Hi, I'm Manhal Alhilali,

About Me

I'm a computational atmospheric scientist with an engineering background, specializing in HPCI-scale numerical cloud modeling-especially LES with the Super-Droplet Method (SDM)-to improve severe-weather prediction and climate-relevant understanding of cloud processes. I'm a Specially Appointed Assistant Professor at the University of Hyogo in the Shima Research Group, contributing to a Moonshot project goal 8 focused on advancing severe-weather control. I primarily run SDM-LES on Fugaku, typically executing 24+ hour CPU jobs that scale to tens of thousands of nodes, while using systems like GRAND, SQUID, and Rokko for development and testing. I've worked with regional-scale domains, grid spacing down to 20 m, over 300 super-droplets per cell, balancing microphysical fidelity, computational throughput, and operational readiness. I also explore data-driven/AI-assisted approaches to accelerate workflows and model development.

Lab: Shima Research Group (University of Hyogo)

Outside the lab: drip coffee (My current favorite is Yemen Ghalib Anaerobic, and I've tested 100+ varieties), technology, cultural traditions, and photography.

Education & Experience

For more information, have a look at my curriculum vitae .

  • University of Hyogo May 2023 - Present
    Specially Appointed Assistant Professor
    Moonshot Goal 8 Super-Droplet Method Numerical Cloud Modeling Severe Weather Prediction High-Performance Computing Remote Sensing
  • Omar Al-Mukhtar University Feb 2022 - Apr 2023
    Senior Lecturer
    Database Systems Computer Networks IoT Machine Learning Quality Assurance
  • Botho University Nov 2022 - Mar 2023
    Adjunct Lecturer (Part-time, Remote)
    Infrastructure Management Advanced Database Systems Online Teaching
  • Universiti Kuala Lumpur Sep 2019 - Sep 2021
    Contract Researcher (Postdoctoral)
    Multicast Satellite Systems 5G Communications Research Grant Course Leadership
  • Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Aug 2015 - Jul 2019
    Part-time Researcher
    Ka-band SatCom ESA Collaboration Tropical Propagation
  • Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Jun 2016 - Nov 2017
    Part-time Research Assistant
    mmWave for 5G DSD Measurements HICoE Research Grant
  • Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Sep 2014 - Oct 2018
    Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering
    Rain Attenuation Tropical Meteorology Wireless Communication
  • Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Sep 2012 - Aug 2014
    M.Eng. in Electrical Engineering
    Ultra Wide-Band Antenna On-Body Communication Biomedical Application
  • Omar Al-Mukhtar University Sep 2006 - Aug 2010
    B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering
    Telecommunications Signal Processing

Selected Publications & Conferences

Cumulonimbus Associated with "Guerrilla Heavy Rain" under Varying Background Aerosol Loading: Super-Droplet Method Simulations

7th International Workshop on Nonhydrostatic Models (NHM-WS 2025)

Morioka, Japan | November 2025

Manhal Alhilali, Yutaro Nirasawa, Shin-ichiro Shima, Wojciech W. Grabowski

Evaluating Cloud Seeding Effectiveness in Convective Clouds with the Advanced Super-Droplet Method

11th WMO Scientific Conference on Weather Modification

Pune, India | November 2025

Manhal Alhilali, Anu Gupta, Shin-ichiro Shima, Seiya Nishizawa, Soumya Samanta, Sachin Patade, Neelam Malap, Kulkarni Gayatri, Thara Prabhakaran

Advancing the Super-Droplet Method for Severe Convective Clouds: Evaluating Cloud Seeding under Varying Aerosol Conditions

IAMAS-IACS-IAPSO Joint Assembly 2025

Busan, South Korea | July 2025

Manhal Alhilali, Shin-ichiro Shima, Seiya Nishizawa, Soumya Samanta, Sachin Patade, Neelam Malap, Kulkarni Gayatri, Thara Prabhakaran

Development and Comparative Study of the Super-Droplet Method for Analyzing Microphysical Characteristics of Deep Convective Clouds During the Indian Summer Monsoon

International Conference on Clouds and Precipitation

Jeju, South Korea | July 2024

Manhal Alhilali, Shin-ichiro Shima, Soumya Samanta, Thara Prabhakaran

Evaluation of the Super-Droplet Method for Enhanced Cloud Microphysics Simulations of Deep Convective Clouds

104th AMS Annual Meeting

Baltimore, USA | January 2024

Manhal Alhilali, Shin-ichiro Shima, Soumya Samanta, Thara Prabhakaran

Unraveling the Microphysics of Isolated Cumulonimbus Clouds: Advances in Simulation with the Super-Droplet Method (SDM)

6th International Workshop on Nonhydrostatic Models (NHM-WS 2023)

Sapporo, Japan | August 2023

Manhal Alhilali, Shin-ichiro Shima, Soumya Samanta, Thara Prabhakaran

Projects

HPCI Fugaku General Access Project

From Validation to Application: Advancing the Super-Droplet Method and Evaluating Weather Intervention Strategies for Extreme Rainfall Controllability in Japan

FY26 (Period-A)

Project Page
Project ID hp260140 Fugaku 4,325,000 node hours Super-Droplet Method

HPCI Fugaku General Access Project

Verification of Scale-SDM outputs and examination of weather intervention effects on heavy rainfall in Japan

FY25 (Period-A)

Project Page
Project ID hp250099 Fugaku 3,382,500 node hours Scale-SDM

MS8 T2 Development of a Lagrangian particle-based scheme of cloud microphysics

Highly accurate simulation of cumulonimbus clouds and precipitation by properly representing the diverse morphologies of ice particles and water droplets

FY23 - FY24

Project Page
Scale-SDM Fortran Fugaku Tropical

MS8 R&D Project - Heavy Rainfall Control for Living Together with Isolated-Convective Rainstorms and Line-Shaped Rainbands

MS8 R&D initiative focused on severe convective rainfall control.

Subproject: Development of Lagrangian Particle-Based Cloud Microphysics Scheme Using the Super-Droplet Method

FY25 -

Project Page
Super-Droplet Method Cloud Microphysics Lagrangian

Contact

Professional and academic profiles