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

Learn More

News

MAISE Outreach at MSU Science Festival

Declan Brick April 15, 2025

Our outreach student group Michigan Advanced In-Space Propulsion Engineers (MAISE) took part in Michigan State…

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!

Prof. Benjamin Jorns to co-direct $15M NASA institute to improve physics-based modeling of advanced thrusters for human space exploration

Thomas Marks May 12, 2021

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.

Seeker

Ethan Dale January 14, 2019

Check out Seeker's new video featuring PEPL and the X3!

AFOSR YIP

Ben Jorns October 8, 2018

Congratulations to laboratory co-director, Prof. Ben Jorns, on receiving an Air Force Office of Scientific…

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!

NSF Award

Ben Jorns April 18, 2018

Congratulations to PEPL pre-candidate Angela Kimber on receiving an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship!

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…

See All News

Our Research

Non-Classical Transport in Low-Temperature Plasmas

Stability of Electric Propulsion Devices

Data-Driven Modeling and Optimization

Advanced Electric Propulsion Concepts

Facility Effects and Spacecraft-Thruster Interactions

See All Projects

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

Graduate Opportunities

Rackham Graduate School
Department of Aerospace Engineering
Applied Physics Program