Application form

LFUI-Guest Professor 2025/26	Nominee: Dr. W. James Steenburgh

Applying School/Faculty (University of Innsbruck)

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Nominee

Given name/last name/degree: W. James Steenburgh, Ph.D.

Position: Professor of Atmospheric Sciences

Job profile: Teaching and research in mountain weather and climate

University/Research Institution: University of Utah

Department: Department of Atmospheric Sciences

Street: 135 South 1460 East Room 819

City/ZIP/Country: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA 84112-0102

Phone: +1 801-230-5715

E-Mail: jim.steenburgh@utah.edu

Project proposal (teaching and/or research)

Suggested courses:

707813 Advanced Topics in Atmospheric Dynamics: Cool Season Precipitation
Processes and Prediction (VU / 2h / 3 ECTS-AP)
707812 Advanced Topics in Atmospheric Dynamics: Warm Season Weather Briefing
(PR / 1h / 1.5 ECTS-AP; Co-Teach with Dr. Georg Mayr)
Guest lectures for other courses

Title of the research project:

Variability and Prediction of Winter-Storm Penetration Across the Inn Valley to the Inner Alps

Abstract:

Advances in the knowledge and prediction of precipitation processes in mountains regions are essential for the prediction of winter storms and related hazards and anticipating how climate change will affect winter-sports tourism and water resources in mountainous regions. In western Austria, an important climate transition occurs across the Inn Valley from the relatively wet Northern Limestone Alps, including the Karwendal Alps, to the drier Inner Alps, including the Stubai and Tux Alps. During individual storms, however, the penetration of winter storms across the Inn Valley varies from storm-to-storm, sometimes leading to heavy snow accumulations over the Inner Alps. The nominee proposes to collaborate with Dr. Alexander Gohm and others in the Department of Atmospheric and Cryospheric Sciences to advance our understanding and prediction of these storm variations using historical precipitation observations and analyses, atmospheric analyses, and numerical models. Building on similar studies led by the nominee in other regions including western Japan and North America, the research will identify the conditions and processes that lead to heavy snowfall during winter-storm penetration to the Inner Alps and contribute to improved prediction of winter storms and climate-change over western Austria.

Period of the intended stay: 02.03.2026 - 27.06.2026

Department affiliation within UIBK: Department of Atmospheric and Cryospheric Sciences

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Requested attachments:

Curriculum vitae et studiorum of the nominee

Statement of reasons from the applying Faculty/Research area (by the Dean or Dean of Studies; by the Speaker of the research area)

Statement of reasons from the initiator

Suggested topic(s) for a public lecture (including a short description)

Whether the application is submitted by a School/Faculty or by a Research area, the candidate must be assigned to a department at the University of Innsbruck.