Dr. L. Ruby Leung, a globally renowned atmospheric scientist specializing in climate modeling and the water cycle at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, recently was named a Battelle Fellow. It is Battelle’s most distinguished research scientist position.

Leung joined the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory staff in 1991. She has played a foundational role in the growth of the laboratory’s Atmospheric Sciences & Global Change Division, from its roots as a small group of scientists focused on atmospheric dispersion and boundary-layer processes to its current status as one of the premier atmospheric science and climate research groups in the world. She is now shaping new research directions at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science through her leadership in DOE-sponsored research and her role on the Biological and Environmental Research Advisory Committee.

Leung’s research helps inform national decisions related to water, agriculture, energy, public health, and national security. As the Chief Climate Scientist of the Accelerated Climate Modeling for Energy (ACME) project, she works with three dedicated groups on individual Earth system components as well as the coupled system to provide scientific guidance that will lead to strong climate modeling results. She is also the principal investigator for the Water Cycle and Climate Extremes Modeling project, a science focus area at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory supported by the Regional and Global Climate Modeling program.