About Us
We are a research group within the University of Chicago's Department of Geophysical Sciences, led by Dr. Meghana Ranganathan. We study Earth's ice in a variety of contexts, focused on ice sheet and glacier dynamics and the impact of glacier and ice sheet change. For more information about the work, click on the Research tab. For information about how to join the group, click the Join! tab.
The Group
Meghana Ranganathan, Assistant Professor of Geophysical Sciences
CV | Personal Website | GitHub
I am a faculty member in the Department of Geophysical Sciences at the University of Chicago and the PI of the Multi-Scale Ice Dynamics Lab. Our work aims to understand the timescales and drivers of ice sheet change and develop physically-driven ice sheet models that can project future ice sheet change.
I grew up in Dallas, Texas, and spent most of my education hating math and wanting to be a journalist. Then, I went to college at Swarthmore College and had to take a class in linear algebra. For the first time, I learned that math could have a real purpose – to understand the world around me. I ended up majoring in math, hoping to use math to make the world better. The earth sciences seemed like a great way to do that. I did my PhD at MIT’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences with Dr. Brent Minchew and was a NOAA Climate & Global Change Postdoctoral Fellow with the Georgia Tech Ice & Climate Group, hosted by Dr. Alex Robel.
Gabriel Myers, PhD Student, Geophysical Sciences
I am a PhD student in the department of Geophysical Sciences. I am broadly interested in the cryosphere, with particular interest in how glaciers and ice shelves impact larger scale climate phenomena. I have a BS in physics and a MS in applied mathematics.
Anjali Subramanian, Undergraduate Student, Environmental Science & Biology (UChicago, '26)
Anjali Subramanian is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Environmental Science and Biology. She is working on characterizing fractures on Antarctica using Google Earth Engine. Outside of lab, she enjoys singing with the Women's Ensemble and cooking new recipes!
Aiyana Leigh, Undergraduate Student, Geophysical Science (UChicago, '26)
Aiyana is a third year in the college majoring in Geophysical sciences and minoring in Latin American and Caribbean Studies and Science Communication. Born and raised in Chicago, she's enamored by lakes and glaciers like any true Midwesterner. She splits her free time between wrangling her cat, Ida, and watching wrestling.
Jaela Allen, Undergraduate Student, Geology & Mathematics (Miami University, '25)
I am a senior geology major at Miami University, conducting research on the Siple Coast of West Antarctica investigating areas of severe ice deformation and fast flowing ice. I aim to understand the forces that govern ice flow and what influences (e.g., climate forcing) disruption in the ice stream system.