FIYou: Haiyan Jiang

Name: Haiyan Jiang

Hometown: Heilongjiang, China

Job Title/Department: Assistant Professor, Department of Earth & Environment

Campus: Modesto A. Maidique Campus

In a nutshell: I’m doing research in hurricane rainfall and intensity change by using satellite remote sensing data as funded by both NASA and NOAA, as well as teaching meteorology courses.

Number of years at FIU: One and a half years.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Working on some challenging research topics, and getting to know and work with some amazing people who are great scientists, professors, post-docs and students.

What do you think faculty/staff and students should know about your department? What about FIU – how is the university “Worlds Ahead”?

Our department is developing a new program, Atmospheric Sciences. I’m lucky to be part of it. This new program brings FIU to the community of hurricane research and education, which is in high demand in South Florida.

Where is your favorite spot on campus? Why?

The National Hurricane Center (although I have not physically visited the building yet). Having the center on campus provides us a great opportunity in collaboration with NOAA forecasters in hurricane research.

Family snapshot:

I live with my husband and two lovely sons who are 13 and 5 years old. Back in China, I have a big family with my parents, one brother, three sisters and four nephews.

Word that best describes you: Careful.

First paying job: I was a high school student tutor in physics.

Favorite TV show: I never watch TV.

What is playing on your iPod?

I don’t have an iPod.

Read any good books lately?

Yes, an essay book by Liang Shiqiu in Chinese.

Your proudest accomplishment:

Having two children and holding a Ph.D. degree from the University of Utah.

What do you do when you are not working at FIU?

I play with my kids. I cook, garden and read.