Aanan Schlief
- GRA Atmoshp & Space, Atmospheric Sciences
Contact Info
- Email: aanan.schlief@UND.edu
- Office: 7772184
Office Address
Atmospheric Sciences
Clifford Hall, Room 400
4149 University Avenue - Stop 9006
Grand Forks, ND 58202-9006
Biography
Hi everyone, my name is Aanan Schlief, and I'm a Ph.D. candidate in Atmospheric Sciences at the University of North Dakota (UND). I grew up on a fifth-generation family farm near Lowry, Minnesota, and graduated from Minnewaska Area High School in 2018 before heading to UND to study Atmospheric Science, with a minor in Mathematics. Upon completing my B.S., I received degree honors, including Magna Cum Laude and a Honors Research Scholar distinction from the UND Honors Program. I continued my education at UND, earning my Master's degree in 2024 in Atmospheric Science before beginning my Ph.D.
Spring 2025 - ATSC 556 - Air Quality (Sitting Bull College, Fort Yates ND)
Remote Sensing, Satellite Meteorology, Aerosols, Agricultural Modeling & Weather, Data Assimilation
Schlief, A. H., Marquis, J. W., Zhang, J., Reid, J. S., and Miller, S.: Intercomparison of nighttime aerosol optical depth retrievals from both reflectance-based and city light-based methods using VIIRS DNB data, EGUsphere [preprint], https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-2225, 2026
2022 - B.S., Atmospheric Science, Mathematics Minor, University of North Dakota
2024 - M.S., Atmospheric Science, University of North Dakota
Current - Ph.D, Atmospheric Science, University of North Dakota (Tentative Graduation - Spring 2029)
Research Assistant & Graduate Research Assistant Fall 2021 – Present University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND
- Conduct cutting-edge agriculture research using the ALMANAC crop model to forecast spring wheat yield and planting dates across North Dakota and determine real-time crop health information from MODIS NDVI and LAI datasets employing various coding languages
- Work with Dr. Jianglong Zhang & Dr. Jared Marquis to track aerosol optical depth using the VIIRS DNB during nighttime hours on ocean surfaces utilizing large datasets of remote sensing weather data
Adjunct Professor Spring 2026 Sitting Bull College, Fort Yates, ND
- Served as adjunct professor for a graduate-level air quality course, delivering instruction on atmospheric chemistry, aerosol processes, air/water pollution, and air pollution measurement techniques
- Design and lead lectures/course curriculum, homework sets, and assessments while mentoring graduate students in real-world quantitative analysis and interpretation of air quality data
Research Assistant Spring 2019 – Fall 2021 University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND
- Worked for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the DCOTSS program to track & launch weather balloons, complete field work responsibilities, & create/present detailed flight forecasts for ER-2 research jet and weather balloon trajectories using various numerical weather prediction model
- Manipulated Python & C++ programs to analyze data collection of ozone and reflectivity of severe storms
Teaching Assistant Fall 2020 – Spring 2021 UND Atmospheric Science Department, Grand Forks, ND
- Maintained a productive and accessible education environment by grading course materials and conducting experiments
- Promoted student learning through presenting lectures, effectively communicating coursework requirements, and serving as a resource in the Atmospheric Sciences Department