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About Mines

Colorado School of Mines is a public R1 research university focused on applied science and engineering, producing the talent, knowledge and solutions to serve industry and benefit society – all to create a more prosperous future.
About Mines Overview
Academics

For more than 150 years, Mines has engineered a world of possibilities through world-class academics and hands-on learning that help you build real skills and set you up for career success.
Academics Overview
Research

As an R1 research university, Mines brings faculty, students and global partners together to engineer solutions that address the world's biggest scientific challenges and shape the future on Earth and beyond.
Research Overview
Student Experience

From orientation to graduation, the Mines student experience is built on connection, challenge and support, helping you feel at home, find your people and thrive personally and academically.
Student Experience Overview
Admission & Aid

At Mines, we work together to make sure a premier engineering education is within reach through personalized support and resources to help you join the Oredigger family and achieve all your academic dreams.
Admissions and Aid Overview

Faculty Directory

Nathan Lenssen

Teaching Assistant Professor

Contact Information

lenssen@mines.edu 303-384-2520

Applied Mathematics & Statistics
Data Science
Hydrologic Science and Engineering

Education

Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences, Columbia University
M.A. in Statistics, Columbia University
B.A. in Mathematics and Physics, Claremont McKenna College

Research

Statistical prediction of dynamical systems
Spatial statistics for geoscience applications
Large-scale atmospheric and oceanic dynamics
Impacts of climate change on natural and human systems

Publications

Complete list of publications here.

Shaw, J. & Lenssen N. (2025), “Early and Widespread Emergence of Regional Warming is Robust to Observational and Model Uncertainty” Environmental Research Letters [link, press release]
Lenssen, N., Schmidt, G. A., Hendrickson, M., et al. (2024), “A GISTEMPv4 Observational Uncertainty Ensemble” Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres [link, news article]
W. Anderson, S. Shukla, … N. Lenssen, et al. (2024) “Preseason maize and wheat yield forecasts for early warning of crop failure” Nature Communications. [link, blog post]
Lenssen, N., DiNezio, P., Goddard, L., et al. (2024). “Strong El Niño events lead to robust multi‐year ENSO predictability” Geophysical Research Letters. [link, news article]
Schwarzwald, K., & Lenssen, N. (2022). “The importance of internal climate variability in climate impact projections” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Additional Information

Recent Courses

MATH201: Introduction to Statistics
MATH324: Statistical Modeling
MATH334: Introduction to Probability
MATH437/537: Multivariate Analysis
MATH560: Introduction to Key Statistical Learning Methods I
MATH561: Introduction to Key Statistical Learning Methods II

Research Pillars

Environment | Frontiers

Research Focus Areas

Computing for Innovation | Environment Climate & Society | Environmental & Climate Data Science | Global Climate System

Research Keywords

Atmospheric Modeling & Forecasting | Atmospheric Science | Climate Change | Climate Variability | Computational Analysis | Data Science | Earth Observation Data & Analysis | Earth System Modeling & Prediction | Human Dimensions of Environment & Climate Changes | Modeling & Simulation | Natural Hazard Prediction & Mitigation | Oceanography | Risk Communication | Uncertainty Quantification