My research focuses on several main themes: 

•  Developing a process-based understanding of modern seasonal and inter-annual climate variability;
   
• Examining large-scale synoptic patterns that lead to extreme climate events and hazards such as droughts and floods;
   
• Applying process-based analysis of climate variability to paleoclimatic reconstruction;
   
• Visualization of the climate system through computer-based animated map sequences.

Shinker, J. J., and P. J. Bartlein, in press.  Visualizing the large-scale patterns of ENSO-related climate anomalies in North America.  Earth Interactions.

Shinker, J. J., P. J. Bartlein, and B. Shuman, 2006. Synoptic and dynamic climate controls of North American mid-continental aridity. Quaternary Science Reviews, v. 25, p. 1401-1417.

Shinker, J. J., 2006. Global Climate Animations. Digital Library for Earth Science Education, DLESE-000-000-001-774.

Minckley, T. A., P. J. Bartlein, and J. J. Shinker, 2004. Paleoecological response to climate change in the Great Basin since the last glacial maximum. In D.L. Jenkins, T.J. Connolly, and C.M. Aikens (Eds.) Early and Middle Holocene Archaeology of the Northern Great Basin, pp. 21-30. University of Oregon Anthropological Papers 62. Eugene.

Birkland, K. W., C. J. Mock, and J. J. Shinker. 2001. Avalanche extremes and atmospheric circulation patterns, Annals of Glaciology, 32, p. 135-140.
 

2006-2007 – A novel approach for improving records of long-term, multi-scale snowpack variability in western North America. Co-PI J. J. Shinker, PI L. J. Graumlich, Co-PI D. B. Fagre, Co-PI S. T. Gray. Geography and Regional Science Division National Science Foundation.

2007-2008 - Mechanisms of precipitation variability associated with ENSO: 3-D process analysis approach. PI J.J. Shinker. Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium Faculty Grant.

2006-2007 - Visualizing Earth system processes in 3-D: An educational enhancement grant for a new course in Geographic and Scientific Visualization. PI J. J. Shinker, Co-PI S. D. Prager, J. D. Hamerlinck. Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium.

2005-2007, Timing and spatial heterogeneity of precipitation in the intermountain west. University of Wyoming Basic Research Grant.

2002-2003 – Doctoral Dissertation Research: Visualizing mechanistic controls of North American climate variability through cartographic animations. PI: P. J. Bartlein. Geography and Regional Science Division National Science Foundation.

• Geog 1010  Introduction to Physical Geography (Spring 2006, 2007)
   

• Geog 3450 Weather and Climate (Spring 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
   

• Geog 3550  Natural Hazards and Society (Fall 2005, 2006, 2008)
   

• Geog 4880/5880  Global Climate Variability (Fall 2005, 2007, Spring 2009)
   

• Geog 4880/5880 Geographic and Scientific Visualization (Fall 2008, 2009)
   

• Honors 4152 Climate Change, Water and Energy (Fall 2009)