Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, Santa Barbara, California, June 2025
ChatGPT said:
Ashfaq Ahmed was invited to present his research at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics’ program “The Future of Earth’s Polar Regions” in Santa Barbara. His poster explores wind–ice coupling using a statistical analysis of a 1° MITgcm forward run from ECCO version 4, release 4. The work offers insights into coupled polar climate dynamics with implications for large-scale modeling.
APS Conference, Anaheim, California, March 2025
Ashfaq was invited to present at the APS Global Physics Summit 2025, a prominent gathering of over 15,000 physicists from various disciplines . His talk focused on the near-surface circulation of the Arctic Ocean, which plays a crucial role in freshwater distribution, ocean mixing, nutrient transport, and energy exchange between the equator and the poles. Utilizing the ECCOv4r4 ocean state estimate, Ashfaq conducted a long-term assessment of seasonal and regional patterns of eddy kinetic energy (EKE), a key indicator of Arctic Ocean variability.
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Spring 2025
Ashfaq will teach a graduate-level course on fluid dynamics (ENGN 2820) along with the key instructor, Prof. Monica M. Wilhelmus. Ashfaq’s primary responsibilities included preparing class lectures on conservation equations, hydrodynamic instabilities, the boundary layer theorem, geophysical fluid dynamics, and biological fluid mechanics. Also, he will assist in inviting guest speakers for this course. Throughout the course, he will help with grading and office hours.
AGU Conference, Washington, D.C., December 2024
Ashfaq has been invited to present his research at the prestigious AGU24 (American Geophysical Union) annual meeting. His presentation focuses on evaluating wind-ice coupling in the ECCOv4r4 model, showcasing his contributions to advancing our understanding of Earth systems. This year, AGU24 will run from December 8th to December 14th, bringing together over 25,000 participants from 100+ countries.
ECCO Hackathon, Pasadena, California, October 2024
Ashfaq Ahmed was invited to participate in the ECCO Hackathon held from October 12–19, 2024, at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) at Caltech. Organized by NASA JPL scientists and the central ECCO team, the event focused on advancing ECCO (Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean), a cutting-edge simulation tool that integrates global climate, ocean, and atmospheric data to create a virtual Earth. To learn more about this ocean estimate, please visit – https://www.ecco-group.org/home.htm
Qualified for Ph.D. Candidacy, September 2024
Ashfaq Ahmed successfully completed his Ph.D. candidacy exam on September 13, 2024. He proposed his research work on ocean energetics and estuary dynamics. His Ph.D. committee members were Prof. Monica M. Wilhelmus, Prof. Baylor Fox-Kemper, and Prof. Thomas Power.
Girls Get Math, Brown University, August 2024
Ashfaq Ahmed contributed to the GirlsGetMath program at Brown University’s Institute for Computational and Experimental Research in Mathematics (ICERM), a five-day initiative aimed at inspiring high school students to pursue careers in mathematics and computational fields. He led sessions teaching participants how to use MATLAB coding to detect and isolate ice floes from satellite images and track their trajectories.
APS DFD Conference, Washington, D.C., November 2023
Ashfaq Ahmed presented his research at the 76th Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics, held November 19–21, 2023, in Washington, DC. In the session on Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Ashfaq delivered his talk titled “Unlocking Landsat’s Potential to Explain the Longest Series of Sea Surface Temperature” on November 19th. His work utilized 39 years of high-resolution Landsat data and tide gauges to analyze sea surface temperature (SST) variability and tidal forcing in Narragansett Bay and Mt. Hope Bay.
Girls Get Math, Brown University, August 2023
In addition to contributing to the GirlsGetMath program, Ashfaq Ahmed co-organized a similar workshop from August 8–15 alongside Dr. Minki Kim. This workshop introduced participants to the application of MATLAB coding for analyzing satellite imagery, specifically focusing on detecting and tracking ice floes. Ashfaq’s leadership and collaboration in these initiatives highlight his commitment to fostering STEM education and empowering the next generation of young female scientists.
APS DFD Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana, November 2022
Ashfaq Ahmed presented the outline of his research at the 75th Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics, held November 20–22, 2022, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. During the session on Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Ashfaq talked about “Seasonal Evolution of Environmental Indicators in Narragansett Bay” on November 20th. His work, conducted in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team from Brown University, utilized nearly four decades of multi-satellite Landsat data (1984–2021) to investigate seasonal and decadal variability in sea surface temperature (SST), chlorophyll-a (Chl), and sea surface salinity (SSS) in Narragansett Bay and Mt. Hope Bay.
Graduate Engineering Council, Brown University, October 2022
Ashfaq Ahmed has been elected President of the Graduate Engineering Council (GEC) at Brown University. In this role, he will represent the interests of all engineering Ph.D. students, fostering a sense of community, encouraging interdepartmental collaboration, and advocating for graduate students within the university and the broader Providence area. The GSC organizes events and provides resources to support the academic and social well-being of graduate students, aiming to enhance their overall experience at Brown University.
Graduate Teaching Assistant, September 2022
Ashfaq will teach a senior-level course on physical oceanography, climate change, and planetary science (EEPS0070) along with the key instructor, Prof. Steven Clemens. Ashfaq’s primary responsibilities included preparing and reviewing quizzes, homework, field trips, and assignment questions for the undergraduates.
Girls Get Math, Brown University, August 2022
Ashfaq Ahmed served as an instructor for the GirlsGetMath 2022 program at Brown University, held from August 11–18, where he collaborated with Dr. Ellen Buckley from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Together, they guided participants through sessions focused on the future of the Arctic Ocean and sea ice dynamics. Using MATLAB, the students learned to analyze satellite imagery, detect and isolate ice floes, and track their trajectories, gaining practical skills in coding and computational science.