Christine Wiedinmyer named director of UCAR Community Programs
Experienced researcher and scientific leader brings expertise in building partnerships
Apr 23, 2025 - by David Hosansky
The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) has chosen Christine Wiedinmyer to serve as the new director of UCAR Community Programs (UCP). She will assume her new position on June 30.
An internationally recognized atmospheric chemist with extensive science leadership experience, Wiedinmyer has deep ties to UCAR and the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR), which UCAR manages. She worked as an NSF NCAR scientist for 16 years and subsequently served on the UCAR Board of Trustees from 2019 until early this year. At present, she is the associate director for science at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder, as well as a research professor at the university.
In her new position, Wiedinmyer will set strategic direction for UCP and ensure it continues to offer innovative resources, tools, and services to the Earth system science community. UCP provides scientists with critical real-time data delivery and software analysis tools, training for forecasters and emergency managers, support for a constellation of atmosphere-observing satellites, and more.
“I am thrilled to have such an experienced and capable leader at the helm of UCP,” said UCAR President Antonio Busalacchi. “Christine brings an extensive background in building strategic partnerships and working with government agencies, universities, and others to develop and execute high-priority scientific programs for the benefit of society.”
Wiedinmyer’s groundbreaking research at NSF NCAR focused on wildland fires, emissions, air quality, and health. She developed the Fire INventory from NCAR (FINN), a high-resolution global fire emissions model quantifying the impacts of fire emissions on atmospheric chemistry. At CIRES, she leads a team of more than 400 researchers and administrators to advance understanding into the dynamic Earth system. She also dedicates herself to service, helping to found the Earth Science Women’s Network and mentoring early-career scientists.
Wiedinmyer holds a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. She has published more than 140 peer-reviewed papers and earned Thomson Reuters “highly cited researcher” status in 2014.
“While it’s a challenging time for the scientific community, I am super excited to take on this new role,” Wiedinmyer said. “UCP programs play a crucial role in advancing the nation’s Earth system science capabilities, and I look forward to ensuring they become even more vital at a time of rapid technological advances.”