motivated and qualified applicants from all around the world who are interested in PhD study. Our <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk">research opportunities</a> allow you to search for projects and scholarships.</p>