Gijs de Boer

Brookhaven National Laboratory

Environmental Science and Technologies Department
Bldg. 815, Room 1-4
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000

(631) 344-7511
gdeboer@bnl.gov

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Expertise | Research | Education | Appointments | Publications | Awards

Expertise

• Cloud and Precipitation Physics
• Robotic Observing Systems
• Coastal Weather
• Boundary Layer Processes
• Polar Weather and Environment
• Surface-Atmosphere Exchange
• Aerosol-Cloud-Radiation Interactions

Research Activities

Dr. de Boer conducts research and advances technology to better understand components of the Earth system.  Doing so helps to improve predictive capabilities that help facilitate economic prosperity, national security, and resilience to environmental challenges. This work includes characterizing the atmosphere and surface properties, and conducting fundamental research to better understand their combined impacts on weather and environment, agriculture, energy, and defense.

Research efforts leverage cutting-edge observational systems deployed across diverse environments across the globe, integrating real-world data with advanced modeling to improve understanding. Fieldwork has included land-, ship-, and airborne instrument deployments, along with pioneering work using drones to expand efficient and cost-effective environmental sensing. Insights gained from this research contribute to peer-reviewed publications, data products, and collaborative engagements that support technological progress and strategic decision-making.

Education

• 2023 Certificate of Specialization, Harvard Business School Online (Leadership and Management)
• 2023 Certificate, Harvard Business School Online (Strategy Execution)
• 2023 Certificate, Harvard Business School Online (Organizational Management)
• 2023 Certificate, Harvard Business School Online (Power and Influence for Positive Impact)
• 2009-2011 Postdoctoral Fellow, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• 2004-2009 PhD, The University of Wisconsin – Madison (Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences)
• 2002-2004 M.S., The University of Wisconsin – Madison (Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences)
• 1998-2002 B.S., Cornell University (Soil, Crop, and Atmospheric Sciences)

Professional Appointments

2025-Present: Chair, Environmental Science and Technologies Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory

2022-2025:  Senior Research Scientist, The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder
2022-2025:  Director of National Laboratory Partnerships, Research and Innovation Office (RIO) at the University of Colorado Boulder
2021-2025:  Associate Director for Science, Chief Scientist, Integrated Remote and In Situ Sensing (IRISS) at the University of Colorado Boulder
2020-present:  Founder, Boreas Consulting
2011-2022:  Research Scientist I-III, The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder
2011-2012:  Project Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
2009-2011:  Postdoctoral Researcher, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Selected Publications

• de Boer G, White A, Cifelli R, et al (2023) Supporting Advancement in Weather and Water Prediction in the Upper Colorado River Basin: The SPLASH Campaign. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 104:E1853–E1874. https://doi.org/10.1175/bams-d-22-0147.1
• Feldman DR, Aiken AC, Boos WR, et al (2023) The Surface Atmosphere Integrated Field Laboratory (SAIL) Campaign. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 104:E2192–E2222. https://doi.org/10.1175/bams-d-22-0049.1
• Oehri J, Schaepman-Strub G, Kim J-S, et al (2022) Vegetation type is an important predictor of the arctic summer land surface energy budget. Nature Communications 13:. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-34049-3
• de Boer G, Calmer R, Jozef G, et al (2022) Observing the Central Arctic Atmosphere and Surface with University of Colorado uncrewed aircraft systems. Scientific Data 9:. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-022-01526-9
• Dada L, Angot H, Beck I, et al (2022) A central arctic extreme aerosol event triggered by a warm air-mass intrusion. Nature Communications 13:. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-32872-2
• Stevens B, Bony S, Farrell D, et al (2021) EUREC⁴A. Earth System Science Data 13:4067–4119. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-4067-2021
• Shupe MD, Rex M, Blomquist B, et al (2022) Overview of the MOSAiC expedition: Atmosphere. Elem Sci Anth 10:. https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2021.00060
• Nicolaus M, Perovich DK, Spreen G, et al (2022) Overview of the MOSAiC expedition: Snow and sea ice. Elem Sci Anth 10:. https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2021.000046
• de Boer G, Diehl C, Jacob J, et al (2020) Development of Community, Capabilities, and Understanding through Unmanned Aircraft-Based Atmospheric Research: The LAPSE-RATE Campaign. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 101:E684–E699. https://doi.org/10.1175/bams-d-19-0050.1
• de Boer G, Dexheimer D, Mei F, et al (2019) Atmospheric observations made at Oliktok Point, Alaska, as part of the Profiling at Oliktok Point to Enhance YOPP Experiments (POPEYE) campaign. Earth System Science Data 11:1349–1362. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-11-1349-2019
• de Boer G, Ivey M, Schmid B, et al (2018) A Bird's-Eye View: Development of an Operational ARM Unmanned Aerial Capability for Atmospheric Research in Arctic Alaska. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 99:1197–1212. https://doi.org/10.1175/bams-d-17-0156.1
• de Boer G, Argrow B, Cassano J, et al (2019) Advancing Unmanned Aerial Capabilities for Atmospheric Research. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 100:ES105–ES108. https://doi.org/10.1175/bams-d-18-0254.1
• Dole RM, Spackman JR, Newman M, et al (2018) Advancing Science and Services during the 2015/16 El Niño: The NOAA El Niño Rapid Response Field Campaign. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 99:975–1001. https://doi.org/10.1175/bams-d-16-0219.1
• de Boer G, Ivey M, Schmid B, et al (2016) Unmanned Platforms Monitor the Arctic Atmosphere. Eos 97:. https://doi.org/10.1029/2016eo046441
• Morrison H, de Boer G, Feingold G, et al (2011) Resilience of persistent Arctic mixed-phase clouds. Nature Geoscience 5:11–17. https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo1332

Awards & Recognition

• 2013 Presidential Early Career Award for Science and Engineering (PECASE) (awarded in 2016)
• CIRES/NOAA Silver Medal Award (2024): For the first deployment of a fully autonomous system for the measurement of vertical profiles of aerosol, cloud, and meteorological properties
• CIRES/NOAA Bronze Medal Award (2023): For scientific achievement in the design and implementation of the complex Atlantic Tradewind Ocean-atmosphere Mesoscale Interaction Campaign
• CIRES/NOAA Bronze Medal Award (2023): For extraordinary contributions to the year-long Multidisciplinary Drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) polar expedition
• CIRES/NOAA Bronze Medal Award (2022): For work development of a fully coupled, ocean-ice-atmosphere model that delivers daily, 0-10 day, sea ice forecast guidance to the NWS Alaska Region
• Arctic Circle Prize (2022): Awarded to participants and developers of the MOSAiC Expedition
• US Representative, Vice-Chair, and Chair: International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) Atmosphere Working Group [2017-present]
• Co-Lead: Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC) Atmosphere Collaboration Community of Practice [2017-2024]
• Lead: US Department of Energy Atmospheric System Research (ASR) Program High Latitude Processes
• Site Scientist: DOE ARM Northern Alaska facilities [2015-2023]
• Meeting Presentation Awards and Honors: Outstanding early career presentation, GEWEX Int’l. Science Conference [2014]; Outstanding Oral Presentation Award, Arctic Science Summit Week [2011]; Showcased Research Highlight, ASR Science Team Meeting [2011]; Chief Scientist Award: Poster Presentation, ARM Science Team Meeting [2008]