Maya V. Chung

Maya V. Chung

Climate and Health Scientist

Maya V. Chung, PhD

I am a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at the Columbia University Climate School. My research explores intersections between climate and human health, as well as global climate variability and change. I enjoy connecting different tools (climate models and observational data), timescales (seasonal to decadal), and processes spanning weather and climate.

I was previously a postdoc at the High Meadows Environmental Institute and received my PhD in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences from Princeton University, where I was an HMEI Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy Fellow. I received my BA in Earth and Planetary Sciences from Harvard University.

For the latest research updates, visit my Google Scholar profile. Please see my CV for more information.

Contact: mvc2151@columbia.edu

Research Questions

Climate Model Cooling

How do climate models represent cooling?

 Ocean Salinity and Climate Variability

How does ocean salinity impact year-to-year climate variability?

 ENSO and Disease Spread

How does the El Niño-Southern Oscillation influence airborne disease spread?

 TCs and climate

How will hurricanes change with climate change?

Publications

  • Baker, R. E., Stamper, A. R., Burrows, H., Spacey, O. G., Chung, M. V., Rice, B. L., Yang, W., Wagner, C. E., Metcalf, C. J. E. (2026). Climate Change and Infectious Diseases. Nature Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-026-04377-8
  • Chung, M. V., Yang, W., Vecchi, G. A. (2025). Runaway Cooling from Large Solar Reductions Modulated by Ocean Overturning Circulation and Heat Uptake. Geophysical Research Letters. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL117821
  • Chung, M. V., Vecchi, G. A., Yang, W., Grenfell, B., and Metcalf, C. J. (2025). Intersecting memories of immunity and climate: Potential multiyear impacts of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation on infectious disease spread. GeoHealth, 9, e2024GH001193. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GH001193
  • (Book Chapter) Yang, W., Levin, E., Menemenlis, S., Scapin, N., Igbinoba, M., Chung, M., Rios, G., Hsieh, T.-L., Deike, L., Mitevski, I., & Vecchi, G. A. (2025). Chapter 1—Overview of tropical cyclones and historical perspective. In G. Villarini, G. A. Vecchi, & E. Scoccimarro (Eds.), Tropical Cyclones and Associated Impacts (pp. 1–25). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-95390-0.00001-7
  • (Review Paper for Policymakers) Knutson, T. R., Chung, M. V., Vecchi, G., Sun, J., Hsieh, T-L. and Smith, A. J. P. (2021). ScienceBrief Review: Climate change is probably increasing the intensity of tropical cyclones. Critical Issues in Climate Change Science. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4570334

Media Coverage

Finnish Broadcasting Company
Climate change is fueling global disease risks
Podcast interview, Finnish Broadcasting Company, July 2026
 Science Policy Cohort
Training the Next Generation of Scientists to Connect with Policymakers
Princeton GradFUTURES, August 2025
 AGU Award
Graduate Student Maya Chung receives Outstanding Student Presentation Award from AGU
Geohealth Section Award, March 2025
 Eos Highlight
The Interplay of ENSO and Immunity in Infectious Disease Outbreaks
Eos magazine article on our paper, March 2025
 Forbes Hurricanes
Why Hurricanes and Typhoons Will Become More Dangerous
Forbes article on our paper (quoted), March 2021

Research Experience

  • Postdoctoral Research Associate, High Meadows Environmental Institute, Princeton University, 2026-Present
  • PhD in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Princeton University, 2026
  • BA in Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, 2019
  • Summer Student Fellow, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 2018
  • Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 2017

Funding

Other Experience