FDSS Track 2: Ionospheric Space Weather Faculty Line at the University of Massachusetts Lowell

The Faculty Development in geoSpace Science (FDSS) opportunity aims to integrate geospace science--to includes solar and space physics and space weather research--into natural sciences, engineering or related departments at U.S. institutions of higher education and stimulate the development of undergraduate or graduate programs or curricula capable of training the next generation of leaders in geospace science. University of Massachusetts Lowell, a minority serving institution, will create an FDSS tenure-track position in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in collaboration with the departments of Physics and Environment, Earth and Atmospheric Science.

The FDSS research focus is space weather, especially ionospheric effects on communication and navigation technologies. The FDSS hire will develop space weather courses and create interdisciplinary bridges between the PhD programs in aerospace science and aerospace engineering. They will broadening participation in STEM by engaging with programs for first-generation college students and underrepresented engineering freshmen.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.