Environmental Remote Sensing Lab
Research Field
The PI, Chung-Ru Ho, received his Ph.D. in Applied Oceanography from the University of Delaware in 1994. He is currently a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Marine Environmental Informatics at National Taiwan Ocean University. His expertise lies in physical oceanography and marine remote sensing. His research interests include ocean circulation, air-sea interactions, and climate change. Dr. Ho currently serves as a member of the Council on Space Research (COSPAR) and the Taiwan representative to the International Association for the Physical Sciences of the Ocean (IAPSO). He also serves on the editorial boards of journals such as Remote Sensing, Journal of Marine Science and Technology, and Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. He has previously served as the Chair of the Department of Marine Environmental Informatics at National Taiwan Ocean University, Deputy Director of the National Museum of Marine Science and Technology, Vice President for Research and Development at National Taiwan Ocean University, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Marine Science and Technology, and a guest editor for several academic journals including Advances in Meteorology, Atmospheric Research, Journal of Marine Science and Technology, and Remote Sensing. To date, he has published over 100 journal articles, including one in the prestigious journal Science.
The Environmental Remote Sensing Laboratory focuses on understanding the ocean and its interaction with the atmosphere through the application of satellite remote sensing technologies. Our research group comprises five Ph.D. students, one M.S. student, three undergraduate students, and one full-time research assistant, creating a collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment. Our primary research interests include ocean dynamics, air–sea interactions, and oceanic responses to climate variability and climate change. We extensively utilize satellite observations, including sea surface temperature, ocean color, sea level anomalies, and surface winds, often in combination with in situ measurements and numerical model outputs, to investigate multiscale oceanic and climate processes. International undergraduate interns are encouraged to participate actively in ongoing research projects, gaining hands-on experience in satellite data processing, data analysis, and scientific interpretation. Through close interaction with graduate students and faculty members, interns will be exposed to real-world research workflows and develop essential skills for future studies or careers in oceanography, climate science, and environmental remote sensing.
1. Satellite-based comparison of air–sea interaction across ocean fronts in the Southern Ocean and the Kuroshio Extension
2. A satellite-based comparison of mesoscale eddy characteristics in the Kuroshio and the Antarctic Circumpolar Current
3. Seasonal variability of mesoscale eddies in the Southern Ocean and the South China Sea
2023 Distinguished Professor Award (National Taiwan Ocean University, Taiwan)
2022 Outstanding Mentor Award (National Taiwan Ocean University, Taiwan)
2020 Distinguished Professor Award (National Taiwan Ocean University, Taiwan)
2020 Research Outstanding Teacher Award (National Taiwan Ocean University, Taiwan)
2019 Outstanding Research Award (National Taiwan Ocean University, Taiwan)
2019 Two publications on journals’ cover (Deep-Sea Research Part I and Acta Oceanologica Sinica)
2018 Outstanding Academic Award (National Taiwan Ocean University, Taiwan)
2016 Instructed Student Awarded College Student Research Creativity Award (Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan)
2011 Distinguished Teaching Award (National Taiwan Ocean University, Taiwan)
2009 Outstanding Academic Award (National Taiwan Ocean University, Taiwan)
2005 Outstanding Teaching Award (National Taiwan Ocean University, Taiwan)
2000 Listed in Who’s Who in the World; Who's Who in Science and Engineering; Who's Who in America
1995 Class A Research Award (National Science Council, Taiwan)
1994 The Best Dissertation Award (University of Delaware, USA)
1985 Remote Sensing Scholarship (Council of Agriculture, Taiwan)
1990/9 – 1994/5 Ph.D. University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
1984/9 – 1986/6 M.S. National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
1980/9 – 1984/6 B.S. National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
Job Description
The intern will focus on applying space-borne sensors to monitor the global and regional marine environment. This role emphasizes the technical and analytical pipeline of satellite oceanography from raw signal processing to the extraction of meaningful environmental indicators. Key responsibilities include processing multi-sensor satellite products, developing automated workflows for detecting mesoscale features, such as eddies and thermal fronts, and optimizing data visualization techniques for geospatial datasets to enhance real-time marine monitoring systems.
Preferred Intern Educational Level
Undergraduate (with a background in Geoscience, Oceanography, or Environmental Informatics)
Skill sets or Qualities
Data Science: Skilled in processing large, multi-source datasets, including satellite remote sensing and station-based data for atmospheric and oceanic variables (e.g., pressure, temperature, salinity).
Scientific Analysis: Experienced in regression-based analysis to identify climatic trends and interactions between the atmosphere and oceans. Competent in using tools like Python, R, or MATLAB for spatial data analysis and visualization.
Analytical Communication: Ability to evaluate complex datasets through sound observation to address scientific challenges and present technical findings clearly to both scientific teams and non-specialists through reports and presentations.
Preferred Qualification (Optional): Practical knowledge of oceanographic measurement methods from research cruises is a plus, but not mandatory.