Dr. Kelly M. Núñez Ocasio

Assistant Professor

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at Texas A&M University and an Affiliate Faculty member with the Texas A&M University Race & Ethnic Studies Institute (RESI). Before joining Texas A&M, I held an Advanced Study Program (ASP) Postdoctoral Fellowship at the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). I received my Ph.D. in Meteorology and Atmospheric Science from Penn State University in 2021 and my B.S. in Physics, along with a Curricular Sequence in Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, in 2016.

Currently, I am a co-lead of the international Mesoamerica and Caribbean Affinity Group (MAAG). I am a member of the AMS Science and Technological Activities Commission (STAC) Committee on Tropical Meteorology and Tropical Cyclones. I also serve as an Associate Editor for Monthly Weather Review and as a Rapporteur for the Eleventh International Workshop on Tropical Cyclones (IWTC-11).

Dr. Zachary L. Moon

Research Scientist

I am a PhD atmospheric scientist working as a Scientific Software Engineer for NOAA Air Resources Lab. My research interests are primarily scientific programming and open-source software for Earth science, particularly air chemistry. I am also a research scientist within the Tropical Systems Group where I collaborate with Prof. Núñez Ocasio on research related to mesoscale convective systems. I am the co-developer and maintainer of the TAMS open-source Python package.

Dr. Kwesi Quagraine

Texas A&M ATMO Postdoctoral Researcher

I am a Postdoctoral Researcher at Texas A&M University in College Station, USA. My research focuses on weather and climate extremes, with a deep interest in their variability and impacts on both ecosystems and human systems. Beyond my work in atmospheric science, I am an avid musician who plays multiple instruments, including piano and guitar. I also enjoy staying active through sports such as pickleball and tennis.

Stephanie Ortiz Rosario

Texas A&M ATMO PhD Graduate Student

I am a PhD student and graduate research assistant in the Tropical Systems Group. I graduated from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez with a B.S. in Physics. I am interested in studying tropical convection and rainfall, especially related to mesoscale convective systems (MCSs). Beyond research, I enjoy exploring new places and taking pictures.

Kellie Thrower

Texas A&M ATMO PhD Graduate Student

I am a PhD student and Graduate Research Assistant in the Tropical Systems Group here in College Station, TX. I graduated from the University of North Dakota with a B.S. in Atmospheric Sciences in 2026. My research is focused on African Easterly Waves and Tropical Storms in a unique version of the MPAS-A model. Outside of research, I am interested in D&D, training for a half Ironman triathlon, and spending time with my cats Link and Urbosa.

Group Alumni

- Antonio Ruiz Núñez (Texas A&M ATMO alum) successfully completed his summer project through the NSF NCAR SOARS Program, in collaboration with Erin Dougherty and our Tropical Systems Group. He will now focus on continuing the related research paper and pursuing his next career steps.
- Lizzie Jones (Texas A&M ATMO undergraduate) completed a semester of research with our group, where she explored the tropical atmosphere and gained hands-on experience. She is now looking forward to her senior year.

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