Welcome to the
Plasmadynamics & Electric Propulsion Laboratory
The PEPL mission
- Make electric propulsion (EP) devices more efficient and of better performance
- Understand spacecraft integration issues that could impede the widespread use of these devices on scientific, commercial, and military spacecraft
- Identify non-propulsion applications of EP systems
News
Candidacy
boxcar-admin
May 22, 2017
Congratulations to Zach Brown, Shad Hepner, and Ben Wachs on successfully becoming PhD candidates. And…
Welcome
boxcar-admin
April 22, 2017
Congratulations to Shad Hepner and Ben Wachs on being awarded the NASA Space Technology Research…
Welcome
boxcar-admin
January 22, 2017
Welcome to Dr. Ben Jorns as he joins the Aerospace Engineering Department Faculty and PEPL.
Defense
boxcar-admin
July 22, 2016
Congratulations to Kimberly Trent on successfully defending her dissertation and obtaining a PhD in Applied…
Journal of Electric Propulsion Publication
Declan Brick
March 28, 2025
Check out our recent paper on the characterization of our large 10 W electrospray thruster.
Congratulations to Eric Viges !
Declan Brick
March 20, 2025
Congratulations to Eric Viges on being promoted to Lead Engineer!
Congratulations to Dr. Whittaker!
Declan Brick
March 17, 2025
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Collin Whittaker on successfully defending his thesis on robust…
Congratulations to Dr. Roberts!
Will Hurley
March 1, 2025
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Parker Roberts on successfully defending his thesis on investigating…
Applied Physics Letters publication
Declan Brick
February 19, 2025
We have a new article out in Applied Physics Letters about turbulence in hollow cathodes!
2025 AIAA SciTech Forum and Exposition
Declan Brick
January 14, 2025
Check out our papers from the 2025 SciTech conference: Zoppi, G., Gill, T.M., Sercel, C.L.,…
Journal of Propulsion and Power Publication
Declan Brick
December 10, 2024
Check out our recent work in characterizing electrospray thrusters!
MIPSE Graduate Symposium Best Presentation Awards
Declan Brick
December 10, 2024
Congratulations to PhD Candidates Grace Zoppi and Braden Oh for winning best presentation awards at…
Candidacy
Will Hurley
December 9, 2024
Please join us in congratulating Ari Eckaus, Braden Oh, and Miron Liu on successfully passing…
Pre-Defense
Declan Brick
October 29, 2024
Please join us in congratulating Grace Zoppi on successfully passing her preliminary defense.
Journal of Electric Propulsion Publication
Declan Brick
September 30, 2024
Check out our recent paper on applying Bayesian analysis for improved modeling of Hall thrusters.
PEPL student on DEI panel for Michigan aerospace engineering
Will Hurley
September 25, 2024
Grace Zoppi, a 3rd year PhD student at PEPL, participated on a panel about the…
Pre-Defense
Will Hurley
September 25, 2024
Please join us in congratulating Declan Brick on successfully passing his preliminary defense.
Recent Physics of Plasmas Article named Editor’s Pick
Will Hurley
August 19, 2024
Our recent article about azimuthal ion dynamics near the cathode has been chosen as editors…
Journal of Applied Physics Publications Named as Editor’s Picks
Declan Brick
August 5, 2024
Check out our two recent papers on discharge current oscillations in Hall thrusters! Both received…
PSST Publication
Will Hurley
July 22, 2024
Check out our recent work on Hall thruster mass utilization trends on xenon and krypton!
38th International Electric Propulsion Conference
Declan Brick
July 9, 2024
Check out our papers from the 2024 IEPC: Roberts, P.J., Chaplin, V.H., and Jorns, B.A., “Time-Resolved…
Best Paper at 2024 JANNAF Meeting
Declan Brick
May 13, 2024
Congratulations to William Hurley for winning the best student paper at the 71st JANNAF conference.
Journal of Propulsion and Power Publication
Declan Brick
May 2, 2024
Check out our recent work in high-current density Hall thrusters!
NSTGRO Fellowship
Declan Brick
April 9, 2024
Congrats to Miron Liu for receiving the Nasa Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunity (NSTGRO) fellowship!
NSTGRO Fellowship
Declan Brick
April 9, 2024
Congrats to Grace Zoppi for receiving the Nasa Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunity (NSTGRO) fellowship!
Physical Review Paper
Declan Brick
March 28, 2024
Check out our new paper on laser measurements of cross field transport in low temperature…
Congratulations to Dr. Gill!
Will Hurley
March 10, 2024
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Tate Gill on successfully defending his thesis.
Plasma Sources Science and Technology Paper
Declan Brick
February 13, 2024
Check out our new paper on efficiency loss modes in Rotating Magnetic Field thrusters.
Best Paper at 2023 AIAA SciTech Forum and Exposition
Will Hurley
January 30, 2024
Congratulations to Leanne Su, Tate Gill, Parker Roberts, William Hurley, Thomas Marks, Chris Sercel, Madison…
2024 AIAA SciTech Forum and Exposition
Declan Brick
January 30, 2024
Check out our papers from the 2024 SciTech conference: Allen, Madison G., Marks, Thomas A.,…
Congratulations to Dr. Byrne!
Will Hurley
January 28, 2024
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Matt Byrne on successfully defending his thesis.
Physical Review Paper
Declan Brick
December 19, 2023
Check out our recent paper on the relationship of Hall thruster instabilities and anomalous transport.
Congratulations to Dr. Sercel!
Will Hurley
December 14, 2023
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Chris Sercel on successfully defending his thesis.
14th MIPSE Graduate Symposium
Declan Brick
November 17, 2023
PEPL presented several posters at the MIPSE symposium and PhD Candidate Declan Brick won an…
ASCEND Paper
Will Hurley
November 13, 2023
Check out our recent paper on missions enabled by low specific mass EP.
Journal of Applied Physics Paper
Will Hurley
October 17, 2023
We have a new paper out in the Journal of Applied Physics on closure models…
Plasma Sources Science and Technology Paper
Will Hurley
October 8, 2023
Check out our newly published article "Inductive probe measurements in a rotating magnetic field thruster".…
Congratulations to Dr. Marks!
Will Hurley
September 11, 2023
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Thomas Marks on successfully defending his thesis: "Modeling anomalous…
Congratulations to Dr. Su!
Thomas Marks
September 4, 2023
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Leanne Su on successfully defending her thesis: "Performance of…
Pre-Defense
Will Hurley
August 31, 2023
Please join us in congratulating Madison Allen on passing the research component of her preliminary…
Paper featured on cover of Journal of Applied Physics
Will Hurley
August 26, 2023
Congratulations to Collin Whittaker and Benjamin Jorns for having their recent article "Modeling multi-site emission…
Farewell and congratulations to Dr. Gallimore!
Will Hurley
August 23, 2023
Congratulations to Lab Director and Founder Prof. Alec Gallimore on taking a new position as…
Congratulations to Dr. Brown!
Will Hurley
August 1, 2023
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Zachariah Brown on successfully defending his thesis: "Small-Scale Instability…
PEPL Volunteers at Xplore Workshop
Will Hurley
July 21, 2023
The PEPL lab volunteered to help teach 4th-7th graders about entry, decent and landing on…
JOSS Paper
Thomas Marks
July 6, 2023
We have a new paper out in the Journal of Open Source Software on our…
Pre-defense
Thomas Marks
July 6, 2023
Please join us in congratulating Will Hurley for passing his pre-defense!
LVTF renamed in honor of Dean Gallimore
Will Hurley
June 8, 2023
Dean Alec Gallimore, founder of the Plasmadynamics and Electric Propulsion Laboratory, will be leaving the…
Candidacy
Will Hurley
May 19, 2023
Please join us in congratulating Declan Brick and Grace Zoppi for passing their preliminary exams…
Plasma Sources Science and Technology Paper
Thomas Marks
April 28, 2023
Check out our new article on modeling anomalous transport in Hall thrusters in PSST!
NSTGRO Fellowship
Will Hurley
April 13, 2023
Congrats to William Hurley for receiving the Nasa Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunity (NSTGRO) fellowship!
Physical Review Letters Paper
Will Hurley
March 14, 2023
PhD candidate Zachariah Brown and Lab co-director Dr. Benjamin Jorns' article "Growth and Saturation of…
News article
Will Hurley
March 4, 2023
Check out this news article written by lab P.I. Benjamin Jorns in Aviation week.
2023 AIAA SciTech Forum and Exposition
Will Hurley
February 10, 2023
We had a number of papers at the 2023 AIAA SciTech Forum and Exposition: Leanne…
News article
Thomas Marks
January 30, 2023
Check out this news article about our recent work testing high power density Hall thrusters
Best Paper at AIAA SciTech 2022
Will Hurley
January 22, 2023
Congratulations to Parker Roberts, Vernon Chaplin, and Benjamin Jorns for winning best paper in Electric…
Candidacy
Will Hurley
December 1, 2022
Please join us in congratulating Madison Allen for passing her preliminary exams and advancing to…
Plasma Sources Science and Technology Paper
Will Hurley
December 1, 2022
Check out lab co-director Benjamin Jorns recent article "Foundations of Plasma as Ion Sources" published…
Journal of Applied Physics Paper
Will Hurley
September 20, 2022
Lab co-director Dr. Benjamin Jorns' article "Physics of Electric Propulsion" was recently published in the…
Pitch Day Videos 2022
Thomas Marks
September 9, 2022
We've put together several short, informative, and often entertaining videos about our research topics for…
Editor’s Pick Paper in Review of Scientific Instruments
Will Hurley
August 15, 2022
Dr. Ben Wachs' recent journal article on a thrust stand and power coupler for microwaved…
Candidacy
Will Hurley
August 15, 2022
Congrats to Sal Baldinucci for passing his preliminary exams and advancing to candidacy!
2022 International Electric Propulsion Conference
Will Hurley
July 7, 2022
We had a number of papers at the 37th annual International Electric Propulsion Conference: Madison…
Prof. Benjamin Jorns receives Department of Energy Early Career Award
Will Hurley
June 27, 2022
Congratulations to lab co-director Benjamin Jorns on receiving the Department of Energy Early Career Award.…
Dean Alec Gallimore wins Stuhlinger Medal of Outstanding Achievement in Electric Propulsion.
Will Hurley
June 27, 2022
Congratulations to lab director Alec Gallimore for winning the Stuhlinger medal of outstanding achievement in…
Tenure
Thomas Marks
May 27, 2022
Congratulations to lab co-director Benjamin Jorns on his promotion to the rank of Associate Professor…
Candidacy
Thomas Marks
May 19, 2022
Congrats to William Hurley for passing his preliminary exams and advancing to candidacy!
Congratulations to Dr Wachs!
Will Hurley
May 17, 2022
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Benjamin Wachs for defending his dissertation!
Amelia Earhart Award
Will Hurley
May 5, 2022
Congratulations to Leanne Su for winning the Zonta International Amelia Earhart Award! For more information…
NSTGRO
Thomas Marks
April 19, 2022
Congrats to Madison Allen for receiving the Nasa Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunity (NSTGRO) fellowship!
NSF Fellowship
Thomas Marks
April 19, 2022
Congrats to Sophia Bergmann for receiving the National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship!
Congratulations to Dr. Woods!
Will Hurley
February 13, 2022
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Josh Woods for successfully defending his dissertation!
2022 AIAA SciTech Forum
Will Hurley
January 25, 2022
We had a number of papers at this year's AIAA SciTech Forum Tate M. Gill,…
AIAA Paper
Thomas Marks
December 22, 2021
Check out our recent article on wire erosion in Hall thruster plumes in the AIAA…
Congratulations to Dr Hepner!
Thomas Marks
December 22, 2021
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Shadrach Hepner for defending his dissertation!
PEPL accepting new doctoral students for Fall 2022!
Thomas Marks
November 5, 2021
PEPL is looking for new doctoral candidates for the Fall 2022. Students with backgrounds…
Applied Physics Paper
Thomas Marks
November 1, 2021
We have a new paper about Krypton Hall thrusters in the Journal of Applied Physics
Best Paper at AIAA 2021
Thomas Marks
October 28, 2021
Congratulations to Chris Sercel, Tate Gill, Joshua Woods, and Benjamin Jorns for winning Electric Propulsion…
GEC Student poster award
Thomas Marks
October 8, 2021
Congratulations to Leanne Su for winning a Student Poster Award at the 2021 Gaseous Electronics…
Applied Physics Paper
Thomas Marks
October 7, 2021
Check out our recent article in the Journal of Applied Physics special issue on the…
2021 AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum
Thomas Marks
August 31, 2021
We had a number of papers at this year's AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum Zachariah…
AIAA Technical Note
Thomas Marks
August 10, 2021
We just put out a technical note about rotating instabilities in hollow cathode plumes. Check…
AIAA 2020 Best Paper Award
Thomas Marks
August 5, 2021
Congratulations to Prof. Benjamin Jorns, PEPL alumnus, Dr. Ethan Dale, and PEPL doctoral candidate, Thomas…
JPP Publication
Thomas Marks
August 5, 2021
We have another publication out about the X3 nested Hall thruster!
JPP Publication
Thomas Marks
July 21, 2021
Check out our new publication on the X3 Nested Hall thruster in the Journal of Propulsion…
University of Michigan Space Symposium
Thomas Marks
June 12, 2021
Check out the talk Joshua Woods and Leanne Su gave for the UM Space Symposium…
Preliminary exams
Thomas Marks
May 17, 2021
Congratulations to Parker John Roberts for passing his preliminary examinations!
Collin B. Whittaker wins NSTGRO fellowship
Thomas Marks
April 12, 2021
Congratulations to PhD Candidate Collin B. Whittaker for receiving a 2021 NASA Space Technology Graduate…
Prof. Benjamin Jorns wins AIAA Sperry Award
Thomas Marks
March 24, 2021
Laboratory co-director, Prof. Ben Jorns has received the AIAA Lawrence Sperry Award (https://www.aiaa.org/get-involved/honors-awards/awards/award/award-lawrence-sperry-award ). This AIAA…
Leanne Su gives talk at Women in Science Day
Thomas Marks
February 12, 2021
Our own PhD candidate Leanne Su recently gave a talk at Pioneer High School about…
PSST Publication
Thomas Marks
January 14, 2021
Check out our new publication on facility effects modeling in Hall thrusters in Plasma Sources…
Physics of Plasmas Publication
Thomas Marks
December 16, 2020
Professor Benjamin Jorns contributed to a review on challenges in ExB discharge technology.
Prof. Benjamin Jorns named AIAA Associate Fellow
Thomas Marks
October 29, 2020
Congratulations to laboratory co-director, Prof. Benjamin Jorns, on being elected to the class of 2021…
PSST Publication Part II
Thomas Marks
October 22, 2020
Check out part II of our article on anomalous transport in hollow cathodes!
PSST Publication
Thomas Marks
October 21, 2020
Check out our new PSST article on non-classical transport in hollow cathodes!
2020 AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum
Thomas Marks
August 31, 2020
We had a number of papers at this year's AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum Benjamin…
MDPI Publication
Thomas Marks
August 26, 2020
We just published a new paper about future electric propulsion research!
MDPI Publication
Thomas Marks
August 7, 2020
PhD. Candidate Joshua Woods and Professor Ben Jorns contributed to a recent review paper on…
AIAA Propulsion and Power Publication
Thomas Marks
July 13, 2020
We have a new article about the effects of low cathode flow fraction on nested…
Dean Alec Gallimore receives AIAA Wyld Propulsion Award
Thomas Marks
July 13, 2020
Dean Alec Gallimore has received the prestigious AIAA Wyld award
Applied Physics Letters publication
Thomas Marks
July 2, 2020
We have a new article out in Applied Physics Letters about instabilities in magnetic nozzles!
Best food – Zach Brown
Thomas Marks
June 29, 2020
For our twelfth lockdown lab meeting, we showed off our favorite snacks and foods. Zach's…
Best art – Ethan Dale
Thomas Marks
June 29, 2020
Ethan's postmodern cat portrait was acclaimed our lab's "Best Art" in week 11 of COVID…
Best instrument — Tate Gill
Thomas Marks
June 29, 2020
Tate's homemade electric guitar (not pictured) won him best musical instrument in our 10th remote…
AIAA Electric propulsion best paper award
Thomas Marks
June 12, 2020
Congratulations to Prof. Ben Jorns and PEPL Alumnus Dr. Scott Hall who are co-authors on…
Best collection – Thomas Marks
Thomas Marks
June 7, 2020
Our tenth lockdown lab meeting had us showing off our collections. Thomas won with his…
Casual friday – Matt Byrne
Thomas Marks
June 7, 2020
In our ninth quarantine lab meeting, we put on our best most casual friday looks.…
Least favorite book – Chris Sercel
Thomas Marks
May 27, 2020
Our eighth quarantine lab meeting had us sharing our least favorite books. Chris Sercel's impassioned…
Preliminary examinations
Thomas Marks
May 27, 2020
Congrats to Collin Whittaker and Tate Gill for successfully passing their preliminary exams and becoming…
Best craft – Ethan Dale!
Thomas Marks
May 19, 2020
Our seventh quarantine lab meeting had Ethan Dale winning "Best Craft" with his custom made…
Best pitch – Leanne Su
Thomas Marks
May 11, 2020
In our sixth remote lab meeting, we presented "pitches" for our research work. Leanne Su,…
Best trinket – Pete Dahl
Thomas Marks
May 1, 2020
In our fifth remote lab meeting, Pete Dahl won Best Trinket with his Apollo 11…
Favorite book – Prof. Benjamin Jorns!
Thomas Marks
April 24, 2020
In our fourth lockdown lab meeting, we all shared our favorite books. Professor Ben Jorns's…
Best outfit – Tate Gill!
Thomas Marks
April 17, 2020
Our third lockdown lab meeting had Tate Gill winning "Best outfit" with his Apollo-Era NASA…
Crazy mug day
Thomas Marks
April 14, 2020
More fun during the lockdown: crazy mug/drinking vessel day during our weekly lab meeting. Thomas…
Silly hat day in the lab
Thomas Marks
April 6, 2020
Having some fun with virtual lab meeting: silly hat day. Our winner for best hat,…
Featured article in Physics of Plasmas
Thomas Marks
February 19, 2020
Our newest Physics of Plasmas article on non-classical electron transport in a cathode plume was…
PSST Publication
Thomas Marks
February 12, 2020
Check out our new PSST article on background pressure effects on magnetic nozzles!
Defense
Ethan Dale
January 9, 2020
Congratulations to Marcel Georgin on successfully defending his dissertation!
Defense
Ethan Dale
November 20, 2019
Congratulations to Ethan Dale on successfully defending his dissertation!
PoP Publication
Ethan Dale
November 10, 2019
Check out our new Editor's Pick PoP article on small wavelength fluctuations in Hall thrusters!
PSST Publication
Ethan Dale
October 31, 2019
Check out our new PSST article on magnetic nozzle efficiency!
NASA Visit
Ethan Dale
October 27, 2019
NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine talked with PEPL students as part of a tour of the…
PSST Publication
Ethan Dale
October 21, 2019
Check out our new PSST article on near-wall ion measurements in shielded Hall thrusters!
Defense
Ethan Dale
September 28, 2019
Congratulations to Sarah Cusson on successfully defending her dissertation!
IEPC 2019
Ethan Dale
September 24, 2019
Check out our new publications from the 36th International Electric Propulsion Conference in Vienna, Austria.
PoP Publication
Ethan Dale
August 26, 2019
Check out our new article recently published in Physics of Plasmas!
P&E 2019
Ethan Dale
August 25, 2019
Check out our new publications from the AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum in Indianapolis.
100-hour Test
Ethan Dale
July 28, 2019
PEPL in collaboration with Lockheed Martin successfully completed a continuous 100 h test on PEPL’s…
Candidacy
Ethan Dale
June 3, 2019
Congratulations to Leanne Su, Chris Sercel, and Thomas Marks on successfully becoming PhD candidates!
White Paper
Ethan Dale
March 26, 2019
Check out this white paper, “Plasma Propulsion Research in Academia” submitted by 27 members of…
Defense
Ethan Dale
March 18, 2019
Congratulations to Tim Collard on successfully defending his dissertation and obtaining a PhD in aerospace…
NAE
Ethan Dale
February 7, 2019
Congratulations to laboratory director and Dean of Engineering Alec Gallimore for being elected to the…
PoP Publications
Ethan Dale
February 5, 2019
Two articles were recently published in Physics of Plasmas.
MAISE
Ethan Dale
September 24, 2018
Congratulations to MAISE for a successful demonstration of their facility!
Welcome
Ethan Dale
September 12, 2018
Welcome to new Aerospace Engineering students Leanne Su and Chris Sercel as they join PEPL.
54th JPC
Ethan Dale
July 12, 2018
Check out our new publications from the 54thd AIAA/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Candidacy
Ethan Dale
May 28, 2018
Congratulations to Josh Woods on successfully becoming a PhD candidate!
JAP Publication
Ben Jorns
April 4, 2018
Our article "On channel interactions in Nested Hall thrusters" was recently published in the Journal…
Defense
Ethan Dale
November 27, 2017
Congratulations to Scott Hall on successfully defending his dissertation and obtaining a PhD in aerospace…
35th IEPC
Ethan Dale
November 23, 2017
Check out our new publications from the 35th International Electric Propulsion Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
53rd JPC
boxcar-admin
July 22, 2017
Check out our new publications from the 53rd AIAA/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
Candidacy
boxcar-admin
May 22, 2017
Congratulations to Zach Brown, Shad Hepner, and Ben Wachs on successfully becoming PhD candidates. And…
Welcome
boxcar-admin
April 22, 2017
Congratulations to Shad Hepner and Ben Wachs on being awarded the NASA Space Technology Research…
Welcome
boxcar-admin
January 22, 2017
Welcome to Dr. Ben Jorns as he joins the Aerospace Engineering Department Faculty and PEPL.
Defense
boxcar-admin
July 22, 2016
Congratulations to Kimberly Trent on successfully defending her dissertation and obtaining a PhD in Applied…
Journal of Electric Propulsion Publication
Declan Brick
March 28, 2025
Check out our recent paper on the characterization of our large 10 W electrospray thruster.
Congratulations to Eric Viges !
Declan Brick
March 20, 2025
Congratulations to Eric Viges on being promoted to Lead Engineer!
Congratulations to Dr. Whittaker!
Declan Brick
March 17, 2025
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Collin Whittaker on successfully defending his thesis on robust…
Congratulations to Dr. Roberts!
Will Hurley
March 1, 2025
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Parker Roberts on successfully defending his thesis on investigating…
Our Research
Get Involved
We’re always looking for enthusiastic graduate and undergraduate students to participate in research at PEPL. Feel free to contact us with general questions or if you’re interested in working at PEPL.
Undergraduate Opportunities
- Summer Undergraduate Research
- Summer Research Opportunity Program
- Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program