Amy Keesee

Research Assistant Professor, Department of Physics

Dr. Amy Keesee is an experimental plasma physicist. She completed her Ph.D. under the guidance of Dr. Earl Scime. Her dissertation research focused on measuring the radial profile of neutral argon density in a helicon source plasma using a laser induced fluorescence diagnostic that she developed combined with passive emission spectroscopy and collisional-radiative modeling. For her postdoctoral training, Dr. Keesee shifted her focus to space plasma physics. Using energetic neutral atom (ENA) data from the MENA instrument on the IMAGE satellite and the ENA instruments on the TWINS mission satellites; she measures ion temperatures in the magnetosphere. By comparing the ion temperatures measured during a geomagnetic storm to temperatures calculated using a statistical correlation equation that depends on solar wind parameters, Keesee showed that there are intervals of ion heating that are driven by processes other than solar wind driving. She has received funding from NASA EPSCoR to investigate these ion heating processes further. Aided by efforts in obtaining her own funding, Dr. Keesee has been promoted to Research Assistant Professor. In addition to her space physics research, Keesee is working on the development of a magnetic fluctuation diagnostic for the Florida A&M University Spheromak. Dr. Keesee is the President of the West Virginia Chapter of the Association for Women in Science..

Degrees

2006 Ph.D. Plasma Physics-West Virginia University

2003 MS. Physics-West Virginia University

Research Area

Experimental plasma physics Magnetospheric physics

Courses Taught

Introductory Physics 101

Active Grants

Remote Thermal Ion Measurements and Integrated Magnetospheric Modeling, NASA EPSCoR: $748,994 over 3 years.

Why did you come to West Virginia University?

At the end of my senior year of college I had been accepted to graduate school in astronomy at the University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA), but when I got engaged, I decided to join my fiancé who was already in medical school at WVU. I applied to be a graduate student in the WVU Physics Department and was accepted. My husband and I have chosen to remain in West Virginia as our careers have evolved for many reasons.

What is the significance of your current work?

My research spans over a wide range of disciplines, however the basis of my research is that the Sun sends out a continuous stream of particles called the solar wind. The interaction of the solar wind with Earth’s magnetic field creates an envelope called the magnetic field. Depending on conditions of the sun and solar wind, the solar wind can deposit energetic particles into the magnetosphere, causing a geomagnetic storm characterized by heating and transport of particles in the magnetosphere. These energetic particles can disrupt satellites and even the power grid. Because our society relies heavily on these technologies for national security, navigation, and everyday life, it is important to understand and eventually be able to predict, how the magnetosphere reacts to these events. The Florida A&M Spheromak will investigate magnetic reconnection, a process that occurs is many plasmas including the Sun, the magnetosphere, and in fusion plasmas.

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?

I enjoy interacting with other scientists, both working with students and collaborating with colleagues.

What do you enjoy about training graduate students?

Having been a graduate student myself recently, I wondered whether I had enough knowledge to train graduate students. But as I get the opportunity to train them to use tools such as lab equipment or computer languages, I realize how much I learned over that time.

Why should a graduate student choose the WVU Department of Physics?

The WVU Department of Physics has strong research programs in a variety of sub disciplines. Unlike some research universities, our faculty love spending time in their labs doing science and guiding students.

In what ways can our system of education be improved ensure more women and underrepresented individuals choose careers in science/academia?

Introduction at an early age is imperative to encouraging all students, including underrepresented groups, to choose science careers. Children are fascinated by everything in our world from a young age. Introducing them to a variety of science subjects and showing them what scientists do is important to getting them excited about pursuing science careers. Students also need to see a diverse set of role models, not just in gender and race, but also career paths, family paths, etc. so they can see that there is not one set way to achieve success.