Research Scientist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA

AGU embraces the global community and welcomes diverse leaders from around the world, representing various identities, voices, and perspectives. List any identities, voices, and perspectives you would bring, including but not limited to nationality, regional representations, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and any other identity you feel comfortable sharing.

I grew up in a small town in northern Germany (Rhauderfehn) with two older brothers. Prior to my career in academia, there hadn’t been anyone in the family who received a college education. Luckily, my family has always been very supportive of my aspirations which made me grow into a believer in potential and possibilities. After my Ph.D., which I received from the University of Bremen, I came to the U.S. for a postdoc position. Initially, to stay a year or two to then return back to Germany. Having experienced the U.S. as a land of possibilities, I felt compelled to continue my career in this country and applied for a position at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which has been very rewarding for my scientific career. To the position of president-elect, I would bring my multi-cultural experience of growing up in a small European town and starting a career in a big city like Los Angeles. In particular, I feel like through my journey I have experienced that nothing is truly impossible if one is supported by their environment. I would like to carry that experience forward and inspire and support the next generation in their journey.

Volunteer experience that relates to this position:

Reviewer for various AGU (and other) journals since 2007. Associate Editor for Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth since 2020. Vice President of the Intercommission Committee for Geodesy for Climate Research (ICCC) of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) since 2020. Global Earth Observing System of Systems (GEOSS) Subcommittee member since 2018.

This leadership position is a liaison role; it is one that aims to catalyze community and build AGU as envisioned by the strategic plan. How will you engage with members of your section to advance AGU’s strategic plan? How will you facilitate engagement with other sections and people outside AGU to support our mission?

The resources provided by the AGU to the science sections are a perfect vehicle to engage the community in a variety of ways. Meetings like the AGU Fall Meeting provide a platform for broad engagement not only through scientific sessions but also (virtual or in-person) gathering for networking at section-specific events. Publication in AGU journals brings community findings to the forefront of applied and discovery-based research. For the Geodesy section, the new frontier is the connection to other fields like climate research in general or more specific fields like glaciology, oceanography, or hydrology. In my position, I aim to strengthen that connection to enrich not only our field-specific research but also interdisciplinary research that includes other areas of science. With the latest geodetic satellite missions as well as in-situ data and models, we are well posed to contribute to solutions to today's challenge of climate change. I am excited to learn about any other opportunities to broaden the field that I haven't considered thus far and expand our science and applications.

Section affiliations:

Cryosphere Sciences; Geodesy; Global Environmental Change; Ocean Sciences