Data collected using small uncrewed aircraft systems during the TRacking Aerosol Convection interactions ExpeRiment (TRACER)
Francesca Lappin
Ph.D. Graduate
Dr. Petra Klein
Professor, Executive Associate Dean
Michelle R. Spencer
Ph.D. Student
I started my PhD journey here at OU as a graduate research assistant in January 2022. My work includes investigating boundary layer interactions around Houston, TX and how the sea-breeze and air pollution may affect convection initiation surrounding the city. I focus on ground-based boundary layer profiler observations. Prior to OU, I received my M.S. in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where I focused on a modeling study investigating forecast uncertainty in high-shear low-CAPE environments in the southeastern United States relating to sea-surface temperature sensitivities. I earned my B.S. in Meteorology from the Metropolitan State University of Denver in December 2019.
Dr. Antonio R. Segales
Research Engineer
My research centers around developing small unmanned aircraft systems for adaptive atmospheric sampling which involves CAD modeling, systems optimization, hardware and software integration, and control theory. I have led the design of the CopterSonde series of vehicles, which is used to perfrom controlled and targeted weather sampling at high temporal and spatial resolutions. I am also advising other projects in which sensor integration or new UAS are required.
Dr. Tyler M. Bell
Assistant Professor
Dr. Tyler Bell is an Assistant Professor in the School of Meteorology and School of Aviation at the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Bell earned his B.S. (2016), M.S. (2018), and Ph.D. (2021) in Meteorology from the University of Oklahoma. Prior to joining the faculty in Fall 2025, he served as a Research Scientist at the Cooperative Institute for High-Impact Weather Research and Operations from 2020 to 2025.
Dr. Arianna Jordan
Ph.D. Graduate
I obtained my bachelor’s degree in meteorology from San Jose State University in San Jose, CA. Students in the program were well-informed about research opportunities, which ultimately led me to interning at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) during 2016 and 2017. In 2018, I received my master’s in atmospheric sciences from Howard University in Washington, D.C., during which time I was able to intern at the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) in Norman, OK. Currently, I reside in that very location as a Ph.D. student at the University of Oklahoma where I research the influence of wind farms on boundary layer processes.
Dr. Elizabeth N. Smith
Research Meteorologist
Elizabeth joined NSSL as a research meteorologist in January 2020, where she focuses on boundary-layer processes relevant to near- and pre-storm environments and convection initiation.
Dr. Elizabeth A. Pillar-Little
Former Research Scientist
Elizabeth Pillar-Little was the Assistant Director for the former Center for Autonomous Sensing and Sampling at the University of Oklahoma, where she was responsible for coordinating the field deployments of RPAS teams from both an operational and scientific perspective. She also ensured the continuity of day-to-day center business and enjoyed spearheading outreach and science communication activities on behalf of the center. She was also appointed as a research scientist in the School of Meteorology and led the atmospheric chemistry research nucleus of CASS. Dr. Pillar-Little’s research interests were broadly centered around atmospheric and environmental chemistry, but she is very passionate about atmospheric composition, aerosol optical properties and composition, and the interplay between aerosols and convection initiation.