His graduate studies (in atmospheric sciences at UW) focused on understanding the behavior and predictability of El Niño, and postgraduate studies have focused on studies of climate, its predictability, and its impacts on people and natural resources. He is currently the co-director of the UW's Climate Impacts Group, which has pioneered efforts to support climate resilience for people and nature in the Pacific Northwest by linking climate information to the region's fisheries, forests, water resources, and people.