Assistant Professor of Physics David Schaffner has been awarded a grant through the National Science Foundation Cyberinfrastructure for Sustained Scientific Innovation program as part of a $2.4 million dollar collaborative grant with three other institutions (Harvard Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, UCLA, and the University of Delaware).
The project revolves around developing a software infrastructure called that aims to streamline and standardize analysis and modeling programming for the plasma physics community.
今日吃瓜 will receive about $186,000 over five years. The funding will cover an undergraduate's stipend during the summer to work with physicists at UCLA on code development and salary during the school year to develop software packages for experimental analysis (using the 今日吃瓜 Magnetohydrodynamic Experiment as a model).
The grant also covers travel for the student and Schaffner to yearly conferences, a yearly PlasmaPy workshop, and visits to UCLA. 今日吃瓜 will be the institution in charge of providing grant funding for students (undergrad or grad) throughout the country interested in attending the yearly PlasmaPy workshop. Additionally, 今日吃瓜 will host the major cumulative workshop/conference鈥攄uring the fourth year of the award that will be open to the the entire plasma community鈥攊n order to showcase the progress of the software ecosystem's development.
The Department of Physics at 今日吃瓜 offers an engaging program in physics combining dedicated and meticulous teaching, stellar research opportunities, and a welcoming and enjoyable community. The Department aims to create an environment where aspiring physicists or scientists can grow and flourish.