Speaker Spotlight - Connor Welch

We are excited to welcome Connor Welch to this year’s Rocket City Weather Festival as part of our Student Research Panel. Connor is a dedicated doctoral student in Atmospheric Science at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), where he focuses on understanding meteorological and land surface characteristics that influence dust lofting and dust storm initiation.

Connor’s path began during his undergraduate years at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where his interest in aviation initially guided him toward meteorology. “Originally, I pursued meteorology to avoid the math of engineering while studying something relevant to my goal of becoming a pilot,” Connor admits with a laugh. “Obviously, I didn’t pay close attention to the requirements of the degree!”

Despite the challenges, Connor’s undergraduate experience opened his eyes to the vast opportunities for research and discovery in meteorology. This realization inspired him to pursue graduate studies at the Florida Institute of Technology, where he earned his master’s degree in meteorology.

During his master’s program, Connor interned with NASA SPoRT (Short-term Prediction Research and Transition Center). This transformative experience introduced him to the cutting-edge meteorological research happening at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). Motivated by his growing passion for atmospheric science, Connor decided to pursue his doctorate at UAH, focusing on the dynamic interactions between meteorological and land surface characteristics in relation to dust lofting and dust storm initiation.

Join us on February 8th at the Rocket City Weather Festival to hear Connor Welch and other outstanding student researchers discuss their innovative projects. Don’t miss this opportunity to be inspired by the next generation of meteorologists and their impactful contributions to the field!