On December 23, 2013, Clark was selected by President Barack Obama for the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE),[3] which was awarded at a White House ceremony on April 15, 2014.

Clark spends the majority of his time in the lab working with complex computer models and data to ensure forecasters have the best tools available to make accurate severe weather forecasts. His research on individual, small-scale storm prediction has helped forecasters provide severe weather outlooks to the public one to three days in advance on individual storms in their area. Ultimately, this research has helped increase public awareness to severe weather events like tornadoes and thunderstorms.

Although Clark’s research has national benefits to public safety, he also tries to focus on impacts he can make right at home and in his scientific community by mentoring college students and serving as editor for scientific journals.