| 1980s | M.S. in Meteorology, University of Melbourne | Melbourne, Australia | Graduate training / scientific foundation | UT Austin faculty profile |
| 1989 | Begins Ph.D. at Macquarie University | Sydney, Australia | Doctoral research begins | UT Austin faculty profile |
| 1989-1992 | Postgraduate Research Award, Macquarie University | Sydney, Australia | Doctoral funding / recognition | UT Austin faculty profile |
| 1990-1992 | Member, Australian Meteorological & Oceanic Society | Australia | Professional engagement | UT Austin faculty profile |
| 1991 | NCAR Exchange Visiting Research Scholarship | Boulder, Colorado | International research collaboration | UT Austin faculty profile |
| 1992 | Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences, Macquarie University | Sydney, Australia | Doctoral completion | UT Austin faculty profile |
| 1990s | Postdoc and research faculty, University of Arizona | Tucson, Arizona | Postdoctoral training and early career | UT Austin faculty profile |
| 2001 | Joins UT Austin faculty, Department of Geological Sciences | Austin, Texas | Faculty appointment | UT Austin faculty profile |
| 2001 | UT-Austin Representative, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) | Austin, Texas | Professional leadership | UT Austin faculty profile |
| 2007 | Joseph C. Walter Jr. Excellence Award (most prestigious internal award in Jackson School) | Austin, Texas | Major recognition | UT Austin faculty profile |
| 2008 | NCAR 2008 CCSM Distinguished Achievement Award (shared) | Boulder, Colorado | Research impact validation | UT Austin faculty profile |
| 2008-2013 | Co-Chair of NCAR Community Climate System Model Land Working Group | Boulder, Colorado | Leadership in climate modeling community | UT Austin faculty profile |
| 2011 | Noah-MP model published (Part 1 and Part 2 papers) | Austin, Texas | Major research innovation | Research publications |
| 2012-2020 | Adjunct Professor, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences | Beijing, China | International collaboration | UT Austin faculty profile |
| 2017 | Hurricane Harvey: Models prove critical for forecasting extreme rainfall and flooding | Houston/Austin, Texas | Real-world impact / societal benefit | UT Austin faculty profile |
| 2020s | Appointed John A. and Katherine G. Jackson Chair in Earth System Sciences | Austin, Texas | Endowed chair / major recognition | UT Austin faculty profile |
| 2020s | Director, Center for Integrated Earth System Science | Austin, Texas | Leadership position | UT Austin faculty profile |
| 2025 | Elected AGU Fellow for exemplary leadership and outstanding scientific achievements | Austin, Texas | Career pinnacle / highest honor | AGU announcement, UT news |
