Peter Jan van Leeuwen – Professor

Phone: 970-491-8436
Email: Peter.vanLeeuwen@colostate.edu
Research website
Publications

Education

• Ph.D. in Fluid Dynamics – 1992 – Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
• M.S. in Theoretical Physics – 1987 – University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
• B.S. in Astrophysics – 1984 – University of Leiden, Netherlands
• B.S. in Physics – 1984 – University of Leiden, Netherlands
• B.S. in Physics with chemistry – 1984 – University of Leiden, Netherlands

Career Overview

• Professor in Data Assimilation and Physical Oceanography, Colorado State University from 2018 – present
• Professor in Data Assimilation, University of Reading from 2009 – present
• Director of the Data Assimilation Research Centre (DARC) from 2009 – 2019
• Director Data Assimilation Research NCEO from 2014 – 2018
• Director National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO) from 2013 – October 2014
• Associate Professor Utrecht University from 2006 – 2009
• Assistant Professor at Utrecht University from 1997 – 2006
• Postdoc/Research Scientist at Utrecht University 1992 – 1997

Teaching Interests

• Data assimilation
• Geophysical fluid dynamics
• Physical oceanography
• Data analysis
• Statistical Mechanics of Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate
• Causal Inference

Research Interests

My research focuses on the development and use of data assimilation (including machine learning), causality (cause and effect relations), and information theory for better understanding geophysical fluids, with emphasis on the atmosphere, the ocean, and the cryosphere. Application areas include ocean dynamics, air-sea interaction (rain layers, momentum transfer), sea-ice dynamics and prediction, cloud microphysics, aerosol-cloud-precipitation interactions, cloud aggregation, shallow-cumulus initiation, and Hurricane dynamics and prediction.

Research Sponsors

• National Science Foundation (NSF)
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• Office of Naval Research (ONR)
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
• European Research Council, European Union
• Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), UK
• National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO), UK
• European Space Agency (ESA)
• Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), UK
• Netherlands Scientific Organisation (NWO), Netherlands

Awards, Honors, and Positions

• George T. Abell Outstanding Faculty Research Award 2025
• Advanced Investigator Award, European Research Council, European Union 2016
• Director of National Centre of Earth Observation (NCEO) 2013 – 2014
• Executive Board Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) 2013 – 2014
• Advisory Board UK Space Agency 2013 – 2014
• Head of the Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, UK, 2010 – 2013
• Member of the Senate of the University of Reading, UK, 2011 – 2013
• Director of MSc program Data Assimilation and Inverse Modelling in the Geosciences, 2010 – 2015
• Advisory Board Centre for Observation and Modelling of Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Tectonics (COMET)
• Advisory Board NordForsk Centres of Excellence EMBLA and eSTICC
• Advisory Board NERC program EQUIP
• Editor Monthly Weather Review
• Guest Editor Nonlinear Processes in the Geosciences
• Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorology Society Editor’s Award 2012