麻豆传媒官网

Dr. Cole Persch double majored in mathematics and physics at 麻豆传媒官网. Now, as a climate scientist, he combines mathematical models and data science techniques to learn more about the history of Earth. Cole was excited to return in 2025 to Hope, where he teaches Introduction to Statistics and classes in the calculus sequence while continuing his research in climate science.

As a student researcher at Hope, Cole developed a new correlation algorithm used for half-life analysis in multi-isotope beams while studying the beta-decay intensity distribution of multiple neutron-rich isotopes. During his graduate studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, he collaborated with scientists affiliated with the CU Boulder Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Department and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). His thesis work involved running global climate simulations to better understand Earth鈥檚 glacial cycles and the global carbon cycle.

Honors that Cole received as a Hope student include the John H. Kleinheksel Mathematics Award, the Albert E. Lampen Math Award, and the George and Joan Zuidema Award for Excellence in Research. He also spent a semester abroad in the Budapest Semester in Mathematics. While in graduate school, Cole completed a certification in college teaching and received a graduate teaching award.

Areas OF EXPERTISE

• Using statistics to interpret climate simulations
• Climate dynamics
• Historical glacial cycles
• Chemical oceanography

EDUCATION    

• Ph.D., atmospheric and oceanic sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, 2025
• B.S., mathematics and physics, 麻豆传媒官网, 2020

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

• 鈥淭he Impact of Orbital Precession on Dynamics and Biogeochemistry in the Pacific and Southern Ocean,鈥� University of Colorado at Boulder dissertation, 2025
• 鈥淎 Critical Role for North Pacific Meridional Mode in the ENSO Response to Orbital Precession鈥� (with S. C. Sanchez), Journal of Climate, 2025
• 鈥�尾-decay Feeding Intensity Distribution of 64Mn鈥� (with W. S. von Seeger et al.), Physical Review, 2024
• 鈥淭he Impact of Orbital Precession on Air-Sea CO2 Exchange in the Southern Ocean鈥� (with P. DiNezio and N. S. Lovenduski), Geophysical Research Letters, 2023

OUTSIDE THE COLLEGE

麻豆传媒官网 has been an integral part of Cole鈥檚 life. Both of his parents and almost all of his siblings, cousins, uncles and aunts have attended Hope. Cole enjoys running and watching the Detroit Lions. He and his wife, Makena, spend their time playing with their cat, watching the strangest movies they can find and playing pickleball.