If you are looking for the 2023 edition, please click here.
The first (and free) edition of the Global Precipitation Measurement Mission (GPM) Mentorship program is starting this week!
Before you continue, consider learning more about the GPM mission here.
For more information, please contact vasco.mantas /at/ dct.uc.pt or andrea.m.portier /at / nasa.gov
You can also use our contact form.
Program description:
This is a pilot project designed to support new users from established and underrepresented communities and provide a tailored hands-on learning experience. It will provide participants with an overview of state-of-the-art Precipitation Estimates and the first take on GPM applications to support real-world problems.
Unlike training programs centered around content consumption (e.g. video webinars and tutorials), the project provides both theoretical and practical training, supported by subject matter experts. Project development will contribute to consolidating learned skills and promote interaction with top scientists in the GPM community.
Participants are expected to become local pivots for the dissemination of PMM products and best practices, laying the foundations of local PMM hubs.
Registration
This is a free, online learning program. Registration is now closed.
Number of available seats: 10
Methods of selection: Registration will require submission of a short CV (50% of the score) and a motivation letter (50% of the score). Preference will be given to graduate students and early-career scientists. Demonstrable ability and interest in applying the new skills to solve ‘real-world’ problems will be valued.
50% of the seats will be assigned preferentially to participants from lower and middle-lower income countries (check list of countries here).
Registration: March 10 – March 20, 2022
Program starts April 6, 2022
Program structure:
Participants will be exposed to state-of-the-art topics on precipitation measurement missions, technologies, and applications during 4 theoretical sessions (April 6, 13, 20, 27). The sessions will be followed by the development of a project, supervised by a Subject Matter Expert (SME). The project will have a duration of 2 months and focus on topics suggested by the mentors and adjusted to the skills and interests of the students.
The outcome of the projects will be presented during a final session, which will take place on June 22nd (tentative date).
Training sessions
April 6 (09.00 am – 11.00 am EST): Speakers: Dr. Jackson Tan (GPM fundamentals and the IMERG product), Andrea Portier (GPM applications), Vasco Mantas (IMERG data access)
April 13 (09.00 am – 11.00 am EST): DPR, Speakers: Courtney Schumacher, Mircea Grecu, Aaron Funk
April 20 (10.00 am – 12.00 pm EST): Speakers: Chuntao Liu (Introduction to precipitation feature database from the GPM core and constellation satellite) and Pierre Kirstetter (Calibration/Validation of precipitation estimates)
April 27 (09.00 am – 11.00 am EST): Mircea Grecu (Precipitation extremes II), Zhong Liu (NASA precipitation products and services), Dorian Janney (Communicating and educating with IMERG)
Selected candidates will start the 2-month project under the supervision of a Subject Matter Expert (SME) on April 27th.
Late June: Final session, for the presentation of project highlights and discussion of results.
List of trainers and mentors
Program leads: Vasco Mantas (Univ. Coimbra, CITEUC) and Andrea Portier (NASA)
List of speakers/mentors (still being updated) in alphabetical order:
Dr. Aaron Funk (Texas A&M University)
Dr. Chuntao Liu (Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)
Dr. Courtney Schumacher (Texas A&M University)
Dorian Janney (NASA)
Dr. Jackson Tan (NASA)
Dr. Joe Turk (NASA)
Dr. Mircea Grecu (NASA)
Dr. Pierre Kistetter (University of Oklahoma School of Meteorology / NOAA)
Dr. Yagmur Derin (University of Oklahoma School of Meteorology)
Dr. Zhong Liu (George Mason University and NASA)
Resources
To access content from the sessions and other resources you must be enrolled in the program. Please click here for more information.
Once the program ends, the content will be made publically available.