Paul Kucera
About Paul Kucera
Paul Kucera serves as the COMET/Assistant Director for International Capacity Development at UCAR, where he has worked since 2018. With over 25 years of experience in atmospheric sciences, he has held various academic and research positions, including roles at NASA and multiple universities.
Current Role at UCAR
Paul Kucera currently serves as the COMET/Assistant Director for International Capacity Development at UCAR - The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. He has held this position since 2018, contributing to the development of international capacity in meteorological research and education. His role involves leading initiatives that enhance observational capabilities in developing countries, focusing on low-cost automated weather stations and numerical weather prediction.
Previous Experience at UCAR
Kucera has extensive experience at UCAR, having worked in various capacities from 2006 to 2018. He served as Project Scientist II for ten years, followed by two years as Project Manager II. During his tenure, he directed a NASA-funded project utilizing CloudSat to improve aviation applications and led efforts to evaluate experimental forecasts for the NOAA Hurricane Forecast Improvement Project.
Educational Background
Paul Kucera has a strong academic foundation in atmospheric sciences and engineering. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Meteorological Studies from the University of North Dakota from 1987 to 1991. He then pursued a Master of Science in Atmospheric Sciences at Texas Tech University from 1991 to 1993, followed by a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Iowa from 1997 to 2002.
Field Research Experience
Kucera has over 25 years of field research experience, participating in more than 12 field programs. His recent research has focused on precipitation studies in arid climates, cloud seeding evaluations for rainfall enhancement, and storm characterization in regions such as West Africa and Panama. His primary technical expertise includes weather radar applications and hydro-meteorology.
Professional Roles Prior to UCAR
Before joining UCAR, Kucera held various academic and research positions. He was an Associate Professor at the University of North Dakota from 2001 to 2006 and worked as a Graduate Research Assistant at both Texas Tech University and the University of Iowa. Additionally, he served as a Scientific Researcher at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center from 1993 to 1996.