Welcoming new assistant professor of physics, Ivy Tan

Kirsten Apodaca — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 21:12:48 +0000

Welcoming new assistant professor of physics, Ivy Tan Kirsten Apodaca Tue, 08/12/2025 - 15:12

Kirsten Apodaca

The Department of Physics at the �� is thrilled to welcome Ivy Tan as a new Assistant Professor of Physics this fall.

Her interest in the field started with a love for physics and mathematics in high school. “I enjoyed understanding phenomena at a fundamental level,” said Tan.

She went on to major in physics and mathematics at the University of Toronto, where she was introduced to atmospheric and climate physics. She said, “it was a natural fit for me as it allowed me to apply my background in physics to my growing interest in climate change.”

Tan completed her doctoral studies in Earth and Planetary Sciences at Yale University in 2016. After her graduate studies, she was awarded several prestigious research awards at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

A geophysicist with interests in climate and atmospheric physics, Tan’s research is centered on Earth’s clouds, radiation and climate. She studies the formation and dissipation of small-scale processes associated with clouds, their interactions with radiation and how they in turn influence the large-scale climate system.

For Tan, Boulder presents a vast opportunity for collaboration with other academic departments, institutes, and national laboratories in the area. She added, “from modelling at all scales to satellite remote sensing, there is so much potential for collaboration right here in Boulder with colleagues in atmospheric and oceanic sciences, applied mathematics, LASP and CIRES at CU Boulder, in addition to NCAR and NOAA.”

She’s also looking forward to inspiring more students to pursue climate physics through teaching and research. “CU Boulder and its surrounding institutions are a powerhouse in physics and climate science, and I can’t wait to collaborate with its leading researchers,” said Tan.

For more information about Ivy Tan’s research, visit the Climate Physics Group website.

The Department of Physics at the �� is thrilled to welcome Ivy Tan as a new Assistant Professor of Physics this fall. A geophysicist with interests in climate and atmospheric physics, Tan’s research is centered on Earth’s clouds, radiation and climate.

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