Biography

Daniel Swain is currently a second-year graduate student in the Department of Environmental Earth System Science at Stanford University. As a member of the Climate and Earth System Dynamics Group, Daniel is interested in atmospheric processes that link the mid-latitudes with equatorial and polar regions. His current research focuses on the role of the changing Arctic cryosphere in driving extreme weather events in the Northern Hemisphere mid-latitudes.

A lifelong resident of Northern California, Daniel graduated from the University of California, Davis in 2011 with a B.S. in Atmospheric Science. To engage his passionate interest in the relationship between natural and human systems, Daniel pursued an unusually broad range of coursework as an undergraduate and actively sought out experiences that enhanced his personal understanding of the broader Earth system. These experiences—which included a period of study in South Africa, an internship with NASA’s Suborbital Research Center, and even the management of a large community garden plot in the Sacramento Valley—strongly shaped his ongoing fascination with atmospheric processes that directly affect human interests.   

Daniel is an avid traveler, and seeks opportunities to visit new places whenever possible. His interest in geophysically and geopolitically dynamic regions often brings him to far-flung locales—from the Alaskan Arctic to the Sub-Saharan Highveld to Louisiana’s barrier islands.  Near-future travel aspirations include a trip to Greenland, perhaps involving a mountain biking expedition from the coast to the edge of the ice sheet. In his spare time, Daniel enjoys biking (under decidedly less strenuous conditions) around the San Francisco Peninsula and the Santa Cruz Mountains, trying out new recipes on his ever-suffering roommate, and watching bad movies with friends.