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The Cassak Research Group

Cassak, Paul - Professor

July 2008 - present

Professor

Barbhuiya, Hasan - Postdoctoral Fellow

August 2023 - present

Left picture, front right

Adhikari, Subash - Postdoctoral Fellow

August 2022 - July 2024

Not pictured

Souza, Vitor - Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow

March 2018 - September 2018

Left picture, back left

Liang, Haoming - Postdoctoral Fellow

April 2017 - January 2020

Left picture, front center

Fermo, Raymond - Postdoctoral Fellow

June 2013 - June 2014

Not pictured

August 2022 - Present

Perera, Hasith - Graduate Research Assistant

Not pictured

Ryan, Will - Graduate Research Assistant

August 2021 - Present

Not pictured

Abova-Volkova, Aleksandra - Graduate Research Assistant

January 2021 - Present

Not pictured

John, Regis - Graduate Research Assistant

August 2019 - present

Not pictured

Barbhuiya, Hasan - Graduate Research Assistant

May 2018 - August 2023

Left picture, front right

Arencibia, Milton - Graduate Research Assistant

May 2015 - November 2022

Left picture, back right

Baylor, Robert - Graduate Research Assistant

August 2010 - December 2013

Right picture, center

Beidler, Matthew - Graduate Research Assistant

June 2009 - October 2015

Right picture, on left

Komar, Colin - Graduate Research Assistant

June 2009 - May 2015

Right picture, second from left

Shepherd, Lucas - Graduate Research Assistant

June 2009 - August 2014

Right picture, second from right

Doss, Christopher - Undergraduate Researcher

June 2014 - May 2016

Not pictured

Graber, Evan - Undergraduate Researcher

May 2012 - May 2013

Not pictured

Baylor, Robert - Undergraduate Researcher

January 2009 - August 2010

Right picture, center

Cassak Group NEWS

  • September, 2024 - Hasan Barbhuiya wins Fred L. Scarf Award from the Space Physics and Aeronomy (SPA) section of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) for outstanding dissertation research in solar-planetary science.

  • June, 2024 - Paul Cassak is a panelist at a Congressional Briefing set up by the Planetary Society to discuss "the fundamental elements that drive NASA’s success in space science and the challenges facing the enterprise of scientific discovery"; Paul presented on the space science workforce from the perspective of academia

  • May, 2024 - Hasan Barbhuiya gives invited seminar at University of Maryland, College Park

  • April, 2024 - Regis John gives invited talk at the 2024 MagNetUS

  • April, 2024 - Paul Cassak awarded the Rutherford Plasma Physics Communication by the Institute of Physics for science kit outreach with Spark! Imagination and Science Center (supported by NISENet, NSF, and the State of West Virginia)

  • February, 2024 - The 2023 paper on non-equilibrium energy conversion published in Physical Review Letters named the most downloaded Plasma and Solar Physics, Accelerators and Beams paper in 2023

  • November, 2023 - Paul Cassak gives a plenary Review Talk at the 2023 APS Division of Plasma Physics Meeting

  • November, 2023 - Regis John gives invited talk at the 2023 APS Division of Plasma Physics Meeting

  • October, 2023 - Subash Adhikari and Hasan Barbhiuya give invited talks at the Magnetospheric MultiScale Science Working Team meeting

  • August, 2023 - Alex Abova-Volkova awarded a NASA FINESST grant!

  • August, 2023 - Hasan Barbhuiya earns his Ph.D.!

  • May, 2023 - Will Ryan awarded a NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium Graduate Research Fellowship.

  • March, 2023 - Milton Arencibia paper published in Journal of Geophysical Research.

  • February, 2023 - A paper on non-equilibrium energy conversion published in Physical Review Letters, chosen as an Editor's Suggestion, and distributed widely in the popular press.

  • December, 2022 - A series of three papers (one with Hasan Barbhuiya as first author) published in Physics of Plasmas, with all three selected as Featured Articles.

  • November, 2022 - Milton Arencibia earns his Ph.D.!

  • October, 2022 - Hasan Barbhuiya presents an invited seminar at Dartmouth College.

  • August, 2022 - Hasan Barbhuiya paper published in Journal of Geophysical Research.

  • May, 2022 - Hasan Barbhuiya presents an invited talk at the MR 2022 US-Japan Workshop on Magnetic Reconnection.

  • August, 2021 - Milton Arencibia paper published in Physics of Plasmas.

  • October, 2020 - Haoming Liang paper published in Journal of Physics: Conference Series.

  • October, 2020 - Haoming Liang paper published in Journal of Plasma Physics.

  • May, 2020 - Paul Cassak named a WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Woodburn Fellow for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic years.

  • December, 2019 - Haoming Liang awarded a "2018-19 NERSC Award for High Impact Computational Science Achievement - Early Career" by the National Energy Research Scientific Computing (NERSC) Center, a Department of Energy supercomputing facility.

  • December, 2019 - Paul Cassak (with Michael Hesse) publish a paper in Journal of Geophysical Research in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the American Geophysical Union. The paper gives perspective on the past, present, and future of research in magnetic reconnection.

  • August, 2019 - Haoming Liang paper published in Physics of Plasmas.

  • September, 2018 - Paul Cassak named a Fellow of the American Physical Society.

  • March, 2018 - Paul Cassak named 2017-2018 Benedum Scholar by WVU.

  • November, 2017 - Paul Cassak wins 2017 Outstanding Public Service Award from WVU's Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.

  • October, 2017 - Colin Komar named winner of the 2017 Vincenzo Ferraro Award for outstanding space physics dissertation work.

  • October, 2017 - Paul Cassak becomes a member of the American Geophysical Union Position Statement Committee.

  • October, 2017 - Luke Shepherd paper published in Astrophysical Journal.

  • August, 2017 - Paul Cassak becomes a member of the NASA Heliophysics Advisotry Committee.

  • May, 2017 - Milton Arencibia awarded a Solar Physics Division (SPD) Studentship Award!

  • April, 2017 - Paul Cassak and colleagues write a paper about the importance of space physics to society and to public policy. One excerpt is "The authors reaffirm the core beliefs that science should be nonpartisan, basic science research is crucial to the advancement of society, and any attempt to politicize or suppress science is detrimental and should be opposed." Another is "At a time when the very importance of basic science research is being questioned, scientists need to consider it part of their responsibility to ensure that their elected officials are aware of why their work is important. (Resources for doing so are available at http://sciencepolicy.agu.org, and community members are encouraged to contact any of the coauthors for assistance.) Scientists need to continue to learn about the universe according to strict scientific principles and ethics, thereby continuing to provide a strong return on the nation's investments. Scientists also need to present their knowledge in an unbiased and easily understood manner when called upon by policy makers. In return, policy makers need to reaffirm that investing in basic science research is crucial to the success of the nation. Further, policy makers need to recognize that space physics in particular, and science in general, is a crucial nonpartisan resource for making informed policy decisions." (Note, these opinions are the authors' own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WVU.) Scientists and the public alike are urged to use this paper as a resource to ensure all are aware of why space physics in particular, and science in general, are important for society and should be supported.

  • April, 2017 - Paul Cassak named Vice-Chair (Chair Elect) of Geospace Environment Modeling (GEM).

  • January, 2017 - Matt Beidler paper published in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion.

  • September, 2016 - Matt Beidler chosen for the Department of Energy Fusion Energy Postdoctoral Research Program!

  • August, 2016 - Chris Doss paper published in Physics of Plasmas.

  • July, 2016 - Chris Doss named a finalist for the 2016 American Physical Society (APS) Leroy Apker Award!

  • July, 2016 - Colin Komar named as a winner of the 2016 American Geophysical Union (AGU) Space Physics and Aeronomy (SPA) Section's Basu United States Early Career Award For Research Excellence in Sun-Earth Systems Science!

  • June, 2016 - Colin Komar paper published in Journal of Geophysical Research.

  • April, 2016 - Chris Doss named one of 34 WVU Outstanding Seniors!

  • April, 2016 - Paul Cassak named Nath Outstanding Teacher for the WVU Honors College!

  • September, 2015 - Chris Doss paper published in Journal of Geophysical Research.

  • September, 2015 - Matthew Beidler earns his Ph.D.!

  • July, 2015 - Chris Doss earns second prize in the physical sciences division for best poster at the WVU Summer Undergraduate REsearch (SURE) Symposium!

  • June, 2015 - Paul Cassak wins a 2015 Macelwane Medal from the American Geophysical Union for "significant contributions to the geophysical sciences by an outstanding early career scientist."

  • June, 2015 - Paul Cassak begins three year term on the Geospace Environment Modeling (GEM) Steering Committee

  • April, 2015 - Colin Komar earns his Ph.D.!

  • January, 2015 - Colin Komar paper published in Journal of Geophysical Research.

  • September, 2014 - Space Weather exhibit at the Children's Discovery Museum of West Virginia opens!

  • August, 2014 - Luke Shepherd earns his Ph.D.!

  • August, 2014 - Paul Cassak becomes a member of the AGU Space Physics and Aeronomy Advocacy Committee.

  • June, 2014 - Colin Komar awarded a Student Poster Award at the 2014 Geospace Environment Modeling (GEM) Workshop!

  • April, 2014 - Colin Komar awarded a NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium Graduate Research Fellowship.

  • April, 2014 - Paul Cassak wins 2014 Outstanding Teacher Award from WVU's Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.

  • September, 2013 - Luke Shepherd on paper published in Astrophysical Journal Letters.

  • August, 2013 - Colin Komar paper published in Journal of Geophysical Research.

  • June, 2013 - Colin Komar awarded Honorable Mention for Student Poster Award at the 2013 Geospace Environment Modeling (GEM) Workshop.

  • May, 2013 - Colin Komar wins a NASA Community Coordinated Modeling (CCMC) Student Research Contest, first prize for outstanding magnetospheric research using CCMC resources!

  • April, 2013 - Matt Beidler wins a Student Poster Award at the 2013 International Sherwood Fusion Theory Conference!

  • April, 2013 - Luke Shepherd awarded a Solar Physics Division (SPD) Studentship Award!

  • April, 2013 - Colin Komar awarded a NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium Graduate Research Fellowship.

  • December, 2012 - Matt Beidler selected to attend the ITER International School 2012 in Gandhinagar, India.

  • October, 2012 - Luke Shepherd paper published in Journal of Geophysical Research.

  • July, 2012 - Matt Beidler selected to attend the 62nd Meeting of Nobel Laureates in Lindau, Germany.

  • June, 2012 - Paul Cassak gives Plenary Talk at the 2012 Geospace Environmental Modeling (GEM) Workshop.

  • May, 2012 - Rob Baylor accepted to attend 2012 Heliophysics Summer School.

  • April, 2012 - Matt Beidler gives an Invited Talk at the 2012 International Sherwood Fusion Theory Conference!

  • April, 2012 - Paul Cassak wins 2012 Outstanding Researcher Award from WVU's Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.

  • December, 2011 - Matt Beidler paper published in Physical Review Letters!

  • July, 2011 - Rob Baylor paper published in Astrophysical Journal.

  • August, 2010 - Paul Cassak receives NSF CAREER Award grant.

  • July, 2010 - Luke Shepherd paper published in Physical Review Letters!

  • August, 2009 - Paul Cassak gives Plenary Talk at the 2009 Solar, Heliospheric and Interplanetary Environment (SHINE) Conference.

  • December, 2008 - Paul Cassak wins Fred L. Scarf Award from the Space Physics and Aeronomy (SPA) section of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) for outstanding dissertation research in solar-planetary science.

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