Alumni & Former Faculty
Faculty
Professor Alec D. Gallimore
Former Lab Director
Professor Iain D. Boyd
Affiliated Faculty
Prof. Boyd directed the Nonequilibrium Gas & Plasma Dynamics Laboratory (NGPDL) at the University of Michigan, engaging in several collaborative projects with PEPL. He now directs NGPDL at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he is active in the development and application of physical models and numerical methods for simulation of nonequilibrium gas flows and plasmas. Current aerospace application areas include electric propulsion (small rockets used to control spacecraft), and hypersonic aerothermodynamics (flight of spacecraft at high speeds).
Dr. JP Sheehan
Research Scientist
J. P. received his bachelor’s degree in Engineering Physics in 2009 and his Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics in 2012 from the University of Wisconsin – Madison (UW). At UW he studied the plasma sheath surrounding electron emitting surfaces, particularly as applied to emissive probe measurements of the plasma potential, through both theory and experiment. While at the University of Michigan, he worked on developing the CubeSat Ambipolar Thruster, a miniature plasma thruster for small satellites, and investigating the basic physics of plasma in converging/diverging magnetic nozzles.
Dr. Ben Longmier
Adjunct Professor
Dr. Ben Longmier was an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Michigan. He worked on developing the next generation of advanced thrusters from 10W to 200kW to enable wide access to remote destinations within the solar system. To enable this, his research interests center on electric propulsion, spacecraft and aerostat design, low temperature plasma physics, plasma materials interaction, and plasma diagnostics. Prior to coming to UM he served as the Principal Research Scientist at Ad Astra Rocket Company, and was responsible for developing experiment campaigns and new plasma diagnostics appropriate for high power engine and exhaust plume testing. He has served as PI and project manager for six NASA microgravity spacecraft technology development programs over the past eight years with six cumulative hours in microgravity. He earned his PhD in Engineering Physics in 2007 from the University of Wisconsin under Noah Hershkowitz, and then completed a postdoctoral fellowship with NASA and the University of Houston. In 2011, he was appointed Chair of the new American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics National Educator Academy-High Altitude Balloon Program to enhance student aerospace education nationwide.
Graduated PhD Students
Dr. Parker Roberts
2025
thesis: Characterization of Momentum and Heat Flow in Hall Thrusters with Laser Scattering
status: SpaceX
email: pjrob@umich.edu
Dr. Tate Gill
2024
thesis: Fundamental Limitations of Rotating Magnetic Field Thruster
status: Assistant Research Scientist at University of Michigan
email: tategill@umich.edu
Dr. Chris Sercel
2024
thesis: Characterization of Performance and Current Drive Mechanism for the Rotating Magnetic Field Thruster
status: Assistant Research Scientist at University of Michigan
email: csercel@umich.edu
Dr. Matt Byrne
2023
thesis: Erosion of Spacecraft Surfaces due to Electric Propulsion Thruster Plumes
status: Exoterra
email: mpbyrne@umich.edu
Dr. Thomas Marks
2023
thesis: Modeling Anomalous Electron Transport in a Fluid Hall Thruster Code
status: Post Doctoral Researcher
email: marksta@umich.edu
Dr. Leanne Su
2023
thesis: Performance of a Magnetically Shielded Hall Thruster Operating on Krypton at High Powers
status: Naval Research Laboratory
email: leannesu@umich.edu
Dr. Zach Brown
2023
thesis: Small-Scale Instability Driven Electron Transport in Hall Thrusters
status: SpaceX
email: brownzac@umich.edu
Dr. Ben Wachs
2022
thesis: Optimization and Characterization of Facility Effects for a Low-Power Electron Cyclotron Resonance Magnetic Nozzle Thruster
status: Astra
email: bwachs@umich.edu
Dr. Joshua Woods
2021
thesis: Performance of a Rotating Magnetic Field Thruster
status: Fusion Scientist at Helion Energy
email: jmwoods@umich.edu
Dr. Shadrach Hepner
2021
thesis: The Influence of Instabilities on Electron Dynamics in a Magnetic Nozzle
status: Plasma Engineer at Avalanche Energy
mail: shadrach@umich.edu
Dr. Marcel Georgin
2019
thesis: Ionization Instability of the Hollow Cathode Plume
status: Karles’ Fellow at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
mail: georginm@umich.edu
Dr. Ethan Dale
2019
thesis: Investigation of the Hall Thruster Breathing Mode
status: Member of the Technical Staff, the Aerospace Corporation
email: etdale@umich.edu
Dr. Sarah Cusson
2019
thesis: Impact of Neutral Density on the Operation of High-Power Magnetically Shielded Hall Thrusters
status: consultant
email: cusson@umich.edu
Dr. Tim Collard
2019
thesis: Performance Characterization of a Low Power Magnetic Nozzle
status: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, MA
email: collardt@umich.edu
Dr. Scott Hall
2017
thesis: Characterization of a 100-kW Class Nested-Channel Hall Thruster
status: Lead Propulsion Engineer, Orbion Space Technology
email: sjhall@umich.edu
Dr. Frans Ebersohn
2016
thesis: Kinetic Method for Quasi-One-Dimensional Simulation of Magnetic Nozzle Plasmadynamics
status: Aerospace Engineer, Lockheed Martin – Skunk Works
email: ebersohn@umich.edu
Dr. Kimberly Trent
2016
thesis: Control of the Electron Energy Distribution Function (EEDF) in a Hall Thruster Plasma
status: NRC Postdoctoral Research Associate, AFRL
email: kimtrent@umich.edu
Dr. Christopher Durot
2016
thesis: Development of a Time-Resolved Laser-Induced Fluorescence Technique for Nonperiodic Oscillations
status:
email: durot@umich.edu
Dr. Michael Sekerak
2014
thesis: Plasma Oscillations and Operational Modes in Hall Effect Thrusters
status: Spacecraft and Mission Systems Engineer, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
email: msekerak@umich.edu
Dr. Roland Florenz
2014
thesis: The X3 100-kW Class Nested-Channel Hall Thruster: Motivation, Implementation, and Initial Performance
status:
email: rflorenz@umich.edu
Dr. Raymond Liang
2013
thesis: The Combination of Two Concentric Discharge Channels into a Nested Hall-Effect Thruster
status: Contamination Modeling Scientist, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD
email: Ray.Liang@jhuapl.edu
Dr. Adam Shabshelowitz
2013
thesis: Study of RF Plasma Technology Applied to Air-Breathing Electric Propulsion
status: Member of the Technical Staff, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, MA
email: shab@umich.edu
Dr. Laura Spencer
2012
thesis: The Study of CO2 Conversion in a Microwave Plasma/Catalyst System
status: Program Manager, Federal-Mogul Corporation
email: l.f.spencer0@gmail.com
Dr. Michael McDonald
2012
thesis: Electron Transport in Hall Thrusters
status: Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC
email: msmcdon@umich.edu
Dr. Wensheng Huang
2011
thesis: Study of Hall Thruster Discharge Channel Wall Erosion via Optical Diagnostics
status: Research Engineer in electric propulsion, NASA Glenn Research Center
email: wensheng.huang@nasa.gov
Dr. Ricky Tang
2011
thesis: Study of the Gasdynamic Mirror (GDM) Propulsion System
status: Air Force Research Laboratory (Wright Patterson AFB)
email: tangr@umich.edu
Dr. Rohit Shastry
2010
thesis: Experimental Characterization of the Near-Wall Region in Hall Thrusters and its Implications on Performance and Lifetime
status: Research Engineer in electric propulsion, NASA Glenn Research Center
email: rohit.shastry@nasa.gov
Dr. Thomas M. Liu
2010
thesis: The Design Space of a Micro/Nano-Particle Electrostatic Propulsion System
status: Research Engineer, HPEPL, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
email: thomas.liu@aerospace.gatech.edu
Dr. Robert B. Lobbia
2010
thesis: A Time-resolved Investigation of the Hall Thruster Breathing Mode
status: Research Scientist in electric propulsion, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
email: Robert.B.Lobbia@jpl.nasa.gov
Dr. Baïlo Bah Ngom
2009
thesis: Magnetic Field Simulation and Mapping Based on Zeeman-Split Laser-Induced Fluorescence Spectra of Xenon in the Discharge Channel of 5-6 kW Co-Axial Stationary-Plasma Hall Thrusters
status:
email: bbahn@umich.edu
Dr. Sonca Nguyen
2009
thesis: Hydrogen Production in a Radio-Frequency Plasma Source Operating on Water Vapor
status: Systems Engineer, Waymo, Mountain View, CA
email: sonca@umich.edu
Dr. Daniel L. Brown
2009
thesis: Investigation of Low Discharge Voltage Hall Thruster Characteristics and Evaluation of Loss Mechanisms
status: Air Force Research Laboratory (Edwards AFB)
email: daniel.brown.50@us.af.mil
Dr. Kristina Lemmer
2009
thesis: Use of a Helicon Source for Development of a Re-Entry Blackout Amelioration System
status: Professor in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at Western Michigan University.
email: kristina.lemmer@wmich.edu
website: http://kristinalemmer.wixsite.com/alpe
Dr. Bryan M. Reid
2009
thesis: The Influence of Neutral Flow Rate in the Operation of Hall Thrusters|
status: Member of the Technical Staff, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, MA
email: bmreid@gmail.com
Dr. David E. Kirtley
2008
thesis: Study of the Synchronous Operation of an Annular Field Reversed Configuration Plasma Device
status: Founder and CEO of Helion Energy
email: dkirtley@msnwllc.com
Dr. Prashant R. Patel
2008
thesis: Automating Interplanetary Trajectory Generation for Electric Propulsion Trade Studies
status: Research Staff Member at the Institute for Defense Analyses, Washington DC
email: ppatel@ida.org
Dr. Jesse A. Linnell
2007
thesis: An Evaluation of Krypton Propellant in Hall Thrusters
status: Member of the Technical Staff, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, MA
email: jesse.linnell@gmail.com
Dr. Allen L. Victor
2006
thesis: Design and Utilization of a Top Hat Analyzer for Hall Thruster Plume Diagnostics
status: Member of the Technical Staff, Aerospace Corporation, Los Angeles, CA
email: allen.victor@aero.org
Dr. Joshua L. Rovey
2005
thesis: A Multiple-Cathode, High-Power, Rectangular Ion Thruster Discharge Chamber for Increasing Thruster Lifetime
status: Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
email: rovey@illinois.edu
website: http://eplab.ae.illinois.edu/
Dr. Daniel A. Herman
2005
thesis: The Use of Electrostatic Probes to Characterize the Discharge Plasma Structure and Identify Discharge Cathode Erosion Mechanisms in Ring-Cusp Ion Thrusters
status: Electric Propulsion Lead for NASA’s Gateway Program and the Power and Propulsion Element
email: Daniel.A.Herman@nasa.gov
Dr. Mitchell L.R. Walker
2005
thesis: Effects of Facility Backpressure on the Performance and Plume of a Hall Thruster
status: Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering and Director of HPEPL, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA email: mitchell.walker@ae.gatech.edu
website: http://hpepl.ae.gatech.edu/
Dr. Peter Y. Peterson
2004
thesis: The Development and Characterization of a Two-Stage Hybrid Hall/Ion Thruster
status: Engineer in Electric Propulsion, NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH
email: peter.peterson@aerojet.com
Dr. Richard R. Hofer
2004
thesis: Development and Characterization of High-Efficiency, High Specific Impulse Xenon Hall Thrusters status: Electric propulsion group supervisor, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory email: Richard.R.Hofer@jpl.nasa.gov
Dr. Brian E. Beal
2004
thesis: Clustering of Hall Effect Thruster for High-Power Electric Propulsion status: Air Force Research Laboratory (Wright-Patterson AFB) email: brian.beal.1@us.af.mil
Dr. Tim B. Smith
2002
thesis: Deconvolution of Ion Velocity Distributions from Laser Induced Fluorescence Spectra of Xenon Electrostatic Thruster Plumes
status: University of Michigan Department of Aerospace Engineering Lecturer (above) & Technical Specialist in Electric Propulsion, Electrodynamic Applications, Inc
email: timsmith@umich.edu
Dr. James M. Haas
2001
thesis: Low-Perturbation Interrogation of the Internal and Near-field Plasma Structure of a Hall Thruster using a High-Speed Probe Positioning System
status: Flight Systems Integration Branch, Air Force Research Laboratory (Wright-Patterson AFB)
email: james.haas.3@us.af.mil
Dr. George J. Williams, Jr.
2000
thesis: The Use of Laser-Induced Fluorescence to Characterize Discharge Cathode Erosion in a 30 cm Ring-Cusp Ion Thruster
status: Research Scientist in electric propulsion, NASA Glenn Research Center
email:
Dr. M.T. Domonkos
1999
thesis: Evaluation of Low-Current Orificed Hollow Cathodes|
status: Research Scientist in directed energy, Air Force Research Laboratory (Kirtland AFB)
email: matt.domonkos@gmail.com
Dr. Jonathan L. Van Noord
1999
thesis: Thermal Model of an Ion Thruster
status: Lead Mechanical Engineer in Research, Space Physics Research Laboratory, University of Michigan
email: noord@umich.edu
Dr. Frank S. Gulczinski, III
1999
thesis: Examination of the Structure and Evolution of Ion Energy Properties of a 5 kW Class Laboratory Hall Effect Thruster at Various Operational Conditions
status: Assistant Chief Scientist for the Aerospace Systems Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory (Wright Patterson AFB)
email: frank.gulczinski@us.af.mil
Dr. Sang-Wook Kim
1999
thesis: Experimental Investigations of Plasma Parameters and Species-Dependent Ion Energy Distribution in the Plasma Exhaust Plume of a Hall Thruster
status: Chief Engineer in electric propulsion, Advanced Technology Institute, Japan
email: Sang-Wook.Kim@ge.com
Dr. Colleen M. Marrese-Reading
1999
thesis: Compatibility of Field Emission Cathodes and Electric Propulsion Technologies; Theoretical and Experimental Performance Evaluations and Cathode Requirements
status: Research Scientist in electric propulsion, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
email: Colleen.Marrese@jpl.nasa.gov
Dr. L. Brad King
1998
thesis: Transport-Property and Mass Spectral Measurements in the Plasma Exhaust Plume of a Hall-Effect Space Propulsion System
status: Ron & Elaine Starr Professor in Space Systems Engineering and Director of Ion Space Propulsion (ISP) laboratory, Michigan Technical University
email: lbking@mtu.edu
website: http://www.me.mtu.edu/researchAreas/isp/
Dr. John E. Foster
1996
thesis: An Investigation of the Influence of a Transverse Magnetic Field on the Formation of Large Anode Fall Voltages in Low-Pressure Arcs
status: Professor of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, University of Michigan
email: jefoster@umich.edu
website: https://pstlab.engin.umich.edu/
Graduated Masters Students
Konrad Shire
2023
research topic: Hall thruster telemetry systemsstatus:.
email: kvshire@umich.edu
Sal Baldinucci
2023
research topic: Design and optimization of ECR magnetic nozzle thrusters.status:.
email: salbal@umich.edu
Pete Dahl
2020
research topic: Development of electrospray thrusters.status: Senior Test Engineer at Orbion Space Technologies.
email: pdahl@umich.edu
Angela Kimber
2019
research topic: Novel Materials for Scaling Electrospray Thruster Arrays.status: Product Design Engineer, Aircraft Turbine Systems for Woodward Inc
email: kimbera@umich.edu
Ingrid Goglio
2014
research topic: Cubesat Ambipolar Thruster experimentstatus: Researcher at Los Alamos
email:
Chris Bellant
2013
research topic: Plasma/material interactionsstatus: Operations Planner for the International Space Station and Orion Program at NASA, Johnson Space Center
email:
Y. Li
2007
research topic: Numerical Simulation of Hall Thruster Anode Injection, NanoFET PIC Modelingstatus: Engineer at Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), Hawthorne, CA
email:
Luke Gritter
2005
research topic: Plasma-wind tunnel measurements for the NASA SVETI projectstatus: Principal Engineer at AltaSim Technologies, LLC
email:
Torsten Stindl
2003
research topic: Plasma temperature and number density measurements in the plume of a high-power Hall thruster plumestatus: Research Associate at German Aerospace Center (DLR)
email:
Lenny Talerico
2003
research topic: Supporting plasma-wind tunnel tests on the NASA URETI projectstatus: On-Orbit Anomaly Director at AST & Science
email:
D. S. McFarlane
2003
research topic: Supporting tests to make internal ion enginestatus: Engineer in a general aviation aircraft parts supplier
email:
L. Craig
2001
research topic: ExB probe operationsstatus: Engineer in the NASA Mars exploration program, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
email:
Shane Malone
1998
research topic: Development of a neutral particle flux probe for Hall thruster plume characterizationstatus: Manager at Maxar Technologies
email:
Neha Majumdar
1997
research topic: Development of a single-aperture retarding potential analyzer for Hall thruster plume characterizationstatus: Engineer at Space Systems Loral working on electric propulsion
email:
Mark Reichenbacher
1997
research topic: End-Hall thruster plume diagnosticsstatus: President / CEO at SW North America
email:
John Spieth
1993
research topic: Arcjet performance measurementsstatus: Vehicle Testing Center Director at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
email:
Dev Rudra
1993
research topic: Thrust measurement of electric thrustersstatus: Vice President of AE Industrial Partners
email:
C. Clauss
1993
research topic: Arcjet operations; PEPL build-upstatus: Electric propulsion engineer at the Atlantic Research Corporation
email: