TEAM
Dr. Di Tian (Principal Investigator)
Associate Professor (CV)
Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences
Earth System Science Program
226 Funchess Hall, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849
Phone: (334) 844-3819; tiandi@auburn.edu
Departmental Webpage: http://cses.auburn.edu/di-tian/
Dr. Fang Wang
Assistant Research Professor
Office:
240 Funchess Hall
Email: fzw0024@auburn.edu
Fang received her PhD in Environmental Engineering Sciences from the University of Florida. Her research focuses on computational hydrology and deep learning for the earth systems.
Sudhanshu Kumar
Ph.D. student, 8/2022-
Office:
253 Upchurch Hall
Email: szk0237@auburn.edu
Sudhanshu received his M.Tech. in Earth System Science and Technology from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur and B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering from IIT BHU Varanasi in India. His research
focuses on investigating flash drought causations and predictions using data science and machine learning approaches.
Armano Cibaric
Ph.D. student, 8/2025-
Office:
251 Upchurch Hall
Email: lzg0048@auburn.edu
Armano received his M.S. degree in Water and Sustainable Development from IHE Delft, and B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Zagreb in Croatia. His research
focuses on AI-informed Earth system models diagnosis, downscaling, and bias corrections for fine-scale hydroclimate assessment.
Ananya Sharma
Ph.D. student, 8/2025-
Office:
251 Upchurch Hall
Email: azs0394@auburn.edu
Ananya Sharma received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Geology both from the University of Delhi in India. Her research
focuses on remote sensing-based evapotranspiration observations and modeling for drought and water management.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Undergraduate researcher
Undergraduate student
Office: 251 Upchurch Hall
Email: smh0089@auburn.edu
Currently accepting undergraduate summer interns to participate in the NSF CAREER project (link) or through AU's undergraduate research fellowship program (link).
FORMER MEMBERS
Taufiq Rashid, Ph.D. student graduated in December 2025. Ph.D. dissertation (2025): Combining Deep Learning with Physics-based Modeling for Improved Remote Sensing-based Evapotranspiration and Land Surface Temperature Estimates. Publications from our group: Paper-1 Paper-2 Paper-3 in review. Currently a Remote Sensing Scientist with Weyerhaeuser, Seatle, WA.
Ajeeta Shretha, M.S. student graduated in December 2025. M.S. thesis (2025): Explainable Deep Learning for Assessing Terrestrial Hydroclimate Impacts on Coastal River Discharge. Publications from our group: Paper-1 in review. Currently a Ph.D. student in CEE at UNL.
Tayler Shillerberg, Ph.D. student graduated in May 2024. Ph.D. dissertation (2024): A study for understanding climate-induced crop production risk and relevant climate hazards in a changing environment. Publications from our group: Paper-1 Paper-2 Book Chapter 3-min Video. First placement: Climate Fellow at the USDA Midwest Climate Hub in Ames, Iowa, USA.
Kyle Lesinger, Ph.D. student graduated in December 2024. Ph.D. dissertation (2024): A hydrometeorological data-driven study for assessment and subseasonal prediction of flash drought. Publications from our group: Paper-1 Paper-2 Paper-3 3-min Video. Currently a Research Scientist with the Earth System Science Center at UAH and NASA IMPACT in Huntsville, Alabama, USA.
Hanoi Medina, Ph.D. student graduated in May 2020. PhD dissertation (2020): Data-Driven Agroclimate Modeling and Forecasting Based on Earth Observations and Predictions: A Study of Evapotranspiration, Precipitation, and Crop Yields. Publications from our group: Paper-1 Paper-2 Paper-3 Paper-4 Paper-5. Currently a Data Scientist at Noble Corporation in Houston, Texas, USA.
Kyle Lesinger, M.S. student graduated in August 2020. M.S. thesis (2020): Impact of Climate Change on Storage Conditions for Major Agricultural Commodities across the Contiguous United States. Publications from our group: Paper-1. Continued PhD study in our group.
Tayler Shillerberg, M.S. student graduated in August 2019. M.S. thesis (2019): Assessing changes and predictability of crop yields and failure risk in the United States: The Impact from Large-scale Climate Circulations. Publications from our gruop: Paper-1 Paper-2. Continued PhD study in our group.
Marie Harris, Undergraduate student researcher, graduated in 2021. Publications from our group: Abstract-1 Abstract-2. Currently a graduate student at UC Berkeley.
Yanzhong Li, Visiting professor from Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, March 2019 to Feburary 2020. Publications from our group: Paper-1.
Yizhuo Li, Visiting student from China Agricultural University, September 2018 to October 2019. Publications from our group: Paper-1.
Parisa Asadi, Research Assistant, Jan 2019-Feb 2020. Currently a Data Scientist at Carl Zeiss in California, USA. Publications from our group: Paper-1.