Research Team
Research Group Lead
David Malaspina: Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder (CU). Researcher at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP).
Research. Publications. Teaching. Stuff I do for fun. My CV.
Current Postdocs
Harriet George (2023 – Present):
– Research Topics: Solar wind interaction with Venus, VLF wave activity in Earth’s radiation belts
Current Graduate Students
Benjamin Short (2021-present):
– Research Topic: Quiescent regions in the near-Sun solar wind and their implications for solar wind evolution.
– Awarded: John T. Gosling Fellowship
Peter Tatum (2022-present):
– Research Topics: Sounding rocket instrument development, Kinetic Alfvén waves in the near-Sun solar wind with Parker Solar Probe data
Current Undergraduate Students
Sydney Furman (2021-present):
– Research Topic: Current sheets in the near Sun solar wind
– Awarded: CU Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) grant
Adel Al’Ghazwi (2021-present):
– Research Topic: Magnetic signatures of hypervelocity dust impacts on spacecraft
– Awarded: CU Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) grant
Alexandru Toma (2022-present):
– Research Topic: Interplanetary dust variability in the inner heliosphere
Shivank Chadda (2021-present):
– Research Topic: Long-duration variation of interstellar dust flux through the inner heliosphere
– Awarded: CU STEM-Routes research grant
– Awarded: LASP Charles A. Barth scholarship
Past Research Team Members
Past Postdocs
Xiangning Chu (2018-2020):
– Research topics: Plasma waves at boundaries in the inner magnetosphere, including dipolarization fronts. Driving of the STEVE auroral form. Machine learning applied to inner magnetospheric processes.
– Xiangning’s publications via NASA/ADS
– Post-group position: Research Scientist at CU/LASP
Daniel Vech (2020-2022):
– Research Topic: Wave-particle interactions in the near-Sun solar wind. Frequency-varying ion acoustic waves near the Earth’s bow shock. Statistical studies of ion-scale plasma waves in the near-Sun solar wind.
– Daniel’s publications via NASA/ADS
– Post-group position: Data Scientist at SFL Scientific – AI Consulting
Past Undergraduate Students
Eleanor Van Etten (2021):
– Research Topic: Machine learning identification of lightning generated whistler mode waves in Earth’s magnetosphere
Anna Pusack (2020-2021, Undergraduate Researcher) (2021-2022, Professional Researcher):
– Research Topic: Interplanetary dust populations detected by Parker Solar Probe
– Anna’s publications via NASA ADS
– Press releases on Anna’s publication (CU, Princeton, NASA/APL)
– Post-group position: Graduate Student at University of California, Berkeley
Rhiannon Larsen (2019, Summer REU):
– Research topic: Interplanetary dust variation in the near-Sun solar wind
– Rhiannon’s AGU presentation!
– Post-group position: Engineering/Physics student at Colorado School of Mines
Shaniya Jarrett (2017, Summer REU):
– Research Topic: Currents and Waves in Earth’s Magnetic Field
– Post-group position: Satellite Test Engineer at General Atomics
Veronica Dike (2016, Summer REU):
– Research Topic: The Influence of Plasmapause Location on Radiation Belt Particle Populations
– Post-group position: Graduate Student at UCLA Astronomy & Astrophysics program
Cory Boule (2015, Summer REU):
– Research Topic: Variation of Whistler-mode Chorus Waves with Solar Wind Driving Conditions
– Post-group position: Cardinal Financial Company
Fredrick Thayer (2014-2015, Undergraduate Researcher):
– Research Topic: Re-interpretation of STEREO dust data based on laboratory dust accelerator testing
– Ted’s publication!
– Post-group position: Apollo Flight Labs, developing Jet-Powered Flying Motorcycle
Stephanie Wood (2013, Summer REU):
– Research Topic: Hypervelocity dust impacts on the Wind spacecraft
– Steph’s publication!
– Post-group position: Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
Student Engineering Teams
CU Aerospace Engineering Sciences graduate projects class (2018 – 2019) Rapid Active Plasma Sounder Development
CU Aerospace Engineering Sciences graduate projects class (2017 – 2018) Rapid Active Plasma Sounder Development
