People

• Combines data analysis and theory in study of space plasmas of the magnetospheres of the outer planets. Involved in NASA missions to planetary objects including Voyager, Galileo, Deep Space 1, New Horizons and Juno.
• Professional Research Page

Bob Ergun

• Studies space plasmas at Earth, Mars and Jupiter, spanning theory to flight hardware. Involved in NASA missions: FAST, THEMIS, STEREO, Juno, MAVEN, MMS and Solar Probe Plus.

David Brain

• Studies plasma interactions with unmagnetized planets.
• Professional Research Page

Nick Schneider

• Studies Io’s neutral clouds and plasma torus – and Mars’ atmosphere
• Professional Research Page

Rob Wilson

• Does large scale data analysis of thermal plasma data from a variety of space missions and instruments in the magnetospheres of Jupiter and Saturn in order to better understand the global dynamics of outer planetary magnetospheres.

Vincent Dols

• Researches the interaction of magnetospheric plasma with the atmosphere of Io and the extensive consequences of this interaction.

Jian-Zhao Wang

• Studies the structure and dynamics of Jupiter’s plasma disk with Juno-JADE ion data.

Alumni

• Peter Delamere, Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
• Makenzie Lystrup, Goddard Space Flight Center
• Sebastien Hess, French Aerospace Lab ONERA
• Tim Cassidy, SAIC
• Frank Crary

Past PhD Students

Eddie Nerney (2022)

• Thesis title: 3D Emission & Physical Chemistry Simulations of the Io Plasma Torus
• Investigated the physics and chemistry of the Io plasma torus and compared with data.

Drake Ranquist (2020)

• Thesis title: Large Scale Structure of Jupiter’s Magnetosphere and Magnetosheath
• Investigated the Jovian magnetosheath and oblateness of Jupiter.
• Now employed at Dynetics

Mariel Meier (2012) (nee Desroche)

• Thesis title: Conditions at the Magnetopauses of Jupiter and Saturn and Implications for the Solar Wind Interaction
• Modeled the interaction of the solar wind with Jupiter’s magnetosphere via reconnection and viscous processes.
• Now on the faculty at Oglethorpe University 

Bobby Fleshman (2012)

• Thesis title: Hot Electrons and Radial Diffusion in Saturn’s Inner Magetosphere: Modeling the Effects on Ion Chemistry
• Modeled the evolution of material emitted from Enceladus geysers as it interacts with a co-existing population of plasma to identify the role of the Enceladus geysers and hot electrons within Saturn’s inner magnetosphere.
• Now running McFleshman’s Brewery

Licia Ray (2010)

• Thesis title: The Impact of Field-Aligned Potentials on Jupiter’s Auroral Emission.
• Studied the magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling systems at Jupiter and Saturn with emphasis on reconciling auroral observations with in-situ measurements of the magnetospheres.
• Now on the faculty at Lancaster University, UK

Andrew Steffl (2005)

• Thesis title: The Io Plasma Torus During the Cassini Encounter with Jupiter: Temporal, Radial and Azimuthal Variations.
• Studied Cassini UVIS observations of the Io plasma torus, which he compared with a physical chemistry model.

Matt Burger (2003)

• Thesis title: Io’s Neutral Clouds: From the Atmosphere to the Plasma Torus
• Studied observations and numerical modeling of sodium and oxygen neutrals in Io’s exosphere and extensive neutral clouds.
• Now working at Space Telescope Science Institute

Frank Crary (1998)

• Thesis title: Io’s Interaction with the Jovian Magnetosphere: Models of Particle Acceleration and Scattering.

Martin Taylor (1996)

• Thesis title: Modeling emissions from the Io plasma torus.

Jody Wilson (1996)

• Thesis title: Io’s Fast sodium Clouds and the Escape of Io’s Ionosphere.
• Now at the University of New Hampshire

Sarah Gibson (1995)

• Thesis title: The Large-Scale Structure of the Solar Minimum Corona.
• Now at High Altitude Observatory